The Northern Buddhism
By Hariprasad G. Shastri
Summary
Northern Buddhism in Bengal has often been portrayed as monolithic and purely Mahāyānist. This study reexamines the works of Āryadeva, the illustrious disciple of Nāgārjuna, and shows that they reflect a diversity of viewpoints. The author has edited fragments of Āryadeva’s Cittavivṛddhi‑prakaraṇa, which champions Nāgārjuna’s doctrine of emptiness while refuting rival Buddhist and Brāhmaṇa schools. He discusses the challenges of reconstructing Āryadeva’s lost Catuhśatikā, using Tibetan translations and quotations to piece together its arguments. The survey then turns to other Northern Buddhist thinkers, such as Maitreyanātha, Asaṅga and Vasubandhu, highlighting how Yogācāra/Vijñānavāda teachings developed out of earlier Madhyamaka debates. Evidence from epigraphic and literary sources shows that in eighth‑century Bengal, Theravāda, Sarvāstivāda and Mahāyāna lineages coexisted and that monastic universities taught multiple systems. The article cautions against equating ‘Northern Buddhism’ with a single sect; rather, it denotes the geographical spread of Buddhism north of the Vindhyas. Tibetan sources describing Bengali monks further illustrate the syncretism of the region. By editing and translating lesser‑known Sanskrit texts, the author seeks to show that North‑Indian Buddhism was intellectually vibrant and that its doctrinal diversity was preserved in Tibetan and Chinese canons.
Conclusion
The essay highlights the heterogeneity of North‑Indian Buddhism and underscores the importance of Āryadeva’s works for understanding Madhyamaka thought. By consulting Tibetan sources and epigraphic evidence, it demonstrates that multiple Buddhist schools thrived simultaneously and that the label ‘Northern Buddhism’ should not be equated with Mahāyāna alone.