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

Tibetan: གནས་བརྟན། Chinese: 罗汉

(item no. 652)

Origin Location	Tibet
Date Range	1600 - 1699
Lineages	Gelug
Size	123.19x84.46cm (48.50x33.25in)
Material	Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection	Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue #	acc.# P1998.5.2

Classification: Person

Appearance: Arhat

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Rahula, the Buddha's son, sits in the upper half of the composition. He holds a vajra and bell in the two hands while relaxed in the lap. Rahula has a number of different ways in which he is depicted. The most common depiction in Tibetan art is for him to be holding up a jeweled crown with both hands.

Pindolo Bharadvaja sits below with his hands in the gesture of meditation. Both figures are identified by inscriptions.

Jeff Watt 7-2010