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

Abheda, the Elder (Tibetan: ne ten, mi je pa. Sanskrit: Sthavira Abheda): the 16th of the 16 Great Arhats, principal students of the Buddha Shakyamuni.

"On the King of Snow Mountains is the noble elder Abheda, surrounded by 1,100 arhats; homage to the one holding an enlightenment stupa." (Sakya liturgical verse).

The full group of arhats would traditionally comprise 25 figures: the Buddha Shakyamuni, together with the two foremost disciples - Shariputra and Maudgalyayana, the 16 Arhats, the attendant Dharmata, the patron Hvashang and the Four Guardians of the Directions; Vaishravana, Virupaksha, Dritarashtra and Virudhaka.

Jeff Watt 3-2002