Manjushri Bodhisattva

Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom

Manjushri is a popular Buddhist figure commonly represented in art. He arose from Mahayana sutras where he is regarded as a Bodhisattva of Wisdom. In tantric literatures he is seen as a completely enlightened Buddha with many manifestations. Mandala Dharmadhatu Vagishvara presents a large number of appearances of Manjushri both peaceful and wrathful. Manjushri is associated with Vairocana, The Buddha Resplendent. He is also a patorn Bodhisattva of Gelugpa tradition. Manjushri is viewed as both historical bodhisattva and as an emanation of Vairocana Buddha who manifests to invoke investigation into topics of Emptiness, Free Will and The Nature of Self for which he is depicted with two important tools, in his right hand a double edge sword of logic or analitical discrimination which is tipped with the flames showing that it severs all notion of duality and which cuts through delusion, aversion and longing revealing understanding, equanimity and compassion and left the Prajanaparamita sutra, the text teaching emptiness. Sometime Manjushri is depicted with hands making the gesture of teaching at the level of his heart. He is depicted as a sixteen year old youth confirming the fact that wisdom is not merely associated with age and maturity but is a direct consequence of anyone's logical inquiry into nature of reality.