Śākyaśrībhadra was a Kashmiri paṇḍita who was invited to Tibet by Tropu Lotsāwa Rinchen Sengge. He arrived in 1204, at the age of either fifty-nine or seventy-eight, and remained for ten years, leaving in 1214. Active primarily in Tsang, his significance to Tibetan Buddhism is characterized by his initiating four important lineages of teaching: to Sakya Paṇḍita he taught exoteric philosophy; pith instructions to Tropu Lotsāwa; tantra to Chel Lotsāwa; and Vinaya to Tsang Sowa Sonam Dze. He is also credited with initiating the "upper" ordination platform of Tibetan Buddhism, followed by all traditions save Nyingma and Geluk. Śākyaśrībhadra was the last abbot of Nālandā Monastery, which was sacked by Muslim invaders in 1192. ... read more at
