Our master artisan in Patan, Nepal created this beautiful 8.75″ Nepali Manjushri statue, fire gilded in pure 24K gold with a bodhisattva crown and jewelry. At the request of the buyer, we would be happy to adorn the crown and jewels of this statue with turquoise and red coral stones. At no extra charge, the skilled artisan can embellish the statue with these special decorations before delivery.
The color turquoise is a special combination of blue and green. Indeed, blue signifies the purity of the Buddhas and green symbolizes Manjushri’s readiness to act. He wears it well and will inspire all those who lay their eyes on this statue.
Youthful Nepali Manjushri Statue
This Nepali Manjushri statue features the youthfulness that is commonly associated with him. However, this does not indicate that he is merely a youth. Instead it is believed that an enlightened being will see the world from a refreshed perspective. Therefore, one who obtains insight knowledge will see the world anew and be reborn. The youthful features and association with wisdom make the Manjushri statue a popular selection among students.
Manjushri translates as “Gentle Glory” in Sanskrit. This Nepali Manjushri statue wields a flaming sword in his right hand, which signifies that wisdom and analysis will always annihilate ignorance. As a result, the “sword” of wisdom is an effective weapon needed to stop the endless cycle of rebirth and suffering. To learn more about the symbolism of the flaming sword and the Prajnaparamita scripture, see our guide to Manjushri statue meaning and symbolism.
His left hand is raised at the chest with the palm turned open toward devotees — a graceful Buddhist hand gesture of teaching and discussion, expressing the transmission of wisdom to those who receive it with a sincere heart. Explore the meaning of the many Buddhist hand gestures in our full guide to Buddha statue meaning. Rising alongside his left arm, a lotus stem blossoms at his shoulder, surmounted by the book of transcendent wisdom — the Prajnaparamita Sutra.
Manjushri Mantra
Manjushri is also highly associated with the Manjushri Mantra “om arapacana dhih”. The association is so strong that he is also known by the name “Arapacana”. The Manjushri mantra Tibetan pronunciation has a slight deviation, “om a ra pa tsa na dhih”. The Manjushri mantra benefits will enhance your ability to debate, memorize, read, write, and absorb knowledge. Thus, it may enhance the academic performance of students.
“om a ra pa tsa na dhih”
Manjushri is a Meditation Deity
In Vajrayana Buddhism Manjushri is a meditation deity who is considered to be a fully enlightened Buddha. This is a typical variation in the significance of Buddhist deities. As a result, in some beliefs the deity is a Bodhisattva and in others he is a Buddha. Therefore, Manjushri is considered to be both a Buddha statue and also a Bodhisattva statue. Manjushri is also one of the Three Protector Bodhisattvas, alongside Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani — read more in our full guide to the meaning of Manjushri statues.
Shakya Artisans and the Lost Wax Method
This statue was cast by master craftsmen of the Shakya caste of Newar artisans in Patan, Nepal — the same lineage that has supplied Tibetan monasteries with their most important sculpture for over a thousand years. Every piece begins as a hand-sculpted beeswax model, encased in clay, then fired so the wax melts away and molten copper alloy is poured into the resulting mould. The clay is broken, the metal figure is cold-worked by hand — chased, engraved, and refined — before the surface is fire gilded with pure 24K gold. Because each wax model is destroyed in the casting, no two statues from the workshop are ever identical.
Custom Orders
If you would prefer this Manjushri in a different size, or in an oxidized copper, partly gilded, or silver plated finish, we can commission it directly with the artisan on your behalf. Explore our custom Tibetan Buddhist statues page for the full commissioning process and to see recent custom pieces we have delivered.
Authentic, Handmade in Nepal
Every statue and ritual item is handcrafted in Patan, Nepal, using traditional lost wax casting and comes with a certificate of authenticity issued by Nepal's Department of Archaeology, verifying its materials, technique, and origin.
