Shiwan Ceramic Eighteen Lohans / Arhats
1 ) Shiwan Ceramic Deer-Sitting Lohan: Pindola the BharadvajaSitting dignified on a deer as if in deep thought. With perfect composure, contented with being above worldly pursuits.
Pindola the Bharadvaja, from a high caste Brahmin family, was formerly a powerful government official in an Indian kingdom, highly trusted by the king. One day he suddenly decided to become a Buddhist monk and, not wanting to hear any entreaties from the king, he left to join a monastery deep in the mountains.
One day, he appeared in front of the palace, riding a deer. Recognizing him, the royal guards immediately reported to the king who came out to receive him. The king told him that he could have the position back if he wanted. Bharadvaja declined and said that he came back to ask the king to join him. After a long conversation, using various metaphors to explain the sins of the flesh and desires, he finally convinced the king, who abdicated in favour of his son and followed Bharadvaja to become a monk.
2 ) Shiwan Ceramic Happy Lohan: Kanaka the VatsaDecimating the demons, the universe now cleared. Hands raised for jubilation, be wild with joy.
Kanaka the Vatsa was a well-known public speaker and debater of the Buddhist doctrines. When asked what is happiness, he would answer that it is experienced through the five senses. When asked what is bliss, he would reply that bliss is joy coming not from the five senses but from deep within, like feeling Buddha in his heart. He often wore a smiling countenance during debates and was famous for his preaching's in happiness, therefore he is called the Happy Lohan.
3 ) Shiwan Ceramic Raised Bowl Lohan: Kanaka the BharadvajaIn majestic grandeur, joy descends from heaven. Raised the bowl to receive happiness, glowing with jubilance and exultation.
Kanaka the Bharadvaja was a Buddhist mendicant monk who used to ask for alms by raising his bowl. After he had attained enlightenment, he was called the Raised Bowl Lohan. The word alms bowl, was borrowed from Sanskrit, taking the first of the three syllables of the original word, because there was no such a word in Chinese. In the very beginning, the bowl was made of metal. Nowadays, however, the bowl is commonly found to be made of finely polished coconut shell halves or red beech wood. Its use, that of holding alms food, remains unchanged.
4 ) Shiwan Ceramic Raised Pagoda Lohan: NandimitraA seven-story pagoda, miraculous power of the Buddha. Forceful without being angry, with preeminent Buddhist might.
According to legend, this lohan Nandimitra, the sweet one, was the last disciple of the Buddha. In memory of his dear beloved master, Nandimitra often carried a specially made pagoda with him, signifying that Buddha was always there, forever and ever.
Before the introduction of Buddhism to China, there was no pagoda in the country. The Chinese had to create a new character, from the first syllable of the original Sanskrit word, to call this unique architectural structure. In Buddhism, the pagoda is a container for the Buddha's bones, and therefore, symbolizes the faith.
5 ) Shiwan Ceramic Meditating Lohan - NakulaQuietly cultivating the mind, a countenance calm and composed. Serene and dignified, to enter the Western Paradise.
According to tradition, this lohan, Nakula or Pakula, was originally a warrior with immense strength. He gave up the life of fighting and killing to become a monk, finally attaining enlightenment through constant meditation. However, due to his former profession, he still exuded much physical strength even during meditation. In mythology, this lohan's sphere of influence extended through all of India, and was considered one of Buddha's favourite disciples. Occasionally, he is portrayed as a teacher, holding a string of Buddhist rosary with a small boy beside him.
6 ) Shiwan Ceramic Oversea Lohan: BodhidrumaBearing the sutras, Sail east to spread the world. Climbing mountains and fording streams, For the deliverance of the humanity. Bodhidruma in Sanskrit means virtuous and sagacious. It is also the name of a rare tree in India, the bodhi which has became famous and known as the tree of wisdom because Sakyamuni became enlightened under its shade. This lohan was born under such a tree and was given the name of Bodhidruma. Legend has it that Bodhidruma was responsible for spreading Buddhism to the East Indies. From India he sailed across the ocean to land on the island of Java, hence the name "Oversea."
7 ) Shiwan Ceramic Elephant-Riding Lohan: KalikaRiding an elephant with a dignified air, chanting aloud the sutras. With a heart for the humanity, eyes scanning the four corners of the universe.
Kali in Sanskrit means elephant and kalika, an elephant rider, or a follower of kali. The elephant, for its immense strength and power, endurance and perseverance, symbolizes the Buddhist might. Kalika the lohan was an elephant trainer-turned-Buddhist monk who had earned sufficient merits to attain enlightenment. In memory of his former profession, he is often portrayed with an elephant.
8 ) Shiwan Ceramic Laughing Lion Lohan: VajraputraPlayful and free of inhibitions, the lion cub leaps with joy. Easily alternating tension with relaxation, rejoicing with all living things.
Vajraputra literally means "man of cats." He was a lion hunter before he was converted to Buddhism. After he had attained enlightenment, a little lion came playfully to his side. The animal seemed to be grateful to him for giving up the life of killing lions, thus sparing its parents and brothers. Since then, Vajraputra and the little lion have become inseparable. The lion, with its earth-shaking roar, symbolizes the invincible might of Buddhism. Therefore, it is very common to find a pair of lions standing guard at the front gate of a Buddhist temple or monastery in China.
9 ) Shiwan Ceramic Open Heart Lohan: GobakaOpen the heart and there is Buddha, each displaying his prowess. The two should not compete, for Buddha's power is boundless.
Gobaka was the prince of a minor kingdom in India. When he was made crown prince, his younger brother started a rebellion. But Gobaka assured his brother that he wanted to refuse the kingdom and become a monk because he only had Buddha in his heart. As proof, he exposed his chest and there indeed was a Buddha in his heart. The younger brother then believed him and stopped the rebellion. Gobaka became a monk. It is believed that Gobaka was the monk Shan Wu Wei, who arrived at Changan (today's Xi'an) during the Tang Dynasty in 716 A.D. Gobaka literally means 'man of heart', weak physically but strong of spirit.
10 ) Shiwan Ceramic Raised Hand Lohan - Pantha the ElderEasy and comfortable, yawning and stretching. In a state of omniscience, contented with his own lot.
According to legend , Pantha the Elder was the prince of a small Indian kingdom called Kintota. When he became a monk, he liked to meditate in the half-lotus style. Upon waking up, he would raise his hands and let out a deep breath, hence the name Raised Hand. He was the elder brother of the Doorman Lohan. The two brother were both born while the mother was travelling, and were given a Sanskrit name which means "born on the road
11 ) Shiwan Ceramic Thinking Lohan: RahulaPondering and meditating, understanding it all. Above this world and free from conventions, compassion conveyed up to the Ninth Heaven
Rahula is the Indian name of a constellation. In ancient India, it was believed that eclipses were caused by a star coming between the earth and the moon or the sun; blocking out the light. This lohan was born during a lunar eclipse and was given the name Rahula, the constellation that caused this phenomenon. Rahula was one of the Buddha's 10 favourite disciples, and was well-known for his meditative power. It is believed that he could become omnipotent and omniscient during meditation. When deep in thought, he was ruminating wisdom and action.
12 ) Shiwan Ceramic Scratched Ear Lohan: NagasenaLeisurely and contented, happy and knowledgeable. Full of wit and humor, exuberant with interest.
His Sanskrit name is Nagasena, which means an army of dragons and symbolizes strong supernatural power.
Nagasena was an eloquent speaker and debater. He was famous all over India for his preaching's on the "hear no evil" maxim. The senses of hearing is one of the six sources through which mankind become aware of the world. Therefore a practitioner of Buddhism should avoid listening to decadent sounds and in particular other people's secrets. Thus he is often portrayed as scratching his ear, a gesture symbolizing the purification of the sense of hearing in the search for peace and quiet.
13 ) Shiwan Ceramic Calico Bag Lohan: AngidaBuddha of infinite life, valuable bag containing secrets of heaven and earth. Happy and contented, cheerful and joyful is he.
According to legend, Angida was an Indian snake-catcher whose aim was to prevent the snakes from biting passers-by. After the snakes were caught, he would remove the venomous fangs and then release them in the mountains. It was due to this kindness of heart that Angida was able to attain enlightenment. He carried a bag to put the snakes in.
He is supposed to have appeared in Fenghua in Zhejiang Province in 907 A.D. as a mendicant monk carrying a bag. He was seen for the second time in China in 917 A.D., preaching on a rock next to the Yuelin Temple.
14 ) Shiwan Ceramic Plantain Lohan: VanavasaCarefree and leisurely, disdainfully regards the Great Void. With celestial airs and religious spirit, transcending this mortal world.
According to legend, he was born during a heavy downpour, and the plantain trees in his back garden were rustling noisily. Thus he was named Vanavasa, which means rain in Sanskrit. Later on he became a Buddhist monk, finally attaining enlightenment. Because he liked to meditate under a plantain tree, he is called the Plantain Lohan. In mythology, he is supposed to have been stationed on the Ko-Chu mountain with 1,400 lesser lohans. He is sometime shown meditating in a cave with eyes closed and hands folded over his knees.
15 ) Shiwan Ceramic Long-eyebrow Lohan: AsitaCompassionate elder, a monk who has attained enlightenment. Perceptive of the infinite universe, with tacit understanding.
"Asita" in Sanskrit means incomparably proper, or of correct proportions in spirit and physique. According to legend, Asita was born with two long white eyebrows. The story was that in his previous life he was a monk who, though having tried very hard yet could not attain enlightenment even at a ripe old age, and had only two long white eyebrows left. After his death he reincarnated as a human being again.
After he was born, his father was told that Shakyamuni Buddha also has two long eyebrows, therefore his son had the look of the Buddha in him. As a result, Asita was sent away to a monastery to become a monk, eventually attaining enlightenment.
16 ) Shiwan Ceramic Doorman Lohan: Pantha the YoungerPowerful, husky and tough, watching with careful alertness. With the Buddhist staff in hand, Valiantly annihilates the evil.
According to legend, this lohan, also known as Pantha the Younger, was one of Buddha's favourite disciples. When he went alms-begging he would bang on people's doors. One time he did that, the old and rotten door fell apart, and he had to apologize to the owner of the house. So Buddha gave him a tin staff and told him, "When you go alms-begging, you don't have to bang on people's doors any more. Just tap this staff. If the people inside want to give you alms, they will come out." The tin staff had several rings on it and made a light noise when tapped. The tin staff has become the symbol of this lohan.
17 ) Shiwan Ceramic Taming Dragon Lohan - NantimitoloIn the hands are the spiritual pearl and the holy bowl, endowed with power that knows no bounds. Full of valour, vigour and awe-inspiring dignity, to succeed in vanquishing the ferocious dragon.
His Sanskrit name is Nantimitolo. Nanti means happy, and mitolo, friend. Together the name means happy friend. He is called the Taming Dragon Lohan for a brave act he performed. In ancient India, the people of a small kingdom, after being incited by a demon, went on a rampage against the Buddhists and monasteries, stealing the Buddhist sutras. The king of the undersea flooded the kingdom and rescued the sutras, which he put in his palace. Nantimitolo subdued the dragon guard and restored the sutras back to earth. Hence he is called the Taming Dragon Lohan.
18 ) Shiwan Ceramic Taming Tiger Lohan: PindolaPrecious ring with magical powers, infinitely resourceful. Vigorous and powerful, subduing a ferocious tiger.
Pindola was a Brahmin and a general. Because he was devoted to Buddhism, which forbids killing, he was ordered by the king to become a monk. He joined a monastery in the mountains where he could hear a tiger howling every day. He said that the tiger was probably hungry and should be fed some vegetarian food. Otherwise the tiger might become a man-eater. So Pindola collected food from the monks and put it in a bucket which he left outside the monastery. The tiger did come for the food every night. After a period of time, the tiger was tamed. Thus Pindola was referred to as the Taming Tiger Lohan.
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