Himalayan Art Resources

Arhat/Sthavira: Vajriputra Main Page

Vajriputra Masterworks

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- Vajriputra Description (below)
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Tibetan : Neten Dorje Mo'i Bu (gnas brtan rdo rje mo'i bu)

Vajriputra the Elder (Tibetan: ne ten, dor je mo'i bu, Sanskrit: Sthavira Vajriputra): the 5th arhat from the set of sixteen great arhats.

"On the Island of Singha is the noble elder Vajriputra, surrounded by 1,000 arhats; homage to the One performing a pointing gesture and holding a fly whisk." (Sakya liturgical verse).

The Sixteen Great Arhats are generally painted as a set. Typically 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.

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Jeff Watt 5-99 [updated 8-2017, 1-2020]