Himalayan Art Resources

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

གནས་བརྟན། 罗汉
(item no. 65016)
Origin Location China
Date Range 1600 - 1699
Lineages Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Silk
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc.#C2001.5.2
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Arhat

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Pantaka, the Elder (Tibetan: ne ten, lam ten. Sanskrit: Sthavira Pantaka): the 13th arhat from the set of 16 great arhats, principal students of the Buddha Shakyamuni.

"In the Heavens of the Thirty-three is the noble elder Pantaka, surrounded by 900 arhats; homage to the One [performing] Dharma explication and holding a book." (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 4-2004

(There are ten more paintings from this set found in the Shechen Archives Photographic Collection and another painting in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York. The Arhat Pindola, China, Ming Dynasty, c.a. 1600. Li996.2.)

Related Items
Publications
Publication: Selection of Works - Painting (RMA)

Thematic Sets
Collection of RMA: China (Painting Masterworks)
Artist: Choying Dorje & Atelier (RMA)
Arhat/Sthavira: Main Page & Arhat/Sthavira Appearance (Elder)
Painting Set: Arhats: Single Main Figure
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art (RMA): Main Page
Painting Style: Chinese
Arhat/Sthavira: Pantaka Main Page
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Arhat/Sthavira
Collection of RMA: Persons Masterworks
Painting Set: Arhat Set: Chinese Ink