Vajriputra the Elder (Tibetan: ne ten, dor je mo bu. Sanskrit: Sthavira Vajriputra): the 5th arhat from the set of 16 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.

Jeff Watt 5-99

Wisdom Calendar 1995 - July (full catalog list)