Item: Arhat/Sthavira (Buddhist Elder) - 16 Elders: Pindola Bharadvaja

Pindola Bharadvaja, the Elder (Tibetan: ne ten, bha ra dva dza so nyom len, Sanskrit: Sthavira Pindola Bharadvaja): the 12th arhat from the set of sixteen great arhats, principal students of the buddha Shakyamuni. This composition belongs to a twenty-three painting set. Each composition tells a brief life story with three to five narrative vignettes accompanied by short inscriptions.

Tibetan: Neten Bharadhvadza Sonyomlen (gnas brtan bha ra dhva dza bsod snyoms len).

"On the Eastern [continent] of Purva-Videha is the noble elder Pindola Bharadvaja, surrounded by 1,100 arhats; homage to the One holding a book and begging bowl." (Sakya liturgical text).

The Sixteen Great Arhats are generally painted as a set. The full group would include the buddha Shakyamuni, the 16 arhats, the attendant Dharmatala, the patron Hvashang and the Four Guardians of the Directions - Vaishravana, Virupaksha, Dritarashtra and Virudhaka.

Jeff Watt 10-2000