Nagarjuna in a Nutshell

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The present book is the outcome of a thesis-'Studies in the Contribution of Nagarjuna in the Field of Buddhist Philosophy', based on research carried out under the direct supervision of Prof. Dr. Bela Bhattacharya, University Professor of Pali, University of Calcutta.

Nāgārjuna has drawn continuous attention of Buddhist and non-Buddhist scholars since his own day and deserved attention of the modern scholars during the first half of nineteenth century when the manuscript of his 'magnum-opus' Mülamadhyamaka-kärikā with one of its commentaries Prasannapada by Candrakīrti was found among the 381 bundles of Sanskrit manuscripts of Buddhism, discovered from Kathmandu by Brian Houghton Hodgson, appointed resident there in 1833-43. From then Nāgārjuna and his philosophy have been the field of study by many renowned scholars both indigenous and foreign. In view of the fact that many scholars have attempted to study the nature and significance of Nagarjuna's philosophy their efforts have given rise to considerable divergence of opinions and a mass of variety of such views about his philosophical position and personality naturally have given rise to confusion and misunderstanding. The objective here is to review the contribution of Nagarjuna as an able successor of the Lord Buddha in the field of Indian philosophic thought movement.

Our main sources for understanding Nāgārjuna and his cultural backgrounds are his own works and the documents belonging to the tradition in which he was active as a creative writer. Ancient commentarors on Nāgārjuna's works and modern observers would appear to agree on this point that the Madhyamika school founded by Nāgārjuna stood on the foundation of Buddhist doctrine and philosophy promulgated by Gautama, the Buddha to whom Nāgārjuna pays his high tribute as an advocator of the doctrine of Pratityasamutpāda, specially:

anirodham anutpādam anucchedam aśāśvatam anekärtham anänartham anāgamam anirgamam/yaḥ pratītya-samutpādam prapañcopaśamam śivam

deśayāmāsa sambuddhaḥ tam vande vandatām varam// (Mülamadhyamaka-kārikā, dedicatory verses)

The task of understanding Nāgārjuna's link with the teachings of the Buddha, though they were separated from each other by at least a couple of centuries, has remained far from being clearly accomplished. Therefore, in the introductory chapter a short discussion on the appearance of the Buddha as a saviour of mankind by propagating the theory of origin of the world of beings based on duhkha (Pali-dukkha) has been appended. Thereafter a study of the origin and evolution of the four Buddhist philosophical schools is presented for proper understanding of the status of Madhyamika school in the Buddhist circle. Then the study is concentrated on the Mūlamadh yamaka-sastra-the major contribution and other works of Nagarjuna, revealing at the same time Nāgārujna's philosophical status and doctrinal characteristic. It will be indeed unjust on this occasion if I do not mention the name of Herambanath Chatterjee Shastri (Late Professor of Government Sanskrit College, now the Sanskrit College and University Kolkata), who unfortunately is no more with us, but whose inspiration stimulated and impelled me to study this particular subject. His influence is very much evident throughout my study. Nevertheless, I really owe much to my guide Prof. Bhattacharya, her help and guidance leading to my desired destination. I am really very much indebted to her.