# Atiśa

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> Last updated: 2026-07-26T14:17:57.952Z

[Template:Short description](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Short_description&action=edit&redlink=1) [Template:EngvarB](/mw/index.php?title=Template:EngvarB&action=edit&redlink=1) [Template:Use dmy dates](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Use_dmy_dates&action=edit&redlink=1) [Template:Infobox religious biography](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Infobox_religious_biography&action=edit&redlink=1) [Template:Buddhism](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Buddhism&action=edit&redlink=1) [Template:Tibetan Buddhism](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Tibetan_Buddhism&action=edit&redlink=1) **Atiśa** (c. 982–1054 CE) was a [Buddhist](/mw/index.php?title=Buddhist&action=edit&redlink=1) religious teacher and leader from [Bengal](/mw/index.php?title=Bengal&action=edit&redlink=1).[1] He is generally associated with his body of work authored at [Vikramaśīla](/mw/index.php?title=Vikramashila&action=edit&redlink=1) Monastery in [Bihar](/mw/index.php?title=Bihar&action=edit&redlink=1).[2] He was a major figure in the spread of 11th-century [Mahayana](/mw/index.php?title=Mahayana&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Vajrayana](/mw/index.php?title=Vajrayana&action=edit&redlink=1) Buddhism in Asia and traveled to [Sumatra](/mw/index.php?title=Sumatra&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Tibet](/mw/index.php?title=Tibet&action=edit&redlink=1). Atiśa, along with his chief disciple [Dromtön](/mw/index.php?title=Dromt%C3%B6n&action=edit&redlink=1), is regarded as the founder of the [Kadam school](/mw/index.php?title=Kadam_(Tibetan_Buddhism)&action=edit&redlink=1),[3] one of the [New Translation](/mw/index.php?title=Sarma_(Tibetan_Buddhism)&action=edit&redlink=1) schools of [Tibetan Buddhism](/mw/index.php?title=Tibetan_Buddhism&action=edit&redlink=1). In the 14th century, the Kadam school was supplanted by the [Gelug](/mw/index.php?title=Gelug&action=edit&redlink=1) tradition, which adopted its teachings and absorbed its monasteries.[4]

## Contents

- [1 Biography](#Biography) - [1.1 Early life](#Early_life) - [1.2 Studies](#Studies) - [1.3 Vikramaśīla](#Vikramaśīla) - [1.4 Teachings in Sumatra and Tibet](#Teachings_in_Sumatra_and_Tibet)

- [2 Legacy](#Legacy)

- [3 Writings](#Writings)

- [4 See also](#See_also)

- [5 References](#References) - [5.1 Bibliography](#Bibliography)

- [6 External links](#External_links)

## Biography

### Early life

Atiśa was born as Candragarbha in c. 982 CE as the second of three sons to a ruling family in [Bengal](/mw/index.php?title=Bengal&action=edit&redlink=1), most probably in the village of Vajrayogini in [Vikrampura](/mw/index.php?title=Vikrampura&action=edit&redlink=1), which was one of the capitals of the [Pala Empire](/mw/index.php?title=Pala_Empire&action=edit&redlink=1).[5][6][7] His father was a king known as Kalyānaśrī and his mother was Prabhavati Sri.[8][9] The early part of his life was typical of noblemen of the period, and he was trained in various fields, including art.[10]

### Studies

As a young man, he began to study [tantra](/mw/index.php?title=Vajrayana&action=edit&redlink=1) in what is now [Rajgir](/mw/index.php?title=Rajgir&action=edit&redlink=1), where he was tutored by a monk named Rāhulaguhyavajra. Under Rāhulaguhyavajra, Atiśa was initiated into [Hevajra](/mw/index.php?title=Hevajra&action=edit&redlink=1) and taught specific meditations. He then studied for seven years under a master named Avadhūtipā, where he focused on [yoga](/mw/index.php?title=Yoga&action=edit&redlink=1) and engaged in tantric feasts known as [ganachakra](/mw/index.php?title=Ganachakra&action=edit&redlink=1).[10]

