Integrity Score 570
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It is pertinent to recall some important personalities who constituted and developed the University as a centre of excellence as the narrative proceeds in ascending timeline. Among the initial luminaries was Mahacharya Buddhajnanapada, who also served as the Vajracharya, soon after consecration of the Mahavihar and extensively preached the five tantras, namely the Samaja, Mayajala, Buddha-samayoga, Candra-guhya-tilaka and Manjusri-krodha along with special emphasis on the teachings of the Guhya samaja, which thus widely spread. Famous for a miraculous divine source of wealth which was extravagantly spent in pious acts, he induced the ruler Dharmapala towards the performance of a major homa that continued for several years for the dynasty’s longevity. Upon completion, he predicted that 12 of his successors would rule as kings, with up to 5th descendant in particular having many countries under subjugation with the spread of Buddhism. In those days, certain Sravakas from Sri Lanka were being considered for punishment by the king since they had challenged Vikramshila’s teachings as being opposed to the Mahayana, but, were however, saved upon intervention of the acharya, indicating his having started the tradition of eminent scholarship at the Mahavihar. Several of his disciples gained wide fame and included the likes of Prasantamitra, an excellent pandit of the Abhidharma, Prajna-paramita and the three Kri-yogas, is said to have controlled the yaksha Yamari through meditation, and constructed a monastery called Amrtakara with his assistance to the south of the Nalanda; Kshatriya Rahulabhadra, who delivered sermons on the Guhyatantra and built a large temple in the Dravida country; Buddhaguhya and Buddhasanti, who were adept in the three tantras and went to the Potala hill and Mount Kailasa (Ti-se) on the Himalayas for meditation after attaining siddhi. As their fame spread, the Tibetan king Khri-sron-lde-btsan had sent Manjusri of dBuss and others to invite Buddhaguhya, which though refused did indicate importance gained by scholars from the Mahavihar, soon after its establishment.
To be continued...