Manjushri () is a bodhisattva who represents prajñā (transcendent wisdom) of the Buddhas in Mahāyāna Buddhism. The name "Mañjuśrī" is a combination of Sanskrit word "mañju" and an honorific "śrī"; it can be literally translated as "Beautiful One with Glory" or "Beautiful One with Auspiciousness". Mañjuśrī is also known by the fuller name of Mañjuśrīkumārabhūta (),Keown, Damien (editor) with Hodge, Stephen; Jones, Charles; Tinti, Paola (2003). A Dictionary of Buddhism. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. p.172. literally "Mañjuśrī, Still a Youth" or, less literally, "Prince Mañjuśrī". Another name of Mañjuśrī is Mañjughōṣa.
In Mahāyāna Buddhism
Scholars have identified Mañjuśrī as the oldest and most significant bodhisattva in Mahāyāna literature.A View of Manjushri: Wisdom and Its Crown Prince in Pala Period India. Harrington, Laura. Doctoral Thesis, Columbia University, 2002 Notable traits of Mañjuśrī include:
Buddha appearing as Bodhisattva
According to Mahayana Sutras, Mañjuśrī is always a Buddha with the highest Awakenment all the time, including in the past, present, and future, but just appears as a Bodhisattva in our world.The Great Buddhist Dictionary - Manjusri's Buddhahood in the past, present, and future 佛學大辭典【文殊三世果位】
In Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sūtra, the Buddha revealed that countless eons ago, Mañjuśrī had achieved Buddhahood with the name Dragon Superior Tathāgata.https://www.scribd.com/document/106503574/Surangama-Samadhi-Sutra English Translation of Śūraṅgama Samādhi SūtraEnglish Translation of Śūraṅgama Samādhi SūtraChinese text of Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sūtra (Taisho Tripitaka 0642) 佛說首楞嚴三昧經
In Tathagata's Unimaginable State Sutra, it is written that when Sakyamuni Buddha attained the highest Awakenment, countless Buddhas from other worlds, appearing as Bodhisattvas, came to our world to congratulate him and assist his Dharma-teaching work, and Mañjuśrī was one of those Buddhas who appeared as Bodhisattvas.English translation of Tathagata's Unimaginable State SutraChinese text of Tathagata's Unimaginable State Sutra (Taisho Tripitaka 0301) 大方廣如來不思議境界經
Another Sutra, Bodhisattva in the Womb Sutra reveals that Mañjuśrī is actually a Buddha, but in order to assist Sakyamuni Buddha's Dharma-teaching work, he appears as a disciple of the Buddha.Chinese text of Bodhisattva in the Womb Sutra (Taisho Tripitaka 0384)Chinese text of Bodhisattva in the Womb Sutra 菩薩處胎經 In the Sutra Mañjuśrī says: My bodies are as many as the atoms of the universe, appearing as Buddhas in countless Buddha-Worlds elsewhere. I was previously the teacher of Sakyamuni Buddha, and now I appear as his disciple. I would like to manifest my Buddha body, but this world should have only one main Buddha at this moment. Therefore I appear as a disciple in this world, and appear as Buddhas in other Buddha-Worlds.
In Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra it is written that Mañjuśrī is a present Buddha whose Buddha-world is in the north:English translation of Aṅgulimālika SūtraChinese text of Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra (Taisho Tripitaka 0120) 央掘魔羅經 To the north, passing worlds as numerous as the sands of forty-two Ganges Rivers, there is a world called Constant Joy, where the Buddha is called Joy Store Mani Jewel Accumulation Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyak-Saṁbuddha ...... Is that Tathāgata anyone else? Mañjuśrī is actually that Buddha.
Mañjuśrī will also become a Buddha in this world in physical form. According to Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra, when Mañjuśrī becomes here a Buddha (again) in the future, he will be called Universally Seen, and his Buddha-World will be extremely vast and sublime.Chinese text of Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra (Taisho Tripitaka 0310)
Mother of all Buddhas According to Mahayana Sutras, Mañjuśrī is the one who guides all living beings of the past, present and future towards Buddhahood, therefore he is honored as the Mother of all Buddhas of the past, present and future (三世佛母妙吉祥).
