Rahula, the Elder (Tibetan: ne ten, dra chen dzin, Sanskrit: Sthavira Rahula): the actual son of the buddha Shakyamuni and the 10th arhat from the set of 16 Great Arhats.

With a pale complexion, handsome and clean shaven, he holds in the two hands held to the heart a gold tiara studded with jewels - a gift of the gods from the Heaven of Thirty-three. Wearing a jade green cloak with long sleeves, a white lining and tied with a blue sash, across the shoulders and wrapped about the lower body is an orange and red patchwork robe. With the legs in vajra posture above a floral design carpet he sits atop a rocky bench with the head surrounded by a large ethereal circle of light.

"On the Island of Priyangku is the noble elder Rahula, surrounded by 1,100 arhats; homage to the One holding a jewelled tiara." (Sakya liturgical text).

In front on a rock footstool is a pair of orange sandals. Resting peacefully at the lower left a brown spotted stag sits with the head turned to the side. At the right a heavenly figure with a dark moustache and goatee, wearing a Dharma book on the back tied with a red sash, rides atop a large green dragon twisting with the limbs flailed above a bank of billowing white clouds. A steep rocky hillside of blue and green rises at the right covered with white flowering shrubs and trees. At the left a terraced landscape extends upward to a cloud filled sky.

The full group of arhats traditionally comprise 25 figures: the buddha Shakyamuni, together with the two foremost disciples - Shariputra and Maudgalyayana, the 16 Arhats, the attendant Dharmata, the patron Hva-shang and the Four Guardians of the Directions; Vaishravana, Virupaksha, Dritarashtra and Virudhaka.

Jeff Watt 9-99