Buddhist iconography in and outside India (Study)
by Purabi Gangopadhyay | 2016 | 47,446 words
This essay represents a a comparative study of Buddhist iconography in and outside India, focusing on regions such as China, Korea, and Japan. The study is divided into four chapters, covering: 1. The emergence of Buddhism in India and its spread to other countries; 2. A historical account of Indian Buddhist iconography and the integration of Brahm...
Manjushri and Brahma
Another important Buddhist deity Manjusri may be regarded as possessing similarity with the features of Brahma who is one of the important members of the Hindu Triad in the post vedic age. He was undoubtedly derived from 'Prajapati', the vedic god of sacrifice. The Sruka, Sruva and Pustaka became his special emblems. The Sruka, Separate temples dedicated to Brahma are very few. The Brahma figure from khed-Brahma temple, shows the god as standing on the western niche, has 1. Indian Buddhist Iconography, p. 347.
- .28 the usual symbols in his hands (sruka, Sruva, Aksamala and Kamandulu) but here he has a bull as his mount instead of a swan. Manjusri, the Buddhist counterpart of Brahma is represented generally in two distinct types. In one of these two representations he holds the sword and book and in another representation he is depicted as holding utpala or lotus and with a book. He is regarded as the god of wisdom. He bestows the lights of knowledge, while he brandishes the sword of knowledge to clear the cloud of ignorance.