Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Arhat/Sthavira (Buddhist Elder)

གནས་བརྟན། 罗汉
(item no. 90515)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1800 - 1899
Lineages Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Interpretation / Description

Four Arhats: in the middle and slightly above is Bakula holding a mongoose with the two hands. Pindola Bharadvaja holds a book. Kanaka Bharadvaja has a beard and places the hands in meditation. Pantaka holds a book in the right hand and performs a mudra of explication with the left. This composition is from a five painting set depicting Shakyamuni Buddha, two principal students and the Sixteen Arhats, along with the two attendants Dharmatala and Hvashang and Four Guardian Kings.

Along the top are eight of the Thirty-five Buddhas of Confession. At the bottom right is the attendant Dharmatala and at the left side is Vaishravana, Direction King of the North, holding a victory banner and a mongoose at the left.

Jeff Watt 5-2000

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Collection of Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art
Arhat/Sthavira: Main Page & Arhat/Sthavira Appearance (Elder)
Painting Set: Arhats: Multiple Main Figures
Arhat/Sthavira: Bakula Main Page
Arhat/Sthavira: Kanakabharadvaja Main Page
Arhat/Sthavira: Pindola Bharadvaja Main Page
Collection of Southern Alleghenies: Arhats