Manjusri is a bodhisattva associated with prajna (insight) in Mahayana Buddhism. In Tibetan Buddhism, Manjusri manifests in a number of different Tantric forms. Yamantaka (meaning 'terminator of Yama' i.e. Death) is the wrathful manifestation of Manjusri, popular within the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Other variations upon his traditional form include Guhya-Manjusri, Guhya-Manjuvajra, and Manjuswari.

He is one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas of Chinese Buddhism, the other three being Ksitigarbha, Avalokitesvara, and Samantabhadra. In China, he is often paired with Samantabhadra.

In Tibetan Buddhism, Manjusr蘋 is sometimes depicted in a trinity with Avalokitesvara and Vajrapani.