東印度烏荼國人，屬剎帝利種姓，釋尊叔父甘露飯王的後裔。十三歲登王位，兄弟們不服，起兵相爭，他於平亂之後，讓位於兄，決意出家。先到南印度海濱參學，並遊歷諸國，之後又到中印度那爛陀寺，禮達摩鞠多為師，得受密法灌頂。唐開元四年，師以八十高齡抵達中國長安，玄宗禮之為國師，翌年，奉詔於菩提寺譯經，此後，致力於翻譯密教經典，為密教傳至中國之先河，與後來的金剛智、不空，並稱為「開元三大士」，共同奠定中國密教的基礎。

Born in Orissa in eastern India, Subhakarasimha was a de-scendent of King Amtodana, uncle of Sakyamuni Buddha. He ascended the throne at the age of 13 but was opposed by his brothers. After defeating his brothers in the subsequent power struggle, Subhakarasimha abdicated in favor of his older brother and renounced. He first studied in southern India, traveled around different kingdoms and then arrived at Nalanda Monastery, where he studied under Dharmagupta and mastered the esoteric teachings. At the age of 80, he arrived in Chang’an, and Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty appointed him as the National Preceptor. In the following year, by imperial decree, he began the translation of sutras in Puti Temple, after which he devoted himself to translating esoteric texts. Subhakarasimha was known as one of the Three Great Master of the Kaiyuan Era, along with Vajrabodhi and Amoghavajra. Together they laid the foundation of the Esoteric School in China.

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