十八羅漢
shí bā luó hàn (Mandarin)
An Arahant, or Lohan in Chinese, is one who has attained Enlightenment. The term “Arahant” is often used in Hinayana Buddhism. In Mahayana Buddhism, one who has attained Enlightenment is called a Buddha. The term “Lohan” is often used in Chinese Buddhism to denote a disciple who learned directly from the Buddha.
Pindola Bharadvaja
Pin-tu-lo-Po-lo-to-she(classical Chinese pronunciation), Bīndùluó Báluóduòshé(Mandarin)
Deer-Riding Lohan 騎鹿羅漢 qí lù luó hàn (Mandarin)
Sitting dignified on a dear, he had long eye-brows, was noted for psychic powers, and his voice was like the roar of a lion.
Kanaka Vatsa
Ka-no-ka-Fa-tso, Jiānuòjiā Fácuō
Joyful Lohan 喜慶羅漢 xǐ qìng luó hàn
He was very skillful in public speaking and debates. He said that happiness was experienced through the five senses but joy was experienced from within. He sometimes banged cymbals in his joy.
Karaka Bharadvaja
Ka-no-ka-Po-li-tou-she, Jiānuòjiā Bálíduòshé
Raised Bow Lohan 舉缽羅漢 jǔ bō luó hàn
A mendicant monk who asked for alms by raising his bowl, he often raised one leg in the air representing royal ease. He symbolized receiving gifts gracefully.
Subhinda
Su-p’in-t’e, Sūpíntuó
Lift Pagoda Lohan 托塔羅漢 tuō tǎ luó hàn
He was the last disciple of the Buddha. He held a pagoda in his hand as a remembrance for the Buddha. The pagoda was then introduced into China.
Nakula
No-ku-lo, Nuòjùluó
Meditating Lohan 靜座羅漢 jìng zuò luó hàn
He was a great warrior with tremendous strength who later became a monk. He attained Enlightenment through meditation.
Bhadra
Po-t’e-lo, Bátuóluó
Oversea Lohan 過江羅漢 guò jiāng luò hán
His name meant virtuous and sagacious. He spread the Dharma across the seas to the East Indies and Java.
Kalika
Ka-li-ka, Jiālǐjiā
Elephant-Riding Lohan 騎象羅漢 qí xiàng luó hàn
He was an elephant tamer. The elephant symbolizes strength, endurance and perseverance. Kalika represents patience, concentration and diligence.
Vajraputra
Fa-she-lo-fuh-to-lo, Fáshéluófúduō
Laughing Lion Lohan 笑獅羅漢 xiào shī luóhàn
He advocated that both practice and understanding were necessary to attain wisdom. He was a former lion hunter before becoming a monk. A lion cub joined him, grateful that he gave up his former profession.
Gobaka
Shu-po-ka, Xūbójiā
Open Heart Lohan 開心羅漢 kāi xīn luó hàn
Open the heart and see the Buddha. Gobaka was a crown prince. His younger brother started a rebellion but Gobaka assuring his brother that he would denounce the kingdom to become a monk, took of his garment and exposed a Buddha image on his heart.
Maha Panthaka
Mo-ha Pan-t’o-ka, Bàntuōjiā
Lifting Hands 探手羅漢 tàn shǒu luó hàn
He was a prince but became a monk. After meditation he would raise his hands like Lifting the Sky.
Rahula
Lo-hu-lo, Luóhùluó
Deep Concentration Lohan 沉思羅漢 chénsī luó hàn
He was the Buddha’s son before the Buddha left the palace. Later he sought his father for his inheritance. His boyish look reflected his youth compared to the other Lohans.
Nagasena
Na-ka-si-na, Nājiāxīnā
Ear Cleansing Lohan 挖耳羅漢 wā ěr luó hàn
Nagasena was usually depicted cleansing his ears which symbolized always hearing everything correctly. He had great supernatural powers and was an eloquent speaker and debater. He answered King Milinda’s famous questions.
Angida
Yin-kie-t’e, Yīnjiētuó
Cloth Bag Lohan 布袋羅漢 bù dài luó hàn
Angida was a snake-catcher preventing them from harming people. He took off their fangs, put them into his bag and released them in the mountains, which symbolized exchanging bad for good.
Vanavasa
Fa-na-p’o-ssu, Fánāpósī
Banana Tree Lohan 芭蕉羅漢 bā jiāo luó hàn
He was born during a heavy rainstorm, thus his name which meant rain. He liked to meditate under a banana tree.
Ajita
A-shih-to, āshìduō
Long Eyebrow Lohan 長眉羅漢 chǎng méi luó hàn
He was born with two long eyebrows. In his previous life he was a monk who failed to attain Enlightenment even cultivating to old age with only two eyebrows left. He attained Enlightenment in this life.
Chota-Panthaka
Chu-t’a -Pan-t’o-ka, Zhùchá Bàntuōjiā
Door Watching Lohan 看門羅漢 kān mén luó hàn
He was so slow-witted that he could not remember a single line of the Buddha’s teaching. The Buddha taught him to sweep the floor, and each time he swept he recited the word “Sweep”. In this way he focused his mind and attained Enlightenment.
Nantimitolo
Nam-ti-mi-to-lo, Qìngyǒu
Subduing Dragon Lohan 降龍羅漢 xiáng lóng luó hàn
People stole Buddhist sutras. The Dragon King flooded the area and restored the sutras in his palace. Nantimitolo, which means Happy Friend, subdued the dragon guard and restored the sutras to the world.