According to Tibetan sources, Atiśa was ordained into the [Mahāsāṃghika](/mw/index.php?title=Mah%C4%81s%C4%81%E1%B9%83ghika&action=edit&redlink=1) lineage at the age of twenty-eight by the Abbot Śīlarakṣita in [Bodh Gaya](/mw/index.php?title=Bodh_Gaya&action=edit&redlink=1) and studied almost all Buddhist and non-Buddhist schools of his time, including teachings from [Vaishnavism](/mw/index.php?title=Vaishnavism&action=edit&redlink=1), [Shaivism](/mw/index.php?title=Shaivism&action=edit&redlink=1), Tantric Hinduism and other practices. He also studied the sixty-four kinds of art, the art of music and the art of logic and accomplished these studies until the age of twenty-two.[Template:Citation needed](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Citation_needed&action=edit&redlink=1) Among the many Buddhist lineages he studied, practised and transmitted, the three main lineages were the *Lineage of the Profound Action* transmitted by [Asaṅga](/mw/index.php?title=Asanga&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Vasubandhu](/mw/index.php?title=Vasubandhu&action=edit&redlink=1), the *Lineage of Profound View* transmitted by [Nagarjuna](/mw/index.php?title=Nagarjuna&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Candrakīrti](/mw/index.php?title=Candrak%C4%ABrti&action=edit&redlink=1), and the *Lineage of Profound Experience* transmitted by [Tilopa](/mw/index.php?title=Tilopa&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Naropa](/mw/index.php?title=Naropa&action=edit&redlink=1).[11][Template:Sfn](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Sfn&action=edit&redlink=1) Atiśa engaged with many notable teachers during this period, including [Ratnākaraśānti](/mw/index.php?title=Ratn%C4%81kara%C5%9B%C4%81nti&action=edit&redlink=1),[12] Naropa and [Jitari](/mw/index.php?title=Jitari&action=edit&redlink=1). He also studied under Dharmarakṣita at the monastery of [Odantapuri](/mw/index.php?title=Odantapuri&action=edit&redlink=1).[10]

### Vikramaśīla

Atiśa rose to become a senior scholar at the monastery of [Vikramaśīla](/mw/index.php?title=Vikramashila&action=edit&redlink=1) at a time when it had no more than one hundred ordained monks present. Tibetan hagiographies on his life have a tendency to portray him as one of the greatest scholars to stay at Vikramaśīla, who would be noted for his strict adherence to the ethics of Mahayana Buddhism. It was during this period that the King of the Tibetan polity of [Guge](/mw/index.php?title=Guge&action=edit&redlink=1), Lha bla ma Ye shes 'od, began to send missions to Vikramaśīla to invite scholars to visit Guge so that they could teach the "pure form of Buddhism".

Atiśa finally departed Vikramaśīla in 1040 CE. The then abbot of Vikramaśīla, Ratnakara, gave his permission for Atiśa to leave but on the condition that he return in three years.[10]

### Teachings in Sumatra and Tibet

[File:Mural of Atisha at Ralung Gompa, 1993.jpg](/mw/index.php/File:Mural_of_Atisha_at_Ralung_Gompa,_1993.jpg)
Mural of Atiśa at [Ralung Monastery](/mw/index.php?title=Ralung_Monastery&action=edit&redlink=1), 1993.

