Pindola Bharadvaja (Piá¹Âá¸Âola BhÃÂradvÃÂja) is an Arhat in Buddhism. According to the earliest Indian Buddhist sutras, Pindola Bharadvaja was one of four Arhats asked by the Buddha to remain in the world (Chinese: ä½Âä¸Â) to propagate Buddhist law (dharma). Each of the four was associated with one of the four cardinal directions. Pindola is associated with West.
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.
Along with Ananda, Pindola preached to the women of Udena's palace at Kosambi on two occasions.
In later centuries, the number of Arhats increases from four to Sixteen Arhats, then later on to 18. In Tibetan Thangka paintings depicting the 18 Arhats, Pindola Bharadvaja is usually depicted holding a book and begging bowl.
In Japan, Pindola is called , a short form of , and is arguably the most popular of all the Arhats. The monastery refectory near TÃ Âdai-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 devotees 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 very frequently offered red and white bibs and children's caps to watch over the health of babies, thus his statue is often decked in rags. He is represented in paintings as an old man seated on a rock, holding 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.
In Chinese community, Pindola is usually called Bëntóulú (), who is regarded as the "First in Blessings" (ç¦Âç°第ä¸Â) disciple of Sakyamuni Buddha. His image is sometimes placed in a prominent position during any gatherings of monastics who share a vegetarian feast.
Pindola Bharadvaja (Skt. Piá¹Âá¸ÂolabhÃÂradvÃÂja; Tib. à ½Âà ½²à ½Âà ¾Âà ½¼à ¼Âà ½£à ¼Âà ½Âà ¾·à ½±à ¼Âà ½¢à ¼Âà ½Âà ¾Âà ½±à ¼Âà ½Âà ½¿ à ½Âà ¾·à ¼Âà ½¢à ¼Âà ½Âà ¾·à ¾Âà ¼Âà ½Âà ¼Âà ½Âà ½¦à ½¼à ½Âà ¼Âà ½¦à ¾Âà ½¼à ½Âà ½¦à ¼Âà ½£à ½ºà ½Âà ¼Â, Bharadodza Sönyom Le; Wyl. bha ra dhwa dza bsod snyoms len) â 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
Piá¹Âá¸Âola, belonging to the Brahmin BhÃÂradvÃÂja gotra, is said to have been from Pà «rva Videha. In the BhÃÂradvÃÂjasutta of the Samyutta NikÃÂya (in the TheravÃÂdin suttapitaka), he is described as residing at the famous GhositÃÂrÃÂma, and preaching to King Udena (Udayana) of Kauà Âambë.