He was an Indian philosopher, the founder of the Madhyamaka (Middle Path) school of Mahayana Buddhism, and arguably the most influential Indian Buddhist thinker after Siddhartha Gautama Buddha himself.
His writings were the basis for the formation of the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) school, which was transmitted to China under the name of the Three Treatise (Sanlun) School. He is credited with developing the philosophy of the Prajnaparamita sutras, and was closely associated with the Buddhist university of Nalanda. It is said that the Buddha prophesied that someone would come after him who would clear up any confusion regarding Buddha-dharma. Nagarjuna is considered to be that person. Often called The Second Buddha, Arya [noble] Nagarjuna (2nd century CE) was from a wealthy South Indian Brahmin family. He is considered a terton (hidden-text revealer) as well as a philosopher.
The Legend of His Name
While he was seated by a lake one day, a naga came from the depths and invited him to Potala to teach the serpentine water spirits. As a parting gift, they presented him with the 12 volumes known as the Prajnaparamita Sutra. (This teaching had been entrusted to them by Ananda, the Buddha's cousin.)
He is best known for his explanation of the term shunyata (Emptiness, or Open-ness) that is developed in that treatise. The volumes are kept today still, in a temple dedicated to him in Kathmandu.
In those days, there was a terrible famine in the land that grievously affected the monks, for they were supported only by the surrounding community's generosity. Nagarjuna is said to have gone to a distant planet and returned with a Philosopher's Stone that could turn base metals into gold. With the profit he earned from that enterprise he supported the monastery for six years, but when the monks learned that he had broken a major precept by handling gold, they expelled him.
When Nagarjuna left the monastery, he went to live in the forest where he mastered all the accomplishments of the yogi. He could make detailed mandalas, prepare the ingredients for the finest incense, and practice astrology. He is believed to have encountered, and having attained the highest siddhis, subdued yakshas, ghouls and vampires.
He is also said to have found a copper casket containing the text of the Hayagriva tantra, in the Shankarakuta stupa at the Sitavana charnel ground near Bodhgaya. He is also known for his revelation of the Green Tara practice.
He established and built many temples and stupas with special clay he had received from the nagas.
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