# Aśvaghoṣa

> 2nd century Buddhist Indian poet and philosopher

**Wikidata**: [Q312552](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312552)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aśvaghoṣa)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/asvaghosa

## Summary
Aśvaghoṣa was a 2nd-century Indian Buddhist poet and philosopher. He is best known as the author of the *Buddhacarita*, a Sanskrit epic poem that narrates the life of the Buddha.

## Biography
- **Born:** circa 80 AD (estimated +0080-01-01T00:00:00Z)
- **Died:** circa 150 AD (estimated +0150-01-01T00:00:00Z)
- **Floruit/Active:** circa 100 AD (+0100-00-00T00:00:00Z)
- **Nationality:** Indian
- **Known for:** Poetry, philosophical writings, and the epic poem *Buddhacarita*
- **Occupation:** Poet, Writer
- **Field:** Buddhist literature and philosophy
- **Instance of:** Human (Homo sapiens)

## Contributions
Aśvaghoṣa's most significant contribution to literature is the *Buddhacarita*. This work is a Sanskrit Buddhist epic that describes the life of the Buddha. As a poet and philosopher, he utilized written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works, establishing himself as a major figure in Buddhist textual tradition.

## FAQs
**Who was Aśvaghoṣa?**
Aśvaghoṣa was a 2nd-century Indian poet and philosopher known for his Buddhist literary works.

**What is Aśvaghoṣa famous for writing?**
He is famous for writing the *Buddhacarita*, a Sanskrit epic poem detailing the life of the Buddha.

**What does the name "Aśvaghoṣa" mean?**
The name translates to "Horse-Voice," which is listed as an alias.

**Is Aśvaghoṣa recognized outside of literature?**
Yes, a crater on the planet Mercury has been named "Aśvaghosa" in his honor.

## Why They Matter
Aśvaghoṣa matters as a foundational figure in the development of Sanskrit Buddhist literature. By composing the *Buddhacarita*, he provided a seminal narrative of the Buddha's life that has been preserved and studied for centuries. His dual role as a poet and philosopher allowed him to bridge literary artistry with religious instruction, influencing the way Buddhist stories were recorded and communicated in India during the 2nd century.

## Notable For
- Authoring the *Buddhacarita*, a seminal Sanskrit Buddhist epic.
- Being a recognized poet and writer in 2nd-century India.
- Serving as a key philosopher in Buddhist tradition.
- Having a crater on Mercury named after him (Aśvaghosa).
- Holding the alias "Horse-Voice."

## Body

### Historical Context and Identity
Aśvaghoṣa was a human (Homo sapiens) who lived during the 2nd century. Historical data places his birth around the year 80 AD and his death around 150 AD. He was active as an author and thinker around the year 100 AD. He is identified as an Indian national.

### Literary Career and Works
As a poet and writer, Aśvaghoṣa dedicated his career to producing literary works. His primary identity in historical records is linked to his occupation as a person who uses written words to communicate ideas. His most notable work is the *Buddhacarita* (sitelink_count: 23). This Sanskrit Buddhist epic describes the life of the Buddha and remains his defining achievement.

### Legacy and Recognition
The legacy of Aśvaghoṣa extends beyond his textual contributions. In planetary nomenclature, a crater on Mercury has been named "Aśvaghosa" (sitelink_count: 9) in his honor. He is widely indexed across multiple academic and library platforms, including Wikidata, Library of Congress (n80086312), and VIAF (ID: 166385470), reflecting his enduring presence in global knowledge bases. He holds the identifier /m/05wbc3x on Freebase and is listed as OL2909A on Open Library. His influence is tracked through 51 sitelinks across various language editions of Wikipedia and other knowledge projects.

### Identifiers and Cataloging
Aśvaghoṣa is cataloged under numerous international identification systems, demonstrating his broad academic recognition. These include:
*   **ISNI:** 0000000120858424
*   **GND:** 118504800
*   **BNF:** 118893350
*   **SUDOC:** 026693801
*   **SELIBR:** 175741
*   **CiNii:** DA01767009
*   **NDL:** 00431858
*   **HKCAN:** 302806
*   **IdRef:** 026693801
*   **WorldCat Identities:** lccn-n80086312

Additional identifiers include KAC201009286, ADV11933904, and various other digital repository codes such as 35009709, 0005875, and 788535. His presence is recorded in biographical dictionaries and encyclopedias, including the *Dictionary of Indian Biography* and the *Encyclopaedia Iranica*.

## References

1. International Standard Name Identifier
2. CiNii Research
3. SNAC
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. LIBRIS. 2002