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The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c11.s18: 18. Mañjuśrī

The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c11.s18

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18. Mañjuśrī

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³ For a detailed account of the legendary origin of the deity and his forms in Tibet, China and Japan. See Getty : GNB. pp. 112, 113

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Colour—Golden Symbol—Sword and Book

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Like Avalokiteśvara Mañjuśrī is worshipped in all Buddhist countries and has a variety of forms. Mañjuśrī has several names such as Mañjuvajra, Mañjughoṣa, Dharmadhātuvāgīśvara and so forth. His wide variety of forms, and his legendary origin deserve a separate treatment in a later chapter.

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As one of the sixteen Bodhisattvas Mañjuśrī is taken as second in the group headed by Maitreya. Mañjuśrī does not find mention in the list headed by Samantabhadra.

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In the Mañjuvajra Maṇḍala Mañjuśrī comes as a Bodhisattva in the third circle of deities surrounding the principal god Mañjuvajra who is represented along with his Prajñā or female counterpart. According to Niṣpannayogāvalī, Mañjuśrī should have the same form as the principal deity but he should have no Prajñā.

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Thus the form of Mañjuśrī will be of the following description : Pītanīlaśuklasavyetaravaktraḥ ṣaḍbhujo dakṣiṇaiḥ khaḍgavarada-bāṇān vāmaiḥ prajñāpāramitāpustakanīlābjadhanuṃṣi bibhrāṇaḥ. NSP. p. 48.

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“Manjusri is three faced, with the three faces of yellow, blue and white colour. He is endowed with six arms; in his three right hands he holds the sword, Varada mudrā and the arrow, and in the three left shows the Prajñāpāramitā book, the blue lotus and the bow.”

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Next to Avalokiteśvara, Mañjuśrī is important in the Buddhist pantheon as the God of Learning with the sword for destroying ignorance and the book of transcendental wisdom. His images are numerous, and the Chinese collection presents no less than five different statuettes showing his great popularity in China¹. Fig 66 illustrates a Nepalese drawing of the Bodhisattva.

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¹ Clark: TLP, II. pp. 7, 11, 53, 198 199

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Mañjuśrī as one of the eight Bodhisattvas is recognised by the favourite name of Mañjughoṣa (soft voice) and under this name he is described in the Lokanāthasādhana of the Sādhanamālā The text is:

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Mañjughoṣaḥ kanakābhaḥ khaḍgapustakadhārakaḥ. Sādhanamālā, p. 49.

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“Mañjughosa is of golden colour and he holds in his two hands the sword and the book.”

Cites (2)