As it is written in Mahayana Sutra on Contemplating the Ground-Like Heart Concerning the Legend of the Buddha (大乘本生心地觀經):Chinese text of Mahayana Sutra on Contemplating the Ground-Like Heart Concerning the Legend of the Buddha (Taisho Tripitaka 0159)Chinese text of the Sutra (Taisho Tripitaka 0159) 大乘本生心地觀經 Manjusri the Great Holy Lord is the Mother of all Buddhas of the past, present and future. All Buddhas of the ten directions, when they first arouse their hearts to seek Bodhi, they do so because of Manjusri's teaching and guidance.
Mahayana Sutra on Contemplating the Ground-Like Heart Concerning the Legend of the Buddha also says:Chinese text of Mahayana Sutra on Contemplating the Ground-Like Heart Concerning the Legend of the Buddha (Taisho Tripitaka 0159) The Buddha said to Manjusri: "You are indeed the Mother of all Buddhas of the past, present and future. All Tathagatas, when they first arouse their hearts, or carry out their practice for Bodhi, they do those things because of your guidance. "
Placing the Bowl Sutra says:Chinese text of Placing the Bowl Sutra (Taisho Tripitaka 0629)Chinese text of Placing the Bowl Sutra (Taisho Tripitaka 0629) 佛說放鉢經 The Buddha said: "... I achieved Buddhahood all because of Manjusri's benevolence. Furthermore, all the countless Buddhas in the past were disciples of Manjusri, and all those who will become Buddhas in the future, they will achieve Buddhahood because of Manjusri's mightiness, benevolence, and divine power."
In the Lotus Sūtra, Mañjuśrī also leads the Nagaraja's daughter to enlightenment. He also figures in the Vimalakīrti Sūtra in a debate with Vimalakīrti where he is presented as a Bodhisattva who discusses non-duality with him.
Mañjuśrī puts effective ways into practice to guide beings towards enlightenment. His bodhisattvas have legendary magical power which they use to deepen recognition and dharmic knowledge, render certainty, avert hindrances, remove harmful and ensure important conditions for practising and spreading the teaches.
Eternal Youth Although Mañjuśrī, in the previous innumerable eons, had helped countless living beings achieve Buddhahood, the great mentor himself remains a youth forever. In Mahayana Sutras, Mañjuśrī is frequently called Manjusri the Youth (Manjusri Kumara-bhuta).
Symbolizing Prajñā the Transcendental Wisdom
As a symbol of Prajñāpāramitā, Mañjuśrī is often depicted as a youth holding the Sword of Wisdom in one hand, and a Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra in another hand. In Mahayana Buddhism he is often honored as Mañjuśrī the Great Wisdom (大智文殊師利).
An example of a wisdom teaching of Mañjuśrī can be found in the Saptaśatikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (Taishō Tripiṭaka 232). This sūtra contains a dialogue between Mañjuśrī and the Buddha on the One Samādhi (Skt. Ekavyūha Samādhi). Sheng-yen renders the following teaching of Mañjuśrī, for entering samādhi naturally through transcendent wisdom:
Vajrayāna Buddhism
Within Vajrayāna Buddhism, Mañjuśrī is a meditational deity and also considered a fully enlightened Buddha. In Shingon Buddhism, he is one of the Thirteen Buddhas to whom disciples devote themselves. He figures extensively in many esoteric texts such as the Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa and the Mañjuśrīnāmasamgīti. His consort in some traditions is Saraswati.
The Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa, which later came to be classified under Kriyātantra, states that mantras taught in the Śaiva, Garuḍa, and Vaiṣṇava tantras will be effective if applied by Buddhists since they were all taught originally by Mañjuśrī.Sanderson, Alexis. "The Śaiva Age: The Rise and Dominance of Śaivism during the Early Medieval Period." In: Genesis and Development of Tantrism, edited by Shingo Einoo. Tokyo: Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo, 2009. Institute of Oriental Culture Special Series, 23, pp. 129-131.