Tibetan sources record that Atiśa spent 12 years in [Sumatra](/mw/index.php?title=Sumatra&action=edit&redlink=1) of the [Srivijaya](/mw/index.php?title=Srivijaya&action=edit&redlink=1) empire, and he returned to India in 1025 CE, the same year that [Rajendra Chola I](/mw/index.php?title=Rajendra_Chola_I&action=edit&redlink=1) of the [Chola dynasty](/mw/index.php?title=Chola_dynasty&action=edit&redlink=1) invaded Sumatra.[13]

Upon his return, he received much attention for his teachings and skills in debate and philosophy. On three separate occasions, Atiśa was acclaimed for defeating non-Buddhist opponents in debate.[Template:Citation needed](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Citation_needed&action=edit&redlink=1) When he came into contact with what he perceived to be a misled or deteriorating form of Buddhism, he would implement reforms. He was subsequently appointed to the position of steward, or abbot, at Vikramaśīla, which was established by [Emperor Dharmapala](/mw/index.php?title=Dharmapala_(emperor)&action=edit&redlink=1).[Template:Citation needed](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Citation_needed&action=edit&redlink=1) He is also said to have "nourished" [Odantapuri](/mw/index.php?title=Odantapuri&action=edit&redlink=1).[14]

Atiśa's return from [Suvarnabhumi](/mw/index.php?title=Suvarnabhumi&action=edit&redlink=1), where he had been studying with Dharmakīrtiśrī, and his rise to prominence in India coincided with a flourishing of Buddhist culture and the practice of Buddhism in the region, and in many ways Atiśa's influence contributed to these developments. According to the *[Blue Annals](/mw/index.php?title=Blue_Annals&action=edit&redlink=1)*, a new king of [Guge](/mw/index.php?title=Guge&action=edit&redlink=1) by the name of [Yeshe-Ö](/mw/index.php?title=Yeshe-%C3%96&action=edit&redlink=1) sent his academic followers to learn and translate some of the Sanskrit Buddhist texts.[15] Among these academics was Naktso, who was eventually sent to Vikramaśīla to study Sanskrit and plead with Atiśa to come teach the Dharma in his homeland.

Travelling with Naktso and Gya Lōtsawa, Atiśa journeyed through Nepal on his way to Tolung, the capital of the Purang Kingdom. (Gya Lōtsawa died before reaching Tolung.) On his way, he is said to have met Marpa Lōtsawa. He spent three years in Tolung and compiled his teachings into his most influential scholarly work, *[Bodhipathapradīpa](/mw/index.php?title=Bodhipathaprad%C4%ABpa&action=edit&redlink=1)*, or *Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment*. This short text in sixty-seven verses lays out the entire Buddhist path in terms of the three vehicles: Hīnayāna, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna, and became the model for subsequent texts in the genre of [Lamrim](/mw/index.php?title=Lamrim&action=edit&redlink=1), or the *Stages of the Path,*[16] and was specifically the basis for [Tsongkhapa](/mw/index.php?title=Tsongkhapa&action=edit&redlink=1)'s Lamrim writings. Here Atiśa met [Dromtön](/mw/index.php?title=Dromt%C3%B6n&action=edit&redlink=1), or Dromtonpa, who would become his primary disciple, regarded as both an enforcer of later propagation ethical standards and a holder of Atiśa's tantric lineage.[17]

According to [Jamgon Kongtrul](/mw/index.php?title=Jamgon_Kongtrul&action=edit&redlink=1), when Atiśa discovered the store of Sanskrit texts at Pekar Kordzoling, the library of [Samye](/mw/index.php?title=Samye&action=edit&redlink=1), "he said that the degree to which the Vajrayana had spread in Tibet was unparalleled, even in India. After saying this, he reverently folded his hands and praised the great dharma kings, translators, and panditas of the previous centuries."[Template:Sfn](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Sfn&action=edit&redlink=1)

## Legacy

In 2004, Atiśa was ranked 18th in the [BBC](/mw/index.php?title=BBC&action=edit&redlink=1)'s poll of the [greatest Bengalis of all time](/mw/index.php?title=Greatest_Bengali_of_all_time&action=edit&redlink=1).[18][19][20]

## Writings

[Template:Unreferenced section](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Unreferenced_section&action=edit&redlink=1) His writings include:

