In Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisattva is the highest ideal of spiritual wisdom. Persons motivated by great compassion, or through the practice of austerities, may attain this enlightened state. In Theravāda Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is a person who is on the path to attain enlightenment. The scroll held in the figure’s right hand signifies that this Bodhisattva is the Manjushri—the embodiment of spiritual wisdom.
