manjūshaka flower ［曼殊沙華］ (;  manjusha-ge): A soft white flower said to bloom in heaven and to have the power to remove the evil karma of those who see it. Manjūshaka flowers are said to rain down from the heavens when a Buddha preaches or when other wonderful events occur. In the “Introduction” (first) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, an event that heralds the preaching of the sutra is depicted as follows: “At that time heaven rained down māndārava flowers, great māndārava flowers, manjūshaka flowers, and great manjūshaka flowers, scattering them over the Buddha and over the great assembly.” These flowers are collectively known as the four kinds of flowers. See also māndāra flower.