Madhyantika

Madhyantika

A disciple of Ananda who established the teachings in Kashmir; sometimes regarded as an eighth patriarch. [Tarthang]

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The Japanese tradition (Madendai or Madenji) lists the twenty-three successors of the Buddha from the first, Mahakashyapa, through the last, Aryasimha. RY

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Hsiuen Tsang, who visited Kashmir in the 7th century A.D. relates that according to the native records, Kashmir was originally a dragon lake. A very detailed and vivid account of how the arhat Madhyantika (apparently Majjhantika) rescued the valley of Kashmir from the Nagas, established there the religion of Buddha and settled 500 arhats in the country, has been preserved in the Chinese Vinaya of the Mula-Sarvasti-vadin sect. The Tibetan scholar Buton (bu ston), who composed his famous history of Buddhism in the 14th century A.D., points out that when Madhyanti went to Kashmir to preach Buddhism, he found the Nagas presiding in the valley. They at first gave a tough opposition to Madhyantika, but at the end, the Buddhist monk succeeded in subduing the troublesome Nagas. [Dr. Sunil Chandra Ray]

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• Eight first: Mahakashyapa, Ananda, Madhyantika, Sanavasa, Upagupta, Dhitia, Kala and Sudarshana.
• Six first: Mahakasyapa, Ananda, Madhyantika, Sanakavasin, Upagupta, and Dhitika