Essay: Manjushri, Similarities & Differences
Manjushri IconographyManjushri: Similarities & Differences
Manjushri is an important figure in both Mahayana and Tantric (Vajrayana) Buddhism, symbolizing wisdom, intellectual acuity, and knowledge. While both traditions honor Manjushri and feature similar iconography, the ways they depict and use this figure can vary greatly. Manjushri as represented in the Mahayana tradition is often referred to as non-iconic with the Tantra forms referred to as iconic.
Manjushri is typically depicted as a youthful male figure in both Tantric and Mahayana Buddhism. He is usually shown as a handsome, sixteen-year-old prince. His youthful appearance signifies the freshness and vitality of awakening wisdom.
In both traditions, Manjushri is often shown with the attribute of a flaming sword in his right hand, which symbolizes the power of wisdom to cut through ignorance and delusion. In his left hand, he often holds the stem of a lotus flower, atop which rests a book or manuscript, representing the Perfection of Wisdom sutras and the Buddhist teachings. Although used in Mahayana imagery the two attributes are described in the Tantra literature.
Video: The Sword & Book
In Mahayana Buddhism, Manjushri's depiction is typically simpler. On the other hand, in Tantric Buddhism, Manjushri may be depicted in a more complex manner, often white, orange or red in colour, with multiple heads and arms, in union with a consort, or in different forms such as Siddhaikavira, Arapachana, Dharmadhatu Vagishvara, or Vajra Manjugosha, etc. These complex depictions reflect the esoteric and complex nature of Tantric practices.
In Tantric Buddhism, Manjushri is not only a figure of devotion but also a meditational deity (ishtadevata, yidam). Tantric practitioners generally visualize the deity in front, or with more advanced techniques, themselves as Manjushri, seeking to embody his wisdom, using complex meditation practices along with mantra recitation, mandala visualization, and hand gestures (mudra). In contrast, Mahayana practitioners generally do not engage in these complex practices. Their interaction with Manjushri is more typically in the form of devotion, aspiration, prayer and dedication.
While Manjushri represents wisdom in both traditions, the understanding of this wisdom can differ. In Mahayana Buddhism, Manjushri's wisdom is often understood in the context of the Perfection of Wisdom literature, which emphasizes the realization of emptiness or the non-substantiality of all phenomena. In Tantric Buddhism, Manjushri's wisdom is often associated with tantric realizations, such as the inseparability of bliss and emptiness, and the transformation of ordinary perception into enlightened perception.
While distinctions can be made between the Mahayana and Tantra forms of Manjushri, differences in appearance and function can vary widely depending on specific cultural, regional, and sectarian interpretations within both traditions.
Shinzo Shiratori, 6-2023
References:
- Source Texts
- Lotsawa House: Manjushri Series
(The images below are only a selection of examples from the links above).
