4. Śāntarakṣita (Monastic Founder)

A renowned Indian scholar and abbot of Nālandā, Śāntarakṣita (725–788) was invited to Tibet to establish a formal monastic lineage. Known as the Bodhisattva Abbot, he integrated Madhyamaka philosophy with Yogācāra logic. Facing local resistance and natural disasters, he advised the King to invite Padmasambhava to subdue the local spirits. Together, they founded Samye Monastery, where Śāntarakṣita ordained the first seven Tibetan monks, ensuring the survival of the Vinaya in the snowy land.