- - *[Bodhipathapradīpa](/mw/index.php?title=Bodhipathaprad%C4%ABpa&action=edit&redlink=1)* ([Template:Bo](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Bo&action=edit&redlink=1)) - Bodhipathapradipapanjikanama (his own commentary on *Bodhipathapradīpa* / byang chub lam gyi sgron ma) - *Charyasamgrahapradipa* contains some [kirtan](/mw/index.php?title=Kirtan&action=edit&redlink=1) verses composed by Atiśa. - *Satyadvayavatara* - *Bodhisattvamanyavali* - *Madhyamakaratnapradipa* - *Mahayanapathasadhanasangraha* - *Shiksasamuccaya Abhisamya* - *Prajnaparamitapindarthapradipa* - *Ekavirasadhana* - *Vimalaratnalekha*, a Sanskrit letter to [Nayapala](/mw/index.php?title=Nayapala&action=edit&redlink=1), king of [Gauda](/mw/index.php?title=Gauda_Kingdom&action=edit&redlink=1).

## See also

- [Nyethang Drolma Temple](/mw/index.php?title=Nyethang_Drolma_Temple&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Bikrampur Vihara](/mw/index.php?title=Bikrampur_Vihara&action=edit&redlink=1)

## References

[Template:Reflist](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Reflist&action=edit&redlink=1)

### Bibliography

- [Template:Cite book](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_book&action=edit&redlink=1)

- Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen, *Great Kagyu Masters: The Golden Lineage Treasury*, Snow Lion Publications

- Geshe Sonam Rinchen, *Atiśa's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment*, Snow Lion Publications

- [Template:Cite book](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_book&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Template:Cite book](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_book&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Template:Cite book](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_book&action=edit&redlink=1)

## External links

[Template:Commons category](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Commons_category&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Template:Internet Archive author](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Internet_Archive_author&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Template:Internet Archive author](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Internet_Archive_author&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Bibliography of Atisha's works, Item 596](http://faculty.washington.edu/kpotter/ckeyt/txt3.htm) [Template:Webarchive](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Webarchive&action=edit&redlink=1), Karl Potter, University of Washington

- [Advice from Atiśa's Heart](http://kadampa.org/en/buddhism/advice-from-atisha)

- [Atiśa Dipamkara](http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Dipankar_Srijnan,_Atish) on Banglapedia

- [English Translation of Lamp to the Path of Enlightenment](http://studybuddhism.com/en/tibetan-buddhism/original-texts/sutra-texts/lamp-for-the-path-to-enlightenment) (by Dr. Alexander Berzin)

[Template:Buddhism topics](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Buddhism_topics&action=edit&redlink=1) [Template:Authority control](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Authority_control&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-TBRC_1-0) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-Westerhoff2018_2-0) [Template:Cite book](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_book&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-3) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-4) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-5) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-6) [Maha Bodhi Society](/mw/index.php?title=Maha_Bodhi_Society&action=edit&redlink=1), *The Maha Bodhi*, Volume 90, p. 238.

1. [↑](#cite_ref-7) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-8) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-9) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. ↑ [10.0](#cite_ref-BrillAtisa_10-0) [10.1](#cite_ref-BrillAtisa_10-1) [10.2](#cite_ref-BrillAtisa_10-2) [10.3](#cite_ref-BrillAtisa_10-3) [Template:Cite journal](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_journal&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-11) Great Kagyu Masters: The Golden Lineage Treasury by Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen, Snow Lion Publications, pages 154-186

1. [↑](#cite_ref-12) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-13) Atisa and Tibet: Life and Works of Dipamkara Srijnana by Alaka Chattopadhyaya p.91

1. [↑](#cite_ref-14) [Template:Cite book](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_book&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-15) [Template:Cite book](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_book&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-16) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-17) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-18) [Template:Cite news](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_news&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-19) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

1. [↑](#cite_ref-20) [Template:Cite web](/mw/index.php?title=Template:Cite_web&action=edit&redlink=1)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Atiśa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ati%C5%9Ba) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ati%C5%9Ba?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.