Manifestations Youth ManjusriYouth Manjusri (孺童文殊) is a typical form of Manjusri, one head, two arms, right hand holding a Wisdom Sword that can cut off ignorance, left hand holding a flower with a Prajna-paramita Sutra upon it.Lion-riding ManjusriLion-riding Manjusri is another typical form of Manjusri frequently seen in Buddhist art across different Buddhist traditions. Manjusri is depicted as sitting on a lion, Wisdom Sword in one hand, and Prajna-paramita Sutra in another hand. Four-Armed ManjusriFour-Armed Manjusri is one of the five major forms of Manjusri. One head, four arms, holding four objects: sword, bow, arrow, and Prajna-paramita Sutra.Undefiled ManjusriUndefiled Manjusri, one of the five major forms of Manjusri, symbolizes the ever-pure nature of Prajna-paramita. One head, two arms, making Dharma-chakra Mudra, with Wisdom Sword and Prajna-paramita Sutra floating above his shoulders.White ManjusriWhite Manjusri is one of the five major forms of Manjusri. One head, two arms, making Wish-bestowing Mudra (Varada-mudra). The Wisdom Sword and Prajna-paramita Sutra are floating above his shoulders.Six-Armed ManjusriSix-Armed Manjusri is a powerful manifestation that liberates living beings from repetitive reincarnations among the Six realms of existence. This form of Manjusri has three heads and six arms, making Mudra with one or two hands, while the other hands holding different objects including Wisdom Sword, Prajna-paramita Sutra, bow, arrow, and flower.Thousand ArmsThousand Bowls andThousand Sakyamunis ManjusriA Vajrayana manifestation of Manjusri that has thousands of hands, each holding a bowl, from which a Sakyamuni Buddha manifests and then multiplies, becoming trillions of Sakyamuni Buddhas.Chinese text of Thousand Arms and Thousand Bowls Mañjusrī Sutra 大乘瑜伽金剛性海曼殊室利千臂千鉢大教王經Those countless Sakyamuni Buddhas, who are emanations from Vairocana Buddha, teach Dharma in countless worlds based on Manjusri the Great Wisdom, namely Prajñāpāramitā.Black ManjusriBlack Manjusri is a wrathful manifestation of Manjusri, usually depicted as holding a Wisdom Sword in his right hand and a flower in his left hand with Prajnaparamita Sutra upon the flower.Manjusri's Buddha formManjusri appears as a Buddha, with a Wisdom Sword in his hand, and Prajnaparamita Sutra floating above his shoulder.According to Mahayana Sutras, Manjusri is always a Buddha all the time, but just appears as a Bodhisattva in our world. Presently, he is a Buddha called Joy Store Mani Jewel Accumulation Tathāgata, whose Buddha-World is called Constant Joy.Dharma-RealmSpeechSelf-existentManjusriDharma-Realm Speech Self-existent Manjusri (Sanskrit: Dharmadhātu-vāgīśvara Mañjuśrī) is a supreme manifestation of Manjusri. Four heads, eight arms, two hands making Dharma-chakra Mudra, while the others holding different objects: Wisdom Sword, Vajra Pestle, bow, arrow, and Prajna-paramita Sutra.This manifestation represents the Ultimate Reality, namely the Dharma-Body of all Buddhas.Namasangiti ManjusriA form of Manjusri based on Mañjuśrī-Nāma-Saṃgīti. One head, twelve arms, sitting, two hands in Dhyana Mudra, two hands above the head making Uttara-bodhi Mudra, two hands before chest making Dharma-chakra Mudra, two hands in Tarpana Mudra, four other hands holding four objects: Wisdom Sword, bow, arrow, and Prajna-paramita Sutra.This manifestation of Manjusri is the embodiment of Prajñāpāramitā, the Wisdom of all Buddhas.
Iconography Mañjuśrī is usually depicted as a male bodhisattva wielding a flaming sword in his right hand, representing the realization of transcendent wisdom which cuts down ignorance and duality. The scripture supported by the padma (lotus) held in his left hand is a Prajñāpāramitā sūtra, representing his attainment of ultimate realization from the blossoming of wisdom.
Mañjuśrī is often depicted as riding or seated on a blue lion, or sitting on the skin of a lion. This represents the use of wisdom to tame the mind, which is compared to riding or subduing a ferocious lion.