Himalayan Art Resources

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

གནས་བརྟན། 罗汉
(item no. 13102)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1500 - 1599
Lineages Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Arhat

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Angaja the Elder (Tibetan: ne ten, yan lag Jung, Sanskrit: Sthavira Angaja): the 1st elder (arhat) from the set of 16 great elders.

"On the great snow mountain of Kailash is the noble elder Angaja, surrounded by 1,300 arhats; homage to the One holding an incense bowl and 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 2-2016

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