Aryadeva

Āryadeva, a prominent Mahayana Buddhist monk and philosopher, is celebrated as a key figure in the Indian Madhyamaka school. Born in Siṃhala, which many scholars associate with modern-day Sri Lanka, he was a devoted disciple of the renowned philosopher Nagarjuna. Following Nagarjuna's legacy, Āryadeva emerged as a pivotal influence in the development of Madhyamaka thought.

His contributions to Buddhist philosophy are encapsulated in his significant writings, particularly the Catuḥśataka, or Four Hundred Verses, which played a crucial role in shaping Madhyamaka teachings in both India and China. Additionally, his works such as the Śataka and Dvādaśamukhaśāstra, translated by Kumārajīva in the fourth century, became foundational texts for the East Asian Madhyamaka school.

Āryadeva is also recognized as Kanadeva, the fifteenth patriarch in Chan or Zen Buddhism. Some Sinhalese sources refer to an elder named Deva, potentially linking him to this influential figure. His association with the Nalanda monastery in Bihar, India, further solidified his status as a key philosopher in the Buddhist tradition.