Origins & Early Life

Nāropā (c. 1016 - 1100 CE) (Prakrit; Sanskrit: Nāropāda, Naḍapāda or Abhayakirti) was an Indian Buddhist Mahasiddha. He was the disciple of Tilopa and brother, or some sources say partner and pupil, of Niguma. As an Indian Mahasiddha, Naropa's instructions inform Vajrayana, particularly his six yogas of Naropa relevant to the completion stage of anuttarayogatantra.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was also one of the "gatekeepers" of Vikramashila monastery and was also associated with Nalanda monastery where he rose to the position of abbot. Although some accounts relate that Naropa was the personal teacher of Marpa Lotsawa, other accounts suggest that Marpa held Naropa's lineage through intermediary disciples only. According to scholar John Newman, "the Tibetans give Nāro's name as Nā ro pa, Nā ro paṇ chen, Nā ro ta pa, and so forth. The manuscript of the Paramarthasaṃgraha preserves a Sanskrit form Naḍapāda (Paramarthasaṃgraha 74). A Sanskrit manuscript edited by Tucci preserves an apparent Prakrit form Nāropā, as well as a semi-Sanskritic Nāropāda (Tucci 1930:150 & 152)." The name "Naropa" is derived from the Sanskrit "Nāropāda," which is a combination of two words: Nāro: this is a nickname meaning...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ferdinand I of León — Contemporary (Born in 1016) (1016): King of León and Count of Castile, known as 'the Great' for consolidating the western Iberian realm.
• Robert Guiscard — Contemporary (Born in 1016) (1016): Norman adventurer who conquered Southern Italy and Sicily in the 11th century.
• Godfrey of Bouillon — Contemporary (Died in 1100) (1100): Pioneering leader of the First Crusade and first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
• Gorakhnath — Contemporary (Born in 1100) (1100): Founder of the Nath Hindu monastic movement, a revered 11th-century yogi and saint.
• Udayana — Contemporary (Died in 1100) (1100): Pioneering Nyaya philosopher who reconciled logic and theology in the 10th century.
• Alfred Wegener — Historical peer (Died in 1930) (1930): Pioneering geophysicist known for proposing the theory of continental drift.
• Allan Bloom — Historical peer (Born in 1930) (1930): American philosopher and classicist known for championing Great Books education.
• Vladimir the Great — Contemporary figure (Died in 1015) (1015): Grand Prince of Kiev who Christianized the Kievan Rus' and established its enduring legacy.
• Ramanuja — Contemporary figure (Born in 1017) (1017): Pioneering exponent of Vishishtadvaita, shaping the Bhakti movement in Hinduism.
• Zhou Dunyi — Contemporary figure (Born in 1017) (1017): Pioneering Song Dynasty philosopher who shaped Neo-Confucian cosmology.
• 1016 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1016
• 1100 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1100