Eighteen disciples of buddah

    There were pictures of Eighteen disciples of buddah in the original lang fang in Nanhai Temple . Eighteen(sixteen before)disciples of buddah which were the disciple of Sakyamuni . Based on the buddist scriptures , they were instructed by the buddah not to nirvana but to stay on earth to bring well-being to people . Sixteen disciples of buddah are always situated at two sides of Da xiong Palace for worshipping with their own names . Since two were added later , they became Eighteen disciples of buddah which has become the most popular diciples statues at two sides of Da xiong Palace to listen to the enlightment by buddah . Therefore , we can often see their pictures .

Since diciples were so popular among human , their numbers were expanded to even 500 . There also exist many different editions of their origin . Some said they were 500 diciples of Sakaymuni . Some said they were 500 robbers . It is said that 500 robbers in ancient India occupied a monutain to be the king , but their eyes were gouged our after they had been arrested . As a result ,they cried in the mountians and foreats . However ,Sakarmuni heard it and showed his mercy to give them magical medicine for eyes recovery .Since then ,500 robbers followed the buddah and became his disciples .