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Lot Essay
The Upasaka Dharmatala is the layman attendant to the Sixteen Great Arhats in Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism and is considered by some to be an emanation of Avalokiteshvara. In paintings, he is always depicted with Shakyamuni and the Sixteen Great Arhats and never by himself; it is probable therefore that this bronze would have been part of a larger set depicting the Sixteen Great Arhats and possibly the Shakyamuni Buddha.
Dharmatala is always represented with the Buddhist scriptures tied to his back to facilitate travel and he is often shown with his attendant tiger, as in the present example. In his hand, he holds the bumpa, or water vessel, and would have likely held a fly whisk in his left hand.
Dharmatala is always represented with the Buddhist scriptures tied to his back to facilitate travel and he is often shown with his attendant tiger, as in the present example. In his hand, he holds the bumpa, or water vessel, and would have likely held a fly whisk in his left hand.