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.

Gazing directly forward with eyes partially closed, and a sparse trace of dark facial hair, the hands respectfully covered with a white scarf hold at the heart a golden stupa. Across the left shoulder and wrapped around the torso is the orange and red patchwork robe of a monk, cut from strips of discarded cloth and dyed with saffron. The lower body is covered with a blue robe tied with an orange sash. In a relaxed posture with the ankles crossed and the feet exposed he sits atop a monk's meditation mat on a rough wooden platform seat. A large areola of ethereal light blended with the background and framed by massive flower blossoms of various colour and rich green foliage frame the head. At the right a layperson seated on a cloudbank offers in wide-open arms a white scarf. Below that a heavenly figure with flowers in the hair and a long flowing blue scarf holds an offering upraised with both hands. A small child behind clutches a large flower vase.

"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 8-99