Pindola Bharadvaja
Venerable Pindola | |
|---|---|
 Pindola (Japanese: 賓頭盧, Chinese: 賓頭盧/宾头卢) statue in Mitsu-tera Temple, Osaka, Japan (日本，大阪，三津寺) | |
| Personal life | |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Pindola Bharadvaja |
| Occupation | bhikkhu |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher | Buddha |
Pindola Bharadvaja (Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja) is an Arhat in Buddhism.[1] According to the earliest Indian Buddhist sutras, Pindola Bharadvaja was one of four Arhats asked by the Buddha to remain in the world (Chinese: 住世) to propagate Buddhist law (Dharma).[1] Each of the four was associated with one of the four compass directions.
Pindola is said to have excelled in the mastery of occult and psychic powers. He was once remonstrated by the Buddha for misusing his powers to impress simple, ignorant people.[2]
Along with Ananda, Pindola preached to the women of Udena's palace at Kosambi on two occasions.[3]
In later centuries, the number of Arhats increases from four to Sixteen Arhats, then later on to 18.[1] In Tibetan Thangka paintings depicting the 18 Arhats, Pindola Bharadvaja is usually depicted holding a book and begging bowl.
Regional Influence
Japan
In Japan, Pindola is called Binzuru (賓頭盧, [びんずる] Error: {{nihongo}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 1) (help)), a short form of Bindora Baradaja (賓度羅跋囉惰闍, [びんどら ばらだじゃ] Error: {{nihongo}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 1) (help)), and is arguably the most popular of all the Arhats. The monastery refectory near Tōdai-ji Temple at Nara has a large wooden statue of Binzuru, depicting him seated in the lotus position. Statues of him are usually well worn, since the faithful follow the custom of rubbing a part of the effigy corresponding to the sick parts of their bodies, as he is reputed to have the gift of healing. Nagano, whose Zenkoji temple also hosts a well-worn Binzuru statue, stages a yearly Binzuru festival.
He is also very frequently offered red and white bibs and children's caps to watch over the health of babies, so that his statue is often decked in rags. He is represented in painting as an old man seated on a rock, holding in his hand a sort of sceptre (a Japanese shaku), or a sutra box and a feather fan. All the other Arahants are usually worshipped in Japan in his person.[4]
Chinese Buddhism
In Chinese community, Pindola is usually called Bīntóulú (simplified Chinese: 宾头卢; traditional Chinese: 賓頭盧), who is regarded as the "First in Blessings" (福田第一) disciple of Sakyamuni Buddha. His image is sometimes placed in a prominent position during any gatherings of monastics who share a vegetarian feast. That is to say that Chinese monks keep a chair ready at the dining table in case Pindola shows up. They all know that this will not happen, but it's a way of showing sympathy for the monk who is said to have been hungry throughout his life.
Tibetan Buddhism
Pindola Bharadvaja (Skt. Piṇḍolabhāradvāja; Tib. པིཎྜོ་ལ་བྷཱ་ར་དྭཱ་ཛཿ བྷ་ར་དྷྭ་ཛ་བསོད་སྙོམས་ལེན་, Bharadodza Sönyom Le; Wyl. bha ra dhwa dza bsod snyoms len) — one of the Sixteen Arhats.
Born into a family of royal chaplains, he found no meaning in this life. Seeing the gifts and favours that were bestowed on the Buddha's disciples he had decided to become a monk. At first he was very greedy, and went about with a large alms bowl, however, following the Buddha's personal advice he conquered his greed and lived strictly on whatever he received and soon became an arhat. He constantly showed his gratitude to the Buddha by obeying his words and working only for the benefit of others.
Pindola Bharadvaja lives in a mountain cave on the eastern continent (Purvavideha) with 1,000 arhats. He carries a scripture in his right hand and an alms bowl in his left which he uses to aid those in the lower realms, conferring wisdom and granting wishes, protecting from misfortune
India
Notes
- ^ a b c Strong, John S. (1983). The Legend of King Asoka. Princeton University Press. pp. 83–86. ISBN 9780691605074.
- ^ "The Buddha's Attitude to Miracles". Life of Buddha. www.buddhanet.net. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
- ^ Vin.ii.290f; SNA.ii.514; J.iv.375
- ^ "Pindola - Bindora Baradaja". rakan-arhat-lohan. onmarkproductions. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
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