Subject: Female Deity Comparison (Six Arms)

☰

MENU

Iconography: Physical Features

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Charchika
- Janguli
- Kurukulla
- Mahamayuri
- Marichi
- Parnashavari
- Pratyangira
- Sahasra Pramardhana
- Sarasvati, Vajra, White
- Sarasvati, Vajra, Red
- Shringkhala
- Sitatapatra
- Tara
- Others...

All of the female deities described below have six arms, peaceful, or semi-peaceful/semi-wrathful in appearance. Some have one face but the majority have three faces. As paintings they are easily identified and differentiated one from the other based on colour, attributes and context. As sculpture they often have some damage or loss of attributes in the hands and become very difficult to distinguish and identify.

---

"...Parnashavari, yellow, three faces, right white, left red, with three eyes. Adorned with fruit, leaves and jewel garments. With six arms the three right hands hold a vajra, axe and arrow. The three left hold have a wrathful gesture and lasso, a fan of fruit and leaves, and a bow. The hair is tied with a string of flowers." (Mitra. rgyud sde kun btus. Volume 23, page 156).

[47] Vajra Sarasvati: wrathful and secret Vajra Sarasvati.
Vajra Sarasvati, with three faces and six hands. The main face is red, the right blue and the left white. The three right hands hold, a lotus, sword and curved knife. The three left, a wheel, jewel and skullcup. Having jewel ornaments and garments of silk. Seated in a manner of ease with the left leg extended.

[50] Arya Janguli.
Arya Janguli, yellow, with three faces. Having a hood of seven snake heads. [Each face] possessing three eyes and the faces [both] smiling and fierce. The six right hands hold, a vajra, sword and an arrow in a dancing manner. The left, a wrathful [gesture] together with a lasso, a blue poisonous flower and a bow. Adorned with flowers and snakes. Standing in a dancing manner.

[66] Maha Pratyangira.
Maha Pratyangira, [with] a body black in colour, one face and six hands. [The three] right [hands] hold a sword, hook and [gesture of] supreme generosity. The left [hold], a red lotus, trident and a wrathful [gesture] together with a lasso. The face has bared fangs and three eyes. Having jewel ornaments and garments of silk. Seated in a manner with the left [leg] extended.

[71] Vajra Shringkhala.
Vajra Shringkhala, green with three faces and six hands. The main face is green, the right white and the left red. Each face has three eyes and bared fangs. The three right [hands] hold, a vajra, vajra chain and an arrow. The three left, a wrathful [gesture], lasso and a bow. Adorned with all ornaments and standing with the left leg extended.

[73] Arya Sitatapatra.
Arya Sitatapatra, white [with] three faces and six hands. The main face is white, the right blue and the left red. The first two [hands] hold a vajra and chakra. The middle two, an arrow and bow. The lower two, a hook and a wrathful [gesture] together with a lasso. Having bared fangs and three eyes. Having jewel ornaments and silk garments. Standing in a manner with the left leg extended.

[78] Sukla Tara: Tara Showing Virtuous Action.
The Holy White Tara Showing Virtuous Action, with three faces and six hands. The main face is white, the right yellow and the left black. Each face has three eyes and bared fangs. The three right hands hold, the [gesture of] supreme generosity, a garland and an arrow. The three left, an utpala, lotus and bow. Wearing the hair as a crown. Having a crown of five dry human skulls [and] a half moon at the top of the head. Adorned with all ornaments [and] wearing a lower garment of tiger skin and supported at the back by a moon. Seated in the manner of a half [vajrasana] posture.

Female Deities with Three Faces (3): Grahamatrika, Jnaneshvara, Marichi, Parnashavari, Pratisara, Sarasvati, Sitatapatra, Trailokyavijaya, Ushnishavijaya, Vajravarahi.

Female Deities with Six Arms (6): Charchika, Janguli, Jnana Dakini, Kurukulla, Mahamayuri, Marichi, Parnashavari, Pratyangira, Sahasra Pramardhana, Sarasvati, Shringkhala, Sitatapatra, Tara (white).

Jeff Watt [added 2-2021]