The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c9.s5.2

c9.s5.2

were represented in art, they were required to show their origin by holding on their heads the miniature figure of their parental Dhyāni Buddha. Every deity almost without exception was given various forms with two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve, sixteen and even more hands, and proportionately one head to three, four, six, and eight heads. They were given different colours, different expressions and different companions according as they were worshipped in the different Tāntric rites and according as they were required to discharge different functions, from curing a disease to the killing of an enemy. The artists had a considerable hand in executing the images and they introduced their own traditions, provincialisms and innovations The votaries also according as they wanted to have their gods in a powerful form, added extra hands, heads and feet to suit their own ideas and whims, and it is precisely in this way that the deities increased to an amazing number.