Manjusri Bodhisattva
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Manjusri is the Bodhisattva of keen awareness. In Vajrayana, Manjushri is a tantric meditational deity or Yidam. He represents the power of discriminating wisdom, intelligence and realisation. He discriminate between correct and incorrect views and between beneficial and non-beneficial actions that must be taken on one's spiritual path. He holds a sword that vanquishes ignorance. Manjusri's sword is also considered a sword of quick detachment and a symbol of enlightened will.
The Sanskrit name Manjusri means gentle glory or sweet glory. Manjushri is also known as Manjughosha, meaning sweet-voiced-one or gentle-voiced-one and as Vagishvara (Lord of Speech).
Together with Shakyamuni and fellow disciple Samantabhadra he forms the Shakyamuni trinity (Japanese: Sanzon Shaka). Manjusri is one of the Eight Wisdom Bodhisattvas and one of the Japanese Thirteen Buddhas. In Vajrayana, he sometimes depicted in a trinity with Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani.
Manjusri is mentioned in many Mahayana sutras, particularly the Prajnaparamita Sutras. The Lotus Sutra assigns him a paradise called Vimala, which according to the Avatamsaka Sutra is located in the east. His consort is Saraswati.
Within Tibetan Buddhism, Manjusri is a tantric meditational deity or Yidam, and considered a fully enlightened Buddha.
Manjusri Mantra
OM AH RA PA TSA NA DHIH
- Om! May I obtain the wisdom of the five Dhyani Buddhas!
Chanting the mantra "Om Ah Ra Pa Tsa Na Dhih" is believed to enhance wisdom and improve one's skills in debating, memory, writing, explaining etc. "Dhih" is the seed syllable of the mantra and is chanted with greater emphasis.
Om WAGI SHORI MUM
- Hail to the Lord of speech Mum!
Iconography
A male Bodhisattva he is depicted wielding a flaming sword in his right hand representing his realisation of wisdom which cuts through ignorance and wrong views. The scripture supported by the flower held in his left hand is the Prajnaparamita, representing his attainment of ultimate realisation and Enlightenment. Variations upon his traditional form as Manjusri include Guhya-Manjusri, Guhya-Manjuvajra, and Manjuswari, most of which are Tantric forms associated with Vajrayana. The two former appearances are generally accompanied by a shakti deity embracing the main figure, symbolising union of form and spirit, matter and energy, and so forth.
Role in Nepalese Mythology
Kathmandu valley was once a pond. It is believed that Manjusri cut off a gorge at a place called Chovar and drained away the pond to establish an inhabitable land. Newars of Kathmandu valley adhere to both Buddhism and Hinduism. The Buddhists of the valley revere him as the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. The Hindu system has a similar deity called Saraswati.
See also
