Himalayan Art Resources

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

གནས་བརྟན། 罗汉
(item no. 2231)
Origin Location Tibet
Lineages Buddhist
Material Wood
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Arhat

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Pantaka, the Elder (Tibetan: ne ten, lam ten, Sanskrit: Sthavira Pantaka): the 13th arhat from the set of 16 great arhats, principal students of the buddha Shakyamuni.

"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 [updated 2-2017]

Secondary Images
Related Items
Thematic Sets
Sculpture: Sandalwood, Red (Zitan)
Collection: Bonhams New York (Painting & Sculpture. March, 2017)
Arhat/Sthavira: Main Page & Arhat/Sthavira Appearance (Elder)
Arhat/Sthavira: Pantaka Main Page