Angaja's Attributes Blesses With Self-Discipline

The great Arhat Angaja is a venerated figure in Vajrayana, recognized for his embodiment of wisdom, compassion, and self-discipline. His notable attributes include the fly whisk and the incense bowl, which represent his profound connection to spiritual practice and his dedication to the journey of enlightenment. The story of his sacred symbols traces back to the time when the Arahant Angaja had gone to the sPos-nad-ldan, near Mount Kailash (Tibetan: Ti-se), to carry out meditation and deep contemplation in order to benefit his followers. Many divine beings, including the devas, asuras, and yaksas, were set on the path of liberation during this time. During this time, many divine beings, including the devas, asuras, and yaksas, were set on the path of liberation.

The content devas offered Angaja the sacred fly-whisk (rna-yab) to fan himself cool, while the asuras and yaksas offered fragrant incense together with the holy incense bowls. The ascetic accepted and blessed those offerings, keeping one of each as his attribute. As the story goes, a devotee who sees, touches, or smells the fragrance of the incense bowl will obtain the fragrance of self-discipline (Sanskrit: Sīla, Tibetan: tshul-khtimms). It is said that the sweetness of Sīla is all-pervasive, pleasing to the eyes of both divine beings and humans, freeing of all illness and misery. 

Similarly, the fly whisk is believed to have the miraculous power of producing religious offerings for all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Whoever sees or gets touched by the fly whisk will become wholly freed from the six root causes of misery and the twenty secondary impurities. 

Who Is an Arhat in Vajrayana Buddhism?

The term "Arhat" (Sanskrit: अरिहत्, Arahant) refers to an individual who has attained Nirvana, liberating themselves from the cycle of samsara, which encompasses birth, death, and rebirth. This title translates to "worthy one" or "one deserving of reverence," highlighting their achievement of spiritual freedom. Arhats are also known as Sthavira, meaning "Noble Ones" in Sanskrit, acknowledging their elevated status as enlightened beings.

The Sthaviras were among the first disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha who achieved enlightenment through their commitment to the Buddhist path. Even with their significant spiritual achievements, the sixteen Arhats have opted to remain in the world, patiently awaiting the future Buddha, Maitreya. Their purpose is to protect and uphold the invaluable teachings of the Buddha, ensuring the Dharma continues to flourish until Maitreya arrives. Their decision to stay and safeguard these teachings demonstrates their profound compassion and dedication to helping others on their journey to enlightenment.

The Troubled Life of Arhat Angaja Before Enlightenment

Before attaining Nirvana, Angaja (Tibetan: Yan-lag-'byun') was born into a wealthy household, but alas, his birth and life were a troubled tale. His father was influenced by a gCer-bu-pa, an evil and covetous ascetic. When Angaja was conceived, his parents were assured by the Sakyamuni that that baby would be a 'light' who would bring a brilliant shining light into their family. Hence, their household would possess tremendous wealth in the future. The Tathagata further prophesied that the baby would become a monk by following his teachings.

The gCer-bu-pa was afraid that Gautam Buddha would gain more disciples and the priest-patron between him and the wealthy household would diminish; he poisoned Angaja's father with malicious intent. The evil ascetic discouraged the householder that the baby would engulf the family and their wealth in fire and, ultimately, encouraged him to kill his wife to prevent the birth of the inauspicious arrival of the baby. The householder's moral vision became distorted, and he slayed his Bhariya (Pali: wife) and lit her on a funeral pyre. However, her womb did not catch fire; instead, it opened, revealing a healthy infant, the future Arhat, Angaja. His father discarded him right away; hence, the infant was adopted by the kind king of the land. As he was born in the fire, the Buddha named him Me-sykes, meaning Fire-Born. Similarly, he was also known by the name "Yanlag Jung" or "Yanlag Kyé," translating to "partly born." This name reflects the belief that he was born from his deceased mother's body after flames consumed it.

Yanlag lived a life of luxury and comfort in the king's palace as his son but also caught the jealous attention of his adopted brother, the prince. Hence, he soon returned to his biological father's home, and upon the latter's death, he inherited the household. Due to the good karma in his past life, Angaja's wealth grew enormously, a sight that made the prince unhappy. The prince later asked for half of Yanglag's wealth under the pretext of being adopted brothers. Yanlag instead gave away all of his possessions and relocated to a new place in order to avoid conflict. However, due to his good merit, he soon became wealthy, again prompting the prince to ask for the possessions. He shared his wealth on seven occasions but noticed that his riches only sparked jealousy and conflict. Understanding the constraints of material possessions, he gave up his belongings and sought ordination from the Buddha, ultimately becoming an Arahant.

The Reason Behind Angaja's Wealth Was from His Past Life

Regarding Angaja's tragic birth and his miraculous attainment of wealth, Shakyamuni Buddha shared with his disciples the former's past life. During the time of Vipassī Buddha, the first of the seven temporal Buddhas, Angaja, in past life was an ordinary householder by the name of Nes-med. He sought and obtained permission to pay three months of devotional services to the Vipassī Buddha. Right after, the king of the land, too, asked the Buddha for permission to pay services to him. The humble Buddha told the monarch that he had already accepted the invitation of Nes-med. The King tried to come to an agreement to put his services first, but the householder did not hold back. At last, it was decided that whoever among the two would prepare the better midday meal would serve the Buddha first. Angaja won the challenge, but the king soon after forbade the sale of firewood in order to foil his devotional services. Even so, the householder prepared the finest meal by using a fragrant incense wood that added an aroma, improving the taste of the food. 

Very soon, Angaja had come to know of the king's plan, and he gloated at having thwarted him and boasted maliciously that he had enough fuel to burn 'both the king and the king's mother together.' Hence, it was the result of his sinister talk that caused him to enter this life to be burnt with his mother and born 'in the fire.' In that past life, the householder later realized his mistake and asked for forgiveness from the king, who forgave him. Meanwhile, the merits of serving the Buddha made him wealthy in his current life. Such many deeds of Arhat Angaja demonstrate that the accumulated merits and demerits of our past lives do not vanish but have a definite effect on us.

Iconography of Arhat Angaja in Buddhist Art

Arhat Angaja holds a distinctive place in Buddhist iconography. His image often conveys his spiritual attainment, wisdom, and compassion. Here are some of the key takeaways from his iconography: