Himalayan Art Resources

Buddhist Deity: Manjushri, Namasangiti Main Page

Namsangiti Masterworks

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Manjushri (Three Lower Tantras)
- Source: Reciting the Names of Mañjuśrī
- Seven Principal Mandalas
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Manjushri Main Page
- Confusions: Guhyasamaja, Manjuvajra Guhyasamaja
- Others...

Videos:
- Namasangiti: Part 1
- Namasangiti: Part 2
- All Manjushri Videos

Iconographic Forms:
- 1 face, 2 arms, Jnanasattva
- 1 face, 4 arms, Jnanasattva
- 1 face, 4 arms
- 3 faces, 4 arms
- 3 faces, 6 arms, Manjuvajra
- 3 faces, 8 arms, Dharmadhatu Vagishvara
- 4 faces, 4 arms
- 4 faces, 8 arms, Dharmadhatu Vagishvara
- 6 faces, 2 arms, Samkshipta Guhyaka
- Others...

The Manjushri Namasangiti Tantra [TBRC W22003] was first translated into Tibetan in the 8th century and re-translated during the Sarma period in the 11th century. Monks and lamas from all Buddhist traditions memorize the Tantra in early childhood. From the standard four classifications of Tantra the Namasangiti is found in both the Yoga and Anuttarayoga Tantra sets. This Tantra introduces seven principal mandalas depicting numerous forms of Manjushri both peaceful and wrathful. The painting of the mandala of Dharmadhatu Vagishvara, the seventh from the group of seven, illustrates over twenty different forms of Manjushri.

[10] Dharmadhatu Vagishvara.
White Dharmadhatu Vagishvara, with four white faces, eight hands, the first two in the Dharma teaching gesture. The three lower right hold a sword, arrow and vajra. The three lower left, a Prajnaparamita book, bow and bell. With the same ornaments and garments. Seated in the vajrasana [posture]. (Bari Gyatsa).

"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).

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.

Database Search: All Images

Jeff Watt 8-2005 [updated 9-2017, 8-2021]


English References:

Toh 360. Reciting the Names of Mañjuśrī. འཇམ་དཔལ་མཚན་བརྗོད། · 'jam dpal mtshan brjod. mañjuśrīnāmasaṃgīti. 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.

Lotsawa House: Reciting the Names of Mañjuśrī

Tantric and Taoist Studies in Honour of R.A. Stein, Melanges Chinois et Bouddhiques, Michel Strickmann, editor, Vol.20 (Brussels: Institute Belge des Hautes Etudes Chinoises, 1981). The Litany of Names of Manjushri - Text and Translation of the Manjusrinamasamgiti, Ronald M. Davidson, pp. 1-69.

Religions of India In Practice, edited by Donald S. Lopez, Jr., Princeton University Press, 1995. The Litany of names of Manjushri. Ronald M. Davidson, pp.104-125.