Aryadeva

Buddhist philosopher

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June 18, 2026

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Aryadeva was an Indian Buddhist philosopher and a key disciple of Nagarjuna, the founder of the Madhyamika school of Mahayana Buddhism. He is known for his work, the Chatushataka, which critiques other Buddhist schools and classical Sanskrit philosophical systems. Aryadeva, along with Buddhapalita and Chandrakirti, followed Nagarjuna's method of using logic indirectly, known as prasanga. This approach aimed to demonstrate the emptiness (shunyata) of all concepts and entities, meaning they are subject to causality and lack an immutable essence. Aryadeva's work contributed to the development of Madhyamika philosophy, which emphasizes a "Middle Way" that transcends dualities and extremes.1234

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Buddhism
Madhyamika (Sanlun/Sanron)
Along with his disciple Aryadeva, the Indian philosopher Nagarjuna (c. 150–250 ce) is recognized as the founder and principal exponent of the Madhyamika system. Nagarjuna is the presumed author of the voluminous Mahaprajnaparamita-shastra (“The Great Treatise on the Perfection of Wisdom”), preserved in its Chinese translation (402–405) by
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Along with his disciple Aryadeva, the Indian philosopher Nagarjuna (c. 150–250 ce) is recognized as the founder and principal exponent of the Madhyamika system. Nagarjuna is the presumed author of the voluminous Mahaprajnaparamita-shastra (“The Great Treatise on the Perfection of Wisdom”), preserved in its Chinese translation (402–405) by
Read More