352:
17:
340:
316:
328:
1143:
99:, are of a standing two or four-armed figure bearing a combination of the attributes of a conch, a wheel, and a mace in their iconography. This multiplicity convention, in which deities bore numerous limbs and heads in their imagery, was established in the
110:, the chaturbhuja representation of Hindu deities in their icons is regarded to depict their unlimited potential. It exhibits their divine ability to wield multiple articles, such as weapons, and perform numerous activities simultaneously.
351:
121:
imagery, the
Chaturbhuja form is regarded to be the manifestation of a deity who descends upon the earth and performs auspicious acts for the well-being of mankind, typically receiving the veneration of human beings.
1238:
16:
979:
193:(drum), his front right hand expresses the abhaya mudra, the back left hand carries fire upon a vessel or the palm of his hand, and his front left hand expresses the
229:, a composite form, holds a trishula and skull-cap in his two right hands, representing Shiva, and a conch and a discus in his two left hands, representing Vishnu.
1480:
1243:
315:
972:
1339:
339:
558:
514:
946:
919:
892:
865:
838:
811:
784:
757:
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730:
703:
676:
649:
622:
595:
568:
524:
497:
470:
443:
416:
389:
965:
205:
is described as four-handed, holding a noose and a goad, and the other two hands portraying the abhaya mudra and the varada mudra in the
1098:
76:. The iconography of four arms is regarded to symbolise divinity and power, as well as dominion over the four quarters of the universe.
882:
1495:
1404:
639:
585:
541:
487:
936:
612:
460:
219:(trident) and expresses the varada mudra on the right half, representing Shiva, while the left half holds a lotus, representing
1616:
1088:
830:
Karnataka's Rich
Heritage – Temple Sculptures & Dancing Apsaras: An Amalgam of Hindu Mythology, Natyasastra and Silpasastra
693:
433:
1475:
1359:
1303:
801:
327:
666:
406:
379:
1535:
1515:
199:
mudra. This allegorical depiction of his multiple arms is regarded to indicate his functions of creation and destruction.
1530:
1510:
1083:
774:
855:
720:
1490:
1278:
1108:
909:
1678:
1367:
1349:
1233:
828:
1399:
1223:
1202:
1128:
999:
1683:
1372:
47:
668:
Shiva
Onstage: Uday Shankar's Company of Hindu Dancers and Musicians in Europe and the United States, 1931–38
1540:
1505:
1228:
1123:
1550:
1103:
114:
1485:
1288:
1621:
1606:
1520:
1500:
1313:
59:
24:
This article is about the concept in Hindu iconography. For the deity who bears this epithet, see
1389:
1652:
1611:
1545:
1093:
1067:
942:
915:
888:
861:
834:
807:
803:
Karnataka's Rich
Heritage – Art and Architecture: From Prehistoric Times to the Hoysala Period
780:
753:
726:
699:
672:
645:
618:
591:
564:
520:
493:
466:
439:
412:
385:
138:
65:
38:
1525:
1442:
1409:
1142:
1026:
250:
107:
435:
A Classical
Dictionary of Hindu Mythology, and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature
153:
are also often depicted in their icons with these four attributes, most prominently in his
1657:
1593:
1318:
1268:
1197:
1118:
1031:
294:
212:
20:
Granite figure of Vishnu, India, 16th century CE. National Museum of
Scotland, Edinburgh.
1640:
The above list of archaeological sites, inscriptions and temples is grossly incomplete.
1384:
1354:
1344:
1273:
1047:
146:
1672:
1457:
1394:
298:
69:
1467:
1452:
1379:
1253:
516:
Many Heads, Arms, and Eyes: Origin, Meaning, and Form of
Multiplicity in Indian Art
206:
167:
carries lotuses in two of her hands, the other two expressing the gestures of the
938:
Hindu
Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition
172:
168:
150:
134:
96:
92:
73:
1334:
1298:
1052:
957:
79:
Chaturbhuja is also primarily employed as an epithet for the preserver deity,
288:
242:
142:
133:
is generally depicted with four arms, carrying his four attributes of the
1447:
1192:
1166:
1113:
988:
254:
226:
216:
186:
118:
695:
Encyclopedia of
Comparative Iconography: Themes Depicted in Works of Art
1062:
722:
The Siva Purana Part 4: Ancient Indian
Tradition and Mythology Volume 4
264:
258:
220:
202:
176:
164:
158:
100:
1308:
1293:
1207:
1187:
1182:
232:
190:
154:
130:
80:
72:
are often portrayed with four arms in their iconography, featured in
25:
1601:
1579:
1057:
278:
274:
268:
246:
236:
182:
15:
1283:
284:
961:
584:
Cush, Denise; Robinson, Catherine; York, Michael (2012-08-21).
103:
region, before becoming a custom in later Hindu iconography.
267:
bears a noose, an elephant goad, a sweet dumpling called the
543:
Hindu Mythology: A Guide to the Gods and Goddesses of India
611:
Coulter, Charles Russell; Turner, Patricia (2013-07-04).
665:
Jost, Diana Brenscheidt gen; Brenscheidt, Diana (2011).
249:
with two of her hands, and an assortment of a book, a
52:
68:
in which a deity is depicted with four arms. Several
245:
is portrayed as holding the instrument known as the
1630:
1592:
1572:
1563:
1466:
1435:
1426:
1327:
1261:
1252:
1216:
1175:
1159:
1150:
1076:
1040:
1019:
1008:
857:America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity
271:, and his other hand portrays the abhaya mudra.
941:. University of California Press. p. 147.
381:The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography
194:
973:
8:
438:. Asian Educational Services. p. 388.
185:is depicted with four hands in his form of
1569:
1432:
1258:
1156:
1016:
980:
966:
958:
860:. Princeton University Press. p. 42.
563:. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 58.
411:. Himalayan Institute Press. p. 469.
911:Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses
408:Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita
671:. LIT Verlag Münster. