Himalayan Art Resources

Buddhist Deity: Manjushri Iconography

Manjushri Main Page

- Non-Iconic Forms (Sutra)

- Iconic Forms (Tantra)


Videos: All Manjushri Videos

The various forms of Manjushri as a meditational deity are derived from the textual sources of the early Tantras namely the Manjushri Mulakalpa, Siddhaikavira, Mayajala and Namasangiti Tantras. The Anuttarayoga meditational forms are derived from the Vajrabhairava, Rakta Yamari, Krishna Yamari, Vajrahridaya Lamkara, and Vajrapanjara Tantras.

Essay: Manjushri, Similarities & Differences Between Mahayana & Tantra

A mandala of Dharmadhatu Vagishvara in the Rubin Museum collection presents a large number of forms both peaceful and wrathful - twenty-three in number not counting the accompanying retinue figures. The Manjushri Lhakang temple in Sakya, Tibet, depicts many different forms of Manjushri. The early text known as the One Hundred Sadhanas, or Bari Gyatsa in brief, describes fifteen forms of Manjushri. The Ocean of Sadhanas text describes twenty-five forms.

Database Search: All Images | Painting | Sculpture | Mandalas

Jeff Watt [updated 3-2017, 12-2019]

(The images below are only a selection of examples from the links above).