Himalayan Art Resources

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

གནས་བརྟན། 罗汉
(item no. 90323)
Origin Location Eastern Tibet
Date Range 1400 - 1499
Lineages Uncertain
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Robert and Lois Baylis
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Arhat

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Gopaka, the Elder (Tibetan: ne ten, be che, Sanskrit: Sthavira Gopaka): the 15th arhat from the set of 16 great arhats, principal students of the buddha Shakyamuni.

"On the king of mountains, Bihula, is the noble elder Gopaka, surrounded by 1,400 arhats; homage to the One holding a book with the two hands." (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 2-2001

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Arhat/Sthavira: Gopaka Masterworks
Collection of Robert & Lois Baylis
Arhat/Sthavira: Gopaka Main Page
Painting Set: Arhats: Single Main Figure
Painting Set: Arhat Set XXXIII