Vajrabodhi

Vajrabodhi (, , 671–741 CE) was an Indian esoteric Buddhist monk and teacher in Nalanda and later in Tang China. He is one of the eight patriarchs in Shingon Buddhism as well as Zhenyan Buddhism. He is notable for introducing Vajrayana Buddhism in the territories of the Srivijaya Empire which subsequently evolved into a distinct form known as Indonesian Esoteric Buddhism.

== Biography == Vajrabodhi's place of birth is considered to be uncertain with conflicting accounts. According to some accounts, Vajrabodhi was born to a family in South India. His father was said to have been a royal priest and architect in Kanchipuram. However some scholars including Sylvain Lévi claim that he was born in Central India and was the third son of a King by the name of Īśānavarman who has been linked with the Maukhari dynasty. Lu Xiang, an 8th century contemporary of Vajrabodhi who worked in the Tang dynasty court, composed a biography of Vajrabodhi after his death and also states he was born in Central India. He goes on to clarify that Vajrabodhi was mistakenly referred to as a South Indian because he was recommended to the Tang Emperor by the General of a South Indian King. Vajrabodhi probably converted to Buddhism at the age of sixteen, although some accounts place him at the Buddhist institution of Nālandā in Magadha at the age of ten.