Buddha Shakyamuni and the Sixteen Arhats
Buddha Shakyamuni (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Buddha Shakyamuni, the Sixteen Arhats and Dorje Shugden.
Figure: Buddha Shakyamuni
Alternative Name: Sangye Shakya Tubpa (Tibetan)
Shakyamuni is the historical Buddha who founded Buddhism in ancient India about 2,500 years ago. After an exhaustive search, he finally attained perfect and complete enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya. His teachings became the basis for the Buddhist faith and he proclaimed that he was not the only one who achieved this state and revealed that there are other fully awakened beings that we can rely on.
Figures: The Sixteen Arhats
Alternative Name: Ne Ten Chu Drug (Tibetan)
According to the scriptures, Buddha Shakyamuni personally instructed the Sixteen Arhats, amongst the retinue of his disciples, to remain and protect practitioners and the proliferation of the Dharma. Thus, they vowed to remain and uphold the Dharma until the advent of the future Buddha, Maitreya. Thus, it is highly auspicious to depict Buddha Shakyamuni along with the Sixteen Arhats and Bodhisattvas as this commemorates the Buddha’s request and the vow of the Arhats. Liturgies of offerings and invocation of the Sixteen Arhats are traditionally performed to create the cause for longevity and good health. The Sixteen Arhats include:
- Angaja (Tib. Yenlag Chung)
- Ajita (Tib. Ma Phampa)
- Vanavasin (Tib. Nagnanepa)
- Mahakalika (Tib. Düden Chenpo)
- Vajriputra (Tib. Dorje Möbu)
- Shribhadra (Tib. Pal Zangpo)
- Kanakavatsa (Tib. Sergyi Be’u)
- Kanaka (Tib. Serchen)
- Bakula (Tib. Bakula)
- Rahula, the Buddha’s son (Tib. Drachen Dzin)
- Chulapanthaka (Tib. Lamtren Ten)
- Pindola Bharadvaja (Tib. Bharadodza Sönyom Len)
- Panthaka (Tib. Lamchenten)
- Nagasena (Tib. Lüdé)
- Gopaka (Tib. Bechepa)
- Abhedya (Tib. Michepa)
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took the form of a Dharma Protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way View. Reminiscent of Manjushri’s form, Dorje Shugden carries a meandering sword and rides a snowlion that represents the fearlessness of a fully enlightened Buddha. Thus, he has great strength to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish. Furthermore, he carries a jewel-spitting mongoose and a vajra hook to symbolise that he has the tremendous ability to bestow wealth and resources.
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Buddha Shakyamuni founder of Buddhism in ancient India about 2,500 years ago personally selected the Sixteen Arhats from amongst his disciples. The Sixteen Arhats were requested to remain in the world, protecting and maintain the Dharma until the time of the future Buddha Maitreya. Its meritorious to visualize the Buddha Shakyamuni surrounded by the Sixteen Arhats and an assembly of bodhisattvas as to develops insight into the teachings of the Buddha. In this thangka Buddha Shakyamuni with the Sixteen Arhats depicted together with Dorje Shugden who is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri . Beautiful thangka to have.
Thank you for this sharing.