Himalayan Art Resources

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

གནས་བརྟན། 罗汉
(item no. 86918)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1600 - 1699
Size 101.60x59.06cm (40x23.25in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection The Brooklyn Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc. #BMA 1993.192.5, Gift of Rosemarie and Leighton Longhi
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Arhat

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

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

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