Mahayana sutras and the Tibetan canon
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
The Sanskrit Mahayana texts and the great Tibetan collections, Kangyur and Tengyur, many translated from works of Indian masters of Nalanda and Vikramashila. They are followed in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
| Tradition | Buddhist (Mahayana and Vajrayana) |
|---|---|
| Type | Scripture |
| Language | Sanskrit originals; Tibetan translations |
| Period | Mahayana sutras c. 1st century BCE onwards; Tibetan canon compiled c. 14th century CE (scholarly estimate) |
What it contains
- Mahayana sutras such as the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom), the Lotus Sutra and the Heart Sutra.
- Kangyur: Tibetan translations of the words attributed to the Buddha.
- Tengyur: translated commentaries and treatises by Indian masters such as Nagarjuna, Shantideva and Atisha.
- Texts on philosophy, meditation, logic, medicine and grammar.
Significance
Many Sanskrit originals were lost in India but survive in Tibetan. The Central University of Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, under the Ministry of Culture, works to restore them.