Born in Samana, South India. He was a son of a Brahmin. Later he took full ordination from the abbot Chandranatha from whom he received his name. He went to study under the guidance of Nagarjuna. He became a famous philosopher in India, writing commentaries on Nagarjuna's treatises on madhyamaka.

Texts by Chandrakirti: Prasannapada (full name: Mulamadhyamaka vritti prasannapada nama), a commentary on Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika
Madhyamakavatara, Entering the Middle Way, an outline of the 'Bodhisattva Path from the Madhyamaka viewpoint