The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c12.s3: 3. Mañjughoṣa

The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c12.s3

Language: English

3. Mañjughoṣa

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Colour—Golden Yellow. Mudrā—Vyākhyāna Vahana—Lion Symbol—Lotus in the left.

Four Sādhanas in the Sādhanamālā describe this variety of Mañjuśrī, which is known by the name of Mañjughoṣa. When represented, he closely resembles Mañjuvara, with the difference that the lotus here does not bear the book. It may also be pointed out that Mañjughoṣa should have the lotus only in his left, but Mañjuvara may have it on either side bearing the book. His complexion is golden yellow, he rides a lion, and is decked in all sorts of ornaments. He is two-armed and displays the Vyākhyāna mudrā, and in his left there is the lotus. He is sometimes accompanied by Yamāri in the left and Sudhanakumāra in the right. The Dhyāna as found in one of the Sādhanas is given below :—

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Fig. 59 Candraprabha

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Fig. 60 Jālinīprabha

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Fig. 61 Amitaprabha

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Fig. 62 Pratibhānakūṭa

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Fig. 63 Sarvaśokatamonirghātamatı

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Fig. 64 Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhi

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Fig. 65 Maitreya

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Fig. 66 Mañjuśrī

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Fig. 67 Gandhahasti

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Fig. 68 Jñānaketu

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Fig. 69 Bhadrapāla

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Fig. 70 Sarvāpāyañjaha

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Fig. 71 Sarvapāyañjaha

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Fig. 72 Amoghadarśin

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Fig. 73 Suraṅgama

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Fig. 74 Mañjuśrī with Gaṇapati and Viṣṇu (Baroda Museum)

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Fig. 75 Vajrarāga (Baroda Museum)

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Fig. 76 Vajrarāga

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Fig. 77 Siddhaikavīra (Sarnath)

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Fig. 78 Vajrānaṅga

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Fig. 79 Nāmasaṅgīti Mañjuśrī

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Fig. 80 Nāmasaṅgīti Mañjuśrī (Peiping)

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Fig. 81 Vāgīśvara (Indian Museum)

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Fig. 82 Vāgīśvara (Nepal)

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“Mañjughoṣarūpam-ātmānaṃ paśyet siṃhasthaṃ kanakagauravarṇaṃ sarvālaṅkārabhūṣitaṃ Vyākhyānamudrāvyagrakaraṃ vāmapārśve utpaladharam Akṣobhyamukuṭinam. Dakṣiṇe Sudhanakumāraṃ vāme Yamāntakaṃ paśyet...mantraṃ japet Oṃ Vāgīśvara Mūḥ” Sādhanamālā p. 109

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The worshipper should meditate himself as the deity Mañjughoṣa who rides a lion, and is of golden yellow colour. He is decked in all ornaments, and his hands are engaged in forming the Vyākhyāna (teaching) mudrā. He displays the night lotus in his left, and bears the image of Akṣobhya on his crown. On his right there is Sudhanakumāra and on the left Yamāntaka ... The Mantra Oṃ Vāgīśvara Mūḥ should be muttered”.

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Some of the Sādhanas mention that he should sit in Lalitāsana on the back of a lion while others are silent about the attitude or Āsana. It is thus possible to conclude that he may sit in other attitudes also, such as the Vajraparyaṅka or the Ardhaparyaṅka. His colour is generally yellow, but he may have the colour of Kuṅkuma as well.

Cites (1)

Sādhanamālā — Sanskrit