Tibetan God Figure Possibly Bodhisattva Manjushri Antique from Brian's Collection


$ 2,400.00
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  • Tibetan God Figure Possibly Bodhisattva Manjushri Antique
  • Due to the amount of wear and softening of the figure's features, and the fineness of the detail, we estimate the age of the this magnificent figure as early to mid 19th Century.
  • Approx. 4" tall x 2 1/4" wide x 1 1/2" deep
  • Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, normally holds a sword in one hand, to cut off all delusion, and a Prajnaparamita Wisdom text in the other. His name is a compound of the Sanskrit words Man-ju (meaning charming, beautiful, pleasing) and Shri (or Sri , meaning glory, brilliance). The combination of both these words convey the kind of intelligence and wisdom Manjushri represents. Manjushri's Sanskrit name means "He Who Is Noble and Gentle." He is often portrayed as a beautiful young man.
  • Manjushri is depicted as a male bodhisattva wielding a flaming sword in his right hand, representing the realization of transcendent wisdom which cuts down ignorance and duality. The scripture supported by the lotus held in his left hand is a Prajñāpāramitā sūtra (book), representing his attainment of ultimate realization from the blossoming of wisdom.
  • His Sanskrit name means "He Who Is Noble and Gentle." He is often portrayed as a young man holding a sword in his right hand and the Prajna Paramita (Perfection of Wisdom) Sutra in or near his left hand. 
  • A Bodhisattva in the Mahayana sense is so permeated with compassion supported by highest insight and wisdom that he becomes, for all practical purposes, a divine instrument of salvation who helps the supreme Buddha Maha Vairocana and his principle emanation responsible for this world system, Amitabha Buddha, carry out the great program of universal salvation and eventual Buddhahood for all sentient beings. Thus, in Mahayana Buddhism as it developed and flourished in India, China, Tibet, Korea, Japan and Vietnam, the goal towards which the practitioners strive is not individual Arhantship and freedom from the necessity of future rebirth, but instead, the transformation of oneself into an all compassionate, all wise Bodhisattva who would gladly accept rebirth on earth in order to help other beings make progress toward enlightenment - universal salvation - and eventual Buddhahood, therefore became the inexorable destiny of all beings toward which the adherents of Mahayana Buddhism direct all their efforts
  • The origin of this figure is most likely Tibetan, and was collected by Beads of Paradise NYC Owner Brian in the early 1990's in Nepal.