50 
S. C. Das— 1Afe of Atisa. 
[No. 2, 
Growing in age lie acquired proficiency in the three pit alias of the four 
classes of theHinayanaS'ravakas,in the Vaiseshika philosophy, in the three 
pitalcas of the Mahayana doctrine, the high metaphysics of the Madhya- 
mika and Yogacharya schools and the four classes of Tantras. Having 
acquired the reputation of being a great pandit in the S'astras of the 
Tirthikas which he studied till the twenty-fifth year of his age, he defeated 
a learned Brahman in Logic. Then, preferring the practice of religion to 
the ease and pleasures of this world, he commenced the study of the me¬ 
ditative science of the Buddhists which consists of the Trisiksha or the 
three studies—morality, meditation and divine learning—, and for this pur¬ 
pose he went to the vihdra of Krishnagiri to receive his lessonsfrom Rahula 
Gupta. Here he was given the secret name of Guhyajnana Vajra, and 
initiated in the mysteries of esoteric Buddhism. At the age of nineteen 
he took the sacred vows from S'ila Rakshitathe Mahasarpgika Acharya of 
Odantapuri who gave him the name of Dipamkara STijnana. At the age 
of thirty-one lie was ordained in the highest order of Bhikshu and also 
given the vows of a Bodliisattva by Dliarma Rakshita. He received 
lessons in metaphysics from several eminent Buddhist philosopher's 
of Magadha. Lastly, reflecting on the theory of u the evolution of 
all matters from voidity ” he acquired what is called the u far-seeing 
wisdom.” 
On account of these divers attainments which moved his mind va¬ 
riously in different directions, he resolved to go to Acharya Cliaudrakirti 
the High Priest of Suvarnadvipa Accordingly in the company of some 
merchants he embarked for Suvarnadvipa in a large boat. The voyage 
was long and tedious, extending over thirteen months during which the 
travellers were overtaken by fearful storms. At this time Suvarnadvipa 
was the head quarter of Buddhism in the East, and its High Priest was 
considered as the greatest scholar of his age. Dipamkara resided here 
for a period of twelve years in order to completely master the pure 
teachings of the Buddha of which the key was alone possessed by the 
High Priest. He returned to India accompanied by some merchants in 
a sailing vessel visiting Tamradvipa and the island of forests on his way. 
Returning to Magadha he sought the company of eminent sages, such 
as S'anti, Naropanta, Kusala, Avadhuti Tombhi and others. 
The Buddhists of Magadha now acknowledged him as their chief 
and unanimously declared him to be the “ Dharmapala ” or the hier¬ 
arch of Magadha. During his residence at the shrine of Malia Bodhi 
at Vajrasana he thrice defeated the Tirtliika heretics in religious contro¬ 
versy, and thereby maintained the superiority of Buddhism over all other 
religions in Magadha. At the request of king Nyaya Pala he accepted 
the post of High Priest of Vikramasila. At this time Magadha was in- 
