Manjushree is regarded to be a key icon of Mahayana school of Buddhist philosophy, the origin of Saddharmapundarika and Prajnaparmita. It is said that they are the outcome of his meditation. Therefore, he is worshipped as a revered deity of knowledge and wisdom by Buddhists and Hindus alike in Nepal. Because of profound knowledge attributed to him he is revered as a Bodhisatwa who could bestow blessings to any devotee to fulfil his or her wishes.
Shree Panchami, the day of Manjushree and Saraswati Puja falls this year on Friday 23 February, 2026.
He came from China to see and offer his prayers to Swayambhu, self-existent one. Swayambhu Purana mentions this story of the visit of Manjushree to Nepal. At that time the Kathmandu valley was full of water like a lake. Manjushree cut a gorge at Chobhar with is sword of wisdom and allowed water of the lake to flow out of the valley. Manjushree is worshipped as Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom on the day of Shree Panchami every year according to Lunar calendar that corresponds on 3rd February this year. People visit temples of Saraswati on this occasion. A temple of Manjushree in Swayambhu is visited by many worshippers on this day.
In honour of Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, learning, art, music and culture children in Nepal commence learning alphabets. The tradition of teaching the alphabet to children at temples on this day has been carried out for many centuries.
Shree Panchami also known as Basanta Panchami which is considered as the beginning of the spring season and the auspicious day for marriage and initiation of other social activities.
Within Bajrayan Buddhism, Manjushree is a meditational deity and considered a fully enlightened Buddha. In Buddhism, he is one of the Thirteen Buddhas to whom disciples devote themselves.
Manjushree is depicted as a male Bodhisatwa 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 Padma (lotus) held in his left hand is a Prajñâpâramitâsûtra, representing his attainment of ultimate realization from the blossoming of wisdom. Manjushree is often depicted as riding on a blue lionor sitting on the skin of a lion. This represents the use of wisdom to tame the mind, which is compared to riding or subduing a ferocious lion.
He is one of the Four Great Bodhisatwas of Chinese Buddhism, the other three being Ksitigarbha, Avalokiteœvara, and Samantabhadra. In China, he is often paired with Samantabhadra. Similarly, in Tibetan Buddhism, Manjushree is sometimes depicted in a trinity with Avalokiteœvara and Bajrapani.
In the legends, Manjushree had created the Kathmandu Valley civilisation. He firstly drained out the water of the lake which is now the Kathmandu Valley from Chobhar George. Secondly, he helped grow human settlements and livelihood. Thirdly, king was selected to take over the rules and administration. Earlier but after draining out water of the lake, he decided to expose the flame of Swayambhu and all the sacred locations that were underwater and entered into a deep meditation on how best to do this.
All water lives were flown down with the valley water, then Manjushree had managed Taudaha to abode Karkotak Naga and others.
Manjushree knew that the Nagas were auspicious beings who knew the secrets of rain and wealth and other things that would be of great assistance to the future inhabitants of this land.
It is believed that the great Karkotak, kind of the Nagas, constructed a magnificent underwater durbar, and Karkotak’s queen sat on a throne studded with jewels, shaded with three umbrellas of white diamonds one above the other. The temple at Swayambhu hill, Chobhar George and Taudaha are some naturally beautiful places related to Manjushree worth visit.
