The 16 Arya Elders are in essence Buddhas. Their great-compassion and enlightened deeds see them committed uninterruptedly to the welfare and guardianship of all sentient-beings till the end of samsara. They appear in the aspect of Sravaka-Arhats endowed with the 12 qualities of purification and are commanded to guard and protect the Shasana (Buddha’s Doctrine) of the peerless Shakyamuni Buddha. It is said that if one makes invocations to the 16 Sthaviras, through the power of their Bodhicitta and distinct past prayers one receives distinct blessings and benefits. Here, some of these blessings and benefits are described in brief at the end of the profiles of each of the 16 Sthaviras. There is a difference in the appearance of monastics in India,Tibet and China; dressed in their unique garments and holding different implements and displaying different mudras. These appearances address the differences in the proclivities and dispositions of individual disciples. Just so they are all renowned to have accomplished the well-being of the Shasana and all the sentient beings by appearing in conformity with the proclivities and dispositions of individual disciples. In the 8th Century CE, during the lifetime of the Tibetan King TrisongDetsen, the Mula-Sarvastivada lineage of monastic vows,passed on through SthaviraRahula,was transmitted by Acharya Shantarakshita in the land of Tibet. This lineage prospered and tens of thousands of Vinaya holders could extensively benefit the Shasana and all sentient-beings across the world in general and in particular in the lands of China, Tibet and Mongolia. LumeyDromChungwa, Jowo Je, other Kadampa heart-disciples and others installed relief paintings of the 16 Arya Arhats. Rituals involving making offerings to these Arhatsas also Jenangs continue unimpaired till this day. There have been instances of different people beingidentified as manifestations of these Sthaviras in India and in Tibet. Although Bhagwan Buddha has passed into Mahaparinirvana the 16 Sthaviras abide and so do legends describing them as the 16 Great Ambassadors of the Victor and the 16 Great Sages (Munis). In brief, there exists in the legends from the past, descriptions about how, if you make prostrations, offerings and invocations to the 16 Arya Sthaviras, there is inexpressible benefit in terms of the Buddha’s Shasana prospering, prolonging of the lives of the Gurus, establishing the welfare of sentient-beings and inviting auspiciousness to countries and nations, since the 16 Arya Sthaviras are incomparable in their compassion and prayers to ensure protection and guardianship of the Shasana as commanded by the teacher-Bhagwan Buddha.

The 16 Arya Elders are in essence Buddhas. Their great-compassion and enlightened deeds see them committed uninterruptedly to the welfare and guardianship of all sentient-beings till the end of samsara. They appear in the aspect of Sravaka-Arhats endowed with the 12 qualities of purification and are commanded to guard and protect the Shasana (Buddha’s Doctrine) of the peerless Shakyamuni Buddha. It is said that if one makes invocations to the 16 Sthaviras, through the power of their Bodhicitta and distinct past prayers one receives distinct blessings and benefits. Here, some of these blessings and benefits are described in brief at the end of the profiles of each of the 16 Sthaviras. There is a difference in the appearance of monastics in India,Tibet and China; dressed in their unique garments and holding different implements and displaying different mudras. These appearances address the differences in the proclivities and dispositions of individual disciples. Just so they are all renowned to have accomplished the well-being of the Shasana and all the sentient beings by appearing in conformity with the proclivities and dispositions of individual disciples. In the 8th Century CE, during the lifetime of the Tibetan King TrisongDetsen, the Mula-Sarvastivada lineage of monastic vows,passed on through SthaviraRahula,was transmitted by Acharya Shantarakshita in the land of Tibet. This lineage prospered and tens of thousands of Vinaya holders could extensively benefit the Shasana and all sentient-beings across the world in general and in particular in the lands of China, Tibet and Mongolia. LumeyDromChungwa, Jowo Je, other Kadampa heart-disciples and others installed relief paintings of the 16 Arya Arhats. Rituals involving making offerings to these Arhatsas also Jenangs continue unimpaired till this day. There have been instances of different people beingidentified as manifestations of these Sthaviras in India and in Tibet. Although Bhagwan Buddha has passed into Mahaparinirvana the 16 Sthaviras abide and so do legends describing them as the 16 Great Ambassadors of the Victor and the 16 Great Sages (Munis). In brief, there exists in the legends from the past, descriptions about how, if you make prostrations, offerings and invocations to the 16 Arya Sthaviras, there is inexpressible benefit in terms of the Buddha’s Shasana prospering, prolonging of the lives of the Gurus, establishing the welfare of sentient-beings and inviting auspiciousness to countries and nations, since the 16 Arya Sthaviras are incomparable in their compassion and prayers to ensure protection and guardianship of the Shasana as commanded by the teacher-Bhagwan Buddha.

