Tāranātha’s History of Buddhism in India

The book opens with editorial material explaining the Tibetan source, the Potala edition, the history of earlier translations, and the principles of typography and annotation used in the English version. The main historical narrative begins with introductory remarks, a benedictory verse, the aim of the work, and Tāranātha’s sources. It then proceeds through a chronological sequence of chapters beginning with King Ajātaśatru, King Subāhu, King Sudhanu, Ārya Upagupta, Ārya Dhītika, King Aśoka, and the events associated with Aśoka’s period. Subsequent chapters discuss the Second and Third Councils, the extensive propagation of Mahāyāna, Brāhmaṇa Rāhula, Nāgārjuna, Āryadeva, Mātṛceṭa, repeated hostilities to the doctrine and its restorations, Asaṅga and Vasubandhu, Dignāga, Dharmakīrti, and the sequence of later kings and patrons including Gopāla, Devapāla, Dharmapāla, Mahīpāla, Rāmapāla, and the Sena kings. The supplementary section treats Vikramaśīla teacher-successions, the spread of the doctrine in eastern and southern regions, the four sects, the origin of Mantrayāna, the history of image-makers, and extensive notes on major Buddhist figures such as Aśvaghoṣa, Nāgārjuna, Āryadeva, Asaṅga, Vasubandhu, Dignāga, Candrakīrti, Śāntideva, Dharmakīrti, Śāntarakṣita, Kamalaśīla, Atiśa-related lineages, and later tantric masters.