Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Arhat/Sthavira (Buddhist Elder) - 16 Elders: Pantaka

གནས་བརྟན། 罗汉
(item no. 12871)
Origin Location China
Date Range 1700 - 1799
Lineages Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Arhat

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Pantaka, the Elder (Tibetan: gnas brtan lam bstan, Sanskrit: Sthavira Pantaka): the 13th arhat from the set of 16 great arhats, principal students of the buddha Shakyamuni. (See a comparable image of Pantaka HAR #34884 from the Palace Museum collection).

"In the Heavens of the Thirty-three is the noble elder Pantaka, surrounded by 900 arhats; homage to the One [performing] Dharma explication and holding a book." (Sakya liturgical text).

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.

Jeff Watt 5-99

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Arhat/Sthavira: Pantaka Main Page
Arhat/Sthavira: Painting Masterworks (Miscellaneous)
Painting Set: Arhat/Sthavira (Yongle Style Miscellaneous)