Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Manjushri (Bodhisattva & Buddhist Deity) - Manjuvajra, Namasangiti (3 faces, 6 hands)

འཇམ་དཔལ་དབྱངས། 文殊师利菩萨
(item no. 65339)
Origin Location Northern India
Date Range 1000 - 1099
Lineages Buddhist
Size 17.90cm (7.05in) high
Material Metal, Silver Inlay
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Peaceful

Gender: Male

TBRC: bdr:W22003

Interpretation / Description

Manjushri, Manjuvajra (Tibetan: jam pal yang, jam pal dor je): one of many complex forms of the deity Manjushri having arisen from the text of the Manjushri-namasangiti Tantra [TBRC W22003]. There are seven main mandalas with deities and this is the seventh from that group. This form of Namasangiti Manjushri is sometimes mistakenly identified as Manjuvajra Guhyasamaja who embraces a consort with the two main hands.

"Holy Manjuvajra, orange, with three faces and six hands, the main face is orange, the right face blue, left red. The first two hands embrace the self-luminous consort and the two lower right [hands] hold a sword and arrow. The two lower left hold a bow and a blue utpala [flower]." (bod brgyud nang bstan lha tshogs chen mo bzhugs so, 2001. ISBN 7-5420-0816-1).

The Manjushri Namasangiti Tantra was first translated into Tibetan in the 8th century and re-translated during the Sarma period in the 11th century and classified as both a Yoga and Anuttarayoga Tantra. It depicts numerous forms of Manjushri both peaceful, wrathful and full mandalas with many deities such as the Dharmadhatu Vagishvara. Monks and lamas from all traditions memorize the Tantra in early childhood.

Lineage of Teachers: The Perfect Buddha, Holy Manjughosha, Khache Yeshe Dorje, Lobpon Jampal Dragpa, Kepa Palpe Zangpo, Dramze Yeshe Dorje, Sherab Jungne Bepa, Dramze Shepa Dorje, Padmakaravarmin, Shraddhakaravarmin, Lochen Rinchen Zangpo, Lochung Legpai Sherab, Ngog Ge Serwa, Kyangpo Dharma Drag, Triton Kunga Ozer, Khenpo Chokyi Dorje, Kunkhyen Choku Ozer, Pagod Yontan Gyatso, Buton Rinchen Drub, Tugse Rinchen Namgyal, Jamyang Dragpa Gyaltsen (1365-1448), Sharchen Yeshe Gyaltsen (d.1406) [TBRC P3094], etc.

Jeff Watt 8-2005

Secondary Images
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Exhibition Appearances
Exhibition: RMA Masterworks, January 28th, 2021

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Publication: Selection of Works - Sculpture (RMA)

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Region: Kashmir Style Art Main Page
Buddhist Deity: Manjushri, Manjuvajra Namasangiti (3 Faces, 6 Arms)