Manjusri

Samantabhadra

Manjusri and Samantabhadra

Cave 9, Tianlongshan Grottoes, Shanxi

Manjusri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, is paired with Samantabhadra, the Bodhisattva of Practice, in triad with Avalokiteshvara (previous page). Manjusri, left, rides a lion with a ball (symbolizing either the world, or the pearl of wisdom) in its mouth. Samantabhadra, right, rides an elephant with three tusks on either side of its mouth, like Indra's mount Airavata.