Maitripada, Maitrīpāda, Maitri-pada: 1 definition

Introduction:

Maitripada means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: WikiPedia: Tibetan Buddhism

Maitrīpāda (मैत्रीपाद) (11th century) was a prominent Indian Buddhist Mahasiddha associated with the Mahāmudrā transmission of Tantric Buddhism. His teachers were Śavaripa and Naropa. His students include Atiśa, Marpa, Vajrapāṇi, Karopa, Natekara (also known as Sahajavajra), Devākaracandra (also known as Śūnyatāsamādhi), and Rāmapāla. His hermitage was in the Mithila region (also known as Tirhut), somewhere in northern Bihar and neighboring parts of southern Nepal. As per Tibetan and Nepalese sources, Maitripada was born into a Brahmin family in Magadha in a village near Kapilavastu during the rule of the Pala empire. After his education, he encountered the Buddhist siddha Naropa at the northern gate of Nalanda who engaged him in a debate. Maitripada lost the debate and subsequently converted to Buddhism and was ordained as a monk at the monasteries of Nalanda and Vikramashila in modern-day Bihar.

Note: Maitrīpāda is also known as Maitreyanātha, Advayavajra, and, to Tibetans, Maitrīpa.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

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