Buddhajñānapāda

[1] He was probably a guru working in the court of the Pala Empire prior to this and was a disciple of Haribhadra who was the preceptor of Dharmapala.

[2] After wandering at other locations in the north, he later travelled to the Konkan region in Western India where he spent nine years being instructed by a guru called Pālitapāda with whom he learnt the Guhyasamāja Tantra.

[2] Buddhajñānapāda is silent at this point about his career however Tibetan sources confirm that following this, he took part in the consecration of Vikramashila and took on the role of head monk/abbot.

The eleventh-century monk, Atiśa who also studied at Vikramashila during a later period writes that Buddhajñānapāda organised large rituals to honour King Dharmapala and bestowed tantric initiations on Dharamapala's son; Devapala for which he was given treasures in return.

Buddhajñānapāda's style of writing has been described as "terse and elegant" and his rhetorical skill was noted by his contemporaries and emulated by his spiritual descendants.