Tathagata Vira-sena (Tathagata Guided by Heroes) resides in the southern Shrimat-loka (Splendorous World). He has a yellow complexion. He holds a scripture in his right hand and a sword in his left. He wears the three robes of the Bhikshu. He sits in the Vajra (Vajrasana) posture. When one takes refuge in Tathagata Vira-sena (Tathagata Guided by Heroes) and makes prostrations to him it purifies the sins and obscurations that one may have accumulated through speech and the merit one accumulates is inestimable.

Tathagata Vira-nandi (Tathagata Delighted Hero) resides in the south-western Nandavat-loka (Delight-endowed World). He has a red-yellow complexion. He holds a sun (disc) in his right hand and a red-lotus in his left. He wears the three robes of the Bhikshu. He sits in the Vajra (Vajrasana) posture. When one takes refuge in Tathagata Vira-nandi (Tathagata Delighted Hero) and makes prostrations to him it purifies the sins and obscurations that one may have accumulated through the door of the mind and the merit one accumulates is inestimable.

Tathagata Varuna (Tathagata Water-God) resides in the southern Vimala-loka (The Stainless World). He has a blue complexion. He holds a water-mandala in his right hand and his left is in the Dharma-preaching mudra. He wears the three robes of the Bhikshu. He sits in the Vajra (Vajrasana) posture. When one takes refuge in Tathagata Varuna (Tathagata Water-God) and makes prostrations to him it purifies the sins and obscurations that one may have accumulated by undermining a female foe-destroyer (female Arhat) and the merit one accumulates is inestimable.

Tathagata Vajrasara-pramardina (Tathagata Thoroughly Destroying with Vajra Essence) resides in Akashagarbha-loka (Sky-Essence World) in the space directly above us (at the zenith). He has a blue complexion and holds Vajras in both hands. He wears the three robes of the Bhikshu. He sits in the Vajra (Vajrasana) posture. When one takes refuge in Vajrasara-pramardina (Tathagata Thoroughly Destroying with Vajra Essence) and makes prostrations to him it purifies the sins and obscurations that one may have accumulated over a period of 110,000 great eons and the merit one accumulates is inestimable.

He resides in the Craving-Free World at the zenith. His body is blue, his right hand is holding Mt. Meru and the left a lotus. He wears monastic robes and his two legs are arranged in the vajra posture. By prostrating and going for refuge to him, one accumulates an incalculable store of merit and purifies negative obscurations accumulated over ten thousand eons.

Tathagata Shura-data (Tathagata Bestowed with Courage) resides in Dhuli-loka (Fine Ash World) in the space directly below us (at the nadir). He has a white complexion. He holds wood-apple stems and leaves in both hands. He wears the three robes of the Bhikshu. He sits in the Vajra (Vajrasana) posture. When one takes refuge in Tathagata Shura-datta (Tathagata Bestowed with Courage) and makes prostrations to him it purifies the sins and obscurations that one may have accumulated by killing a foe-destroyer (Arhat) and the merit one accumulates is inestimable.

Tathagata Shura-data (Tathagata Bestowed with Courage) resides in Dhuli-loka (Fine Ash World) in the space directly below us (at the nadir). He has a white complexion. He holds wood-apple stems and leaves in both hands. He wears the three robes of the Bhikshu. He sits in the Vajra (Vajrasana) posture. When one takes refuge in Tathagata Shura-datta (Tathagata Bestowed with Courage) and makes prostrations to him it purifies the sins and obscurations that one may have accumulated by killing a foe-destroyer (Arhat) and the merit one accumulates is inestimable.

Tathagata Ratnarchisha (Tathagata Radiant Jewel) resides in the eastern Ratnavat-loka (Abounding in Precious Stones World). He has a white complexion. He holds a Vajra in his right hand and a sun (disc) in his left. He wears the three robes of the Bhikshu. He sits in the Vajra (Vajrasana) posture. When one takes refuge in Tathagata Ratnarchisha (Tathagata Radiant Jewel) and makes prostrations to him it purifies the sins and obscurations that one may have accumulated over a period of 25,000 eons and the merit one accumulates is inestimable.