Subject: Arms of Deities (Numbers)
Deities- Physical Features PageSubjects & Topics:
- Description (below)
- Subject: Arms in Art
- Number of Arms (below)
- Hand Gestures
- Gender (male, female, both, neither)
- Three Moods (Peaceful, Semi, Wrathful)
- Confusions
- Others...
Number of Arms:
Two Arms (2): (most deities have only two arms)
Four Arms (4): Achala, Bhrikuti, Buddhakapala, Chunda, Charchika, Dvajagrakeyura, Ekajati, Ganapati, Hevajra, Humkara, Jambhala, Ishvari Kala, Janguli, Kurukulla, Lokeshvara, Mahabala, Mahakala, Mahamaya, Maitreya, Manjushri, Nairatmya, Prajnaparamita, Rahula, Sarasvati, Shri Devi, Tara, Varahi Krodha, Vajrapani
Six Arms (6): Achala, Bhurkumkuta, Eight Kagye Heruka, Ganapati, Guru Dragpo, Guhyasamaja, Hayagriva, Hevajra, Humkara, Jambhala, Janguli, Jnana Dakini, Kurukulla, Mahakala, Manjushri, Marichi, Pehar, Shanglon, Vajrakila, Vajramrita, Vajrapani, Vajrasattva, Yamari, Yogambara
Eight Arms (8): Amritakundalin, Dvajagrakeyura, Ekajati, Hayagriva, Heruka (Dragtung), Kurukulla, Manjushri, Marichi, Pratisara, Tara, Ushnishavijaya, Trailokyavijaya, Vajra Analarka
Ten Arms (10): Marichi, Pratisara
Twelve Arms (12): Ganapati, Lokeshvara, Marichi, Pratisara, Tara
Fourteen Arms (14): Marichi
Sixteen Arms (16): Amaravajra Devi, Hayagriva, Hevajra, Mahakala, Manjushri, Trailokyavijaya
Eighteen Arms (18): Guru Dragpo, Nagaraksha, Vaishravana Riding a Dragon
Twenty-two Arms (22): Humkara
Twenty-four Arms (24): Ekajati, Kalachakra
Thirty-four Arms (34): Vajrabhairava
Seventy-six Arms: Chakrasamvara
One Hundred + (100+): Nagaraksha
One Thousand Arms (1000): Lokeshvara, Sitatapatra
Buddhist Iconography: Arms
The majority of Buddhist Tantric deities have two arms. Even deities that are commonly known for having multiple faces will most often have only two arms.
There are only a dozen or so deities or groupings of deities that have more than two two arms. They can be peaceful, semi-peaceful or wrathful in appearance. They include all of the most popular categories of deities such as Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani and Tara.
Jeff Watt 6-2015 [updated 6-2017]
