Part 6 - Mahāyāna Buddhist Literature

The Buddhist Sanskrit literature discussed briefly so far belongs to the transitional period between Hinayāna and Mahāyāna Buddhism.

Now let us have a bird’s-eye view of the Buddhist Sanskrit literature which belongs exclusively to Mahāyāna.

We may decide this vast literature in 3 groups:

1. The Mahāyāna-Sūtra or the Vaipulya-Sūtra.
2. Philosophical texts.
3. Mahātmyas, stotras Dharanis and Tantras.

1. The Mahāyāna-Sūtra or the Vaipulya-Sūtra:

The names of the nine Vaipulya Sūtras are:

1. Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajña Pāramitā,
2. Saddharma Puṇḍarika Sūtra,
3. Lalitavistara,
4. Laṅkāvatāra,
5. Suvarṇa Prabhāsa,
6. Gaṇḍavyūha,
7. Tathāgata-guyhaka,
8. Samādhirāj,
9. Daśabhūmika Sūtra.

These so-called "nine other mas" are not he canon of any Buddhist sect, but a series of independ works, compiled to different times and belonged to different sects. At present all are held in great honour in Nepal.

2. Philosophical texts:

Most important philosophical texts composed in pure or standard Sanskrit are related to both, the Hinayāna and the Mahāyāna. Some of the most important texts and names of their authors are:

1. The Abhidharmakoṣabhāsyam by Vasubandhu (presents the view of vaibhasika school of Kāśmir), cooverses with autocommentary,
2. Sphutartha by Yaśomitra, (a sautrantic interpretation of the Abhidharma Koṣa),
3. Mulamādhyamikakārikā of Nāgārjuna,
4. Vigraha Vyavartinikārikā of Nāgārjuna,
5. Śūnyatāsaptatikārikā of Nāgārjuna,
6. Yakticsastikakārikā of Nāgārjuna,
7. Suhrllekhikārikā of Nāgārjuna,
8. Prajñāpāramitā Sūtraśāstrakārikā of Nāgārjuna,
9. Daśabhumicvibhāsāśāstrakārikā of Nāgārjuna,
10. Catusśataka by Āryadeva,
11. Mustiprakaanakārikā of Nāgārjuna,
12. Abhisumayalinkarakārikā by Maitreyanātha or,
13. Mādhyantavibhāgakārikā by Asaṅga,
14. Mahāyānasūtralankarakārikā by Asaṅga,
15. Bodhisattvabhūmikārikā by Asaṅga,
16. Vimsatika by Vasubandhukārikā by Asaṅga,
17. Trimsikakārikā by Asaṅga,
18. Pañcaskandhaprakaranakārikā by Asaṅga,
19. Mahāyānasraddhapada by Asaṅga,
20. Commenteries on Kāsyapaparivarta and Trimsika by Sthiramati,
21. Nyayaprakesi by Dinneya,
22. Nyayavindu by Dharmakirti,
23. Prasannapāda, a commentery on the Mulamādhyamikakārika of by cendrakriti Nāgārjuna,
24. Tattva singrha by santaraksita,
25. Sikśāsamuccaya by sintideva,
26. Sūtrasamuccaya by sintideva,
27. Bodhicaryavatire by sintideva.

3. Mahātmyas, stotras Dharanis and Tantras:

Besides these many Mahatmyas (glorifying hymns) stotras (devotional songs), Dharanis (magical formulas) and Tantras are also composed in pure and mixed Sanskrit. It may be said that there is still vitality in the teachings of the Buddha and in the Buddhist literature noreated very briefly above. This literature has ever and again inspired the minds and hearts of thinkers and poets of all nations and still continues to do so.