Item: Arhat/Sthavira (Buddhist Elder)

Tibetan: གནས་བརྟན། Chinese: 罗汉

(item no. 90313)

Origin Location	Tibet
Date Range	1800 - 1899
Lineages	Uncertain
Material	Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection	Robert and Lois Baylis

Classification: Person

Interpretation / Description

Arhats: from the group of 16 Great Arhats the principal students of the Buddha Shakyamuni.

At the top, from the left, is Chudapantaka with the hands in meditation, Pindola Bharadvaja holding a begging bowl, Nagasena holding a staff and vase, Gopaka holding a book, Pantaka holding a book and performing the mudra of explication and finally Abheda holding a stupa.

At the bottom center is the attendant Dharmatala with a canopy above the head. At the left side is the Guardian King Virupaksha and to the right is Vaishravana.

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. (See painting #90313 from the same set).

Jeff Watt 4-2000