Dharmatala is the servant, supporter, and messenger of the sixteen Arhats. Together with Hvashang, he is a Tibetan addition to the original sixteen Arhats. In Tibet, Dharmatala is counted as the seventeenth although he is a layperson, not a monk like other Arhats. He is a devotee of the Amitabha Buddha.
ORIGIN:
Tibet
CLASSIFICATION:
Arhat
ATTRIBUTE:
Backpack filled with books
Sacred animal:
Dharmatala’s companion is a magical tiger created to banish malicious spirits. The tiger also carries Dharmatala’s books for him.
SEE ALSO:
- Arhats
- Buddha
- Buddha Amitabha
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.