Pindola
Pin-tu-lo, Bīntóulú
Taming Tiger Lohan 伏虎羅漢 fú hǔ luó hàn
Pindola was a Brahmin and a general who later became a monk. He heard a tiger howling every day. He gathered vegetarian food from the temple and fed the tiger.
shí bā luó hàn (Mandarin)
An Arahant, or Lohan in Chinese, is one who has attained Enlightenment. The term “Arahant” is often used in Hinayana Buddhism. In Mahayana Buddhism, one who has attained Enlightenment is called a Buddha. The term “Lohan” is often used in Chinese Buddhism to denote a disciple who learned directly from the Buddha.
Pindola Bharadvaja
Pin-tu-lo-Po-lo-to-she(classical Chinese pronunciation), Bīndùluó Báluóduòshé(Mandarin)
Deer-Riding Lohan 騎鹿羅漢 qí lù luó hàn (Mandarin)
Sitting dignified on a dear, he had long eye-brows, was noted for psychic powers, and his voice was like the roar of a lion.
Kanaka Vatsa
Ka-no-ka-Fa-tso, Jiānuòjiā Fácuō
Joyful Lohan 喜慶羅漢 xǐ qìng luó hàn
He was very skillful in public speaking and debates. He said that happiness was experienced through the five senses but joy was experienced from within. He sometimes banged cymbals in his joy.
Karaka Bharadvaja
Ka-no-ka-Po-li-tou-she, Jiānuòjiā Bálíduòshé
Raised Bow Lohan 舉缽羅漢 jǔ bō luó hàn
A mendicant monk who asked for alms by raising his bowl, he often raised one leg in the air representing royal ease. He symbolized receiving gifts gracefully.
Subhinda
Su-p’in-t’e, Sūpíntuó
Lift Pagoda Lohan 托塔羅漢 tuō tǎ luó hàn
He was the last disciple of the Buddha. He held a pagoda in his hand as a remembrance for the Buddha. The pagoda was then introduced into China.
Nakula
No-ku-lo, Nuòjùluó
Meditating Lohan 靜座羅漢 jìng zuò luó hàn
He was a great warrior with tremendous strength who later became a monk. He attained Enlightenment through meditation.
Bhadra
Po-t’e-lo, Bátuóluó
Oversea Lohan 過江羅漢 guò jiāng luò hán
His name meant virtuous and sagacious. He spread the Dharma across the seas to the East Indies and Java.
Kalika
Ka-li-ka, Jiālǐjiā
Elephant-Riding Lohan 騎象羅漢 qí xiàng luó hàn
He was an elephant tamer. The elephant symbolizes strength, endurance and perseverance. Kalika represents patience, concentration and diligence.
Vajraputra
Fa-she-lo-fuh-to-lo, Fáshéluófúduō
Laughing Lion Lohan 笑獅羅漢 xiào shī luóhàn
He advocated that both practice and understanding were necessary to attain wisdom. He was a former lion hunter before becoming a monk. A lion cub joined him, grateful that he gave up his former profession.
Gobaka
Shu-po-ka, Xūbójiā
Open Heart Lohan 開心羅漢 kāi xīn luó hàn
Open the heart and see the Buddha. Gobaka was a crown prince. His younger brother started a rebellion but Gobaka assuring his brother that he would denounce the kingdom to become a monk, took of his garment and exposed a Buddha image on his heart.
Maha Panthaka
Mo-ha Pan-t’o-ka, Bàntuōjiā
Lifting Hands 探手羅漢 tàn shǒu luó hàn
He was a prince but became a monk. After meditation he would raise his hands like Lifting the Sky.
Rahula
Lo-hu-lo, Luóhùluó
Deep Concentration Lohan 沉思羅漢 chénsī luó hàn
He was the Buddha’s son before the Buddha left the palace. Later he sought his father for his inheritance. His boyish look reflected his youth compared to the other Lohans.
Nagasena
Na-ka-si-na, Nājiāxīnā
Ear Cleansing Lohan 挖耳羅漢 wā ěr luó hàn
Nagasena was usually depicted cleansing his ears which symbolized always hearing everything correctly. He had great supernatural powers and was an eloquent speaker and debater. He answered King Milinda’s famous questions.
Angida
Yin-kie-t’e, Yīnjiētuó
Cloth Bag Lohan 布袋羅漢 bù dài luó hàn
Angida was a snake-catcher preventing them from harming people. He took off their fangs, put them into his bag and released them in the mountains, which symbolized exchanging bad for good.
Vanavasa
Fa-na-p’o-ssu, Fánāpósī
Banana Tree Lohan 芭蕉羅漢 bā jiāo luó hàn
He was born during a heavy rainstorm, thus his name which meant rain. He liked to meditate under a banana tree.
Ajita
A-shih-to, āshìduō
Long Eyebrow Lohan 長眉羅漢 chǎng méi luó hàn
He was born with two long eyebrows. In his previous life he was a monk who failed to attain Enlightenment even cultivating to old age with only two eyebrows left. He attained Enlightenment in this life.
Chota-Panthaka
Chu-t’a -Pan-t’o-ka, Zhùchá Bàntuōjiā
Door Watching Lohan 看門羅漢 kān mén luó hàn
He was so slow-witted that he could not remember a single line of the Buddha’s teaching. The Buddha taught him to sweep the floor, and each time he swept he recited the word “Sweep”. In this way he focused his mind and attained Enlightenment.
Nantimitolo
Nam-ti-mi-to-lo, Qìngyǒu
Subduing Dragon Lohan 降龍羅漢 xiáng lóng luó hàn
People stole Buddhist sutras. The Dragon King flooded the area and restored the sutras in his palace. Nantimitolo, which means Happy Friend, subdued the dragon guard and restored the sutras to the world.
Pindola
Pin-tu-lo, Bīntóulú
Taming Tiger Lohan 伏虎羅漢 fú hǔ luó hàn
Pindola was a Brahmin and a general who later became a monk. He heard a tiger howling every day. He gathered vegetarian food from the temple and fed the tiger.