The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c12.s9: 10. Mañjukumāra

The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sādhanamālā and Other Cognate Tāntric Texts of Rituals c12.s9

Language: English

10. Mañjukumāra

c12.s9.1

Colour—Red Vāhana—Animal Faces—Three Arms—Six

Only one Sādhana is assigned to this form of Mañjuśrī in the Sādhanamālā, which depicts him as three-faced and six- armed, riding on an animal. In his three left hands he carries the Prajñāpāramitā, the Utpala and the bow while the three right show the sword, the arrow, and the Varada pose. The extract is given below :

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“Mañjukumāraṃ trimukhaṃ ṣaḍbhujaṃ kuṅkumāruṇaṃ nīlasitadakṣiṇetaravadanaṃ sattvaparyaṅkinaṃ Khaḍgabāṇavaradaṃ dakṣiṇakatrayaṃ, Prajñāpāramitāpustakanīlotpalacāpavad-vāmakaratrayaṃ saśṛṅgārakumārābharaṇanivasanādikaṃ nānāpuṣpamahāśobhācīratrayavirājitaṃ Tathāgataparamāṇu-parighaṭitaṃ ātmānaṃ dhyātvā...”
Sādhanamālā, p 151

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“The worshipper should think himself as god Mañjukumāra, who is three-faced and six-armed, of red Kuṅkuma, colour. His right and left faces have (respectively) the blue and white colour. He is seated on an animal. His three right hands hold the sword, the arrow and the Varada pose, while the three left carry the Prajñāpāramitā, blue Utpala and the bow. He is decked in princely ornaments and dress as befitting the Śṛṅgāra (amour) sentiment he displays. He wears the three rags of a mendicant, which are richly decorated with various kinds of flowers. His body is composed of the particles of the Tathāgatas......Thus meditating...”

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Mañjukumāra is not known either in sculptures or in ancient paintings. Fig. 88 illustrates a drawing from Nepal.

Cites (1)

Sādhanamālā — Sanskrit