12 
SANDHYAKARA NANDI 
Prajnakaramati. 
Vernacular literature. 
in the 6th year of Mahipala’s reign is to be found in Asiatic Society’s Library. Many 
manuscripts copied, during the reigns of Mahipala and Nayapala and the nth century 
generally, have found their way to Nepal where they are preserved in private and 
public collections. 
Prajnakaramati, a Buddhist philosopher, seems to have flourished about this time. 
For the scribe, who copied his work in 1078, speaks of 
Prajiiakara as his Tatapada or Guru. A large number 
of Indian Buddhist Panditas seem to have migrated to Tibet, and to have translated 
Buddhist Sanskrit works into Tibetan with the help of the learned men of the 
country. 1 
But the most glorious work of this period is the rise of vernacular literature of 
Bengal. Not that there was no vernacular literature 
before this, but I believe a sound beginning had already 
been made. But this was the period in which it flourished exuberantly. The songs 
of Mahipala have already been spoken of. Buddhist songs in Bengali became the 
fashion of the day. This was, I believe, the beginning of Kirtana songs. Krisna- 
carya or Kahna wrote his celebrated Dohas, his songs and his commentaries about this 
period. There were several other writers of Dohas, and the Sahajiya sect of Buddhism 
used to sing Buddhist songs in Bengali throughout the country. Lui, Kukkuri, Birua, 
Gundari, Catila, Bhusukru, Kahna, Dombi, Mahinta, Saraha, Dheguna, Santi, Bhade, 
Tandaka, Rautu, Kankana, Jayanandi, Dhamma, and Savara sang Kirtana songs to 
the willing ears of Bengali peasants and Bengali artisans. What is known as 
Dakpurusera vacana was also composed and collected about this time Collections of 
these songs and proverbs with Sanskrit commentaries copied in the Bengali character 
of the 12th century can still be had in the monasteries and libraries in Nepal. Popular 
Buddhism had undergone a great change Tantric gods and goddesses, Bhairavas 
and Bhairavis had entered into the pantheon of popular Buddhism and were worshipped 
as incarnations or representations of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. 
A class of men who attained success in their austerities and yoga-practices were 
regarded as superhuman beings or Nathasd They are 
objects of veneration and they had a large number of 
disciples. Adinatha, Matsyendranatha, Minanatha and others stuck to their 
Buddhism. But Goraksanatha, who was originally a Buddhist under the name 
Ramanavajra, became a Saiva, and was hated by the Buddhists as a renegade. These 
introduced a form of secret and mystic worship, which, with political changes in 
eastern India, brought about the downfall of Buddhism in this country. 
Mahipala was succeeded by Nyayapala. He is better known in China and Tibet 
than in India. He seems to have enjoyed peace during 
his long reign and to have sent a large number of 
Panditas to Tibet. Cakrapani, the nephew of his kitchen superintendent, wrote a 
large work on medicine and commented upon older medical works. 
Nathism. 
1 See Sarat Candra Dasa’s work entitled ‘ Indian Panditas in the Laud of Snow.’ 
2 J R.A.S., vol. xviii, Old Series, p. 394. 
