Ārya Ṣaḍakṣarī Mahāvidyā Nāma Dhāraṇī

The Ārya Ṣaḍakṣarī Mahāvidyā Nāma Dhāraṇī is an important Buddhist dhāraṇī text associated with Avalokiteśvara and the sacred six-syllabled mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum.” The manuscript reflects the religious, cultural, and manuscript traditions of Nepalese Buddhism. The references to the date, script, and royal or scribal patronage suggest its historical significance as a preserved work of Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna literature. Written in Ranjana script, the manuscript also provides valuable evidence for the study of Buddhist manuscript culture, paleography, and devotional practices in the Himalayan region. The manuscript further mentions two dhāraṇīs, namely the “Ārya Ṣaḍakṣarī Mahāvidyā Nāma Dhāraṇī” and the “Ārya Jātismara Nāma Dhāraṇī,” indicating that the text may be a compilation of multiple sacred Buddhist dhāraṇī traditions preserved within a single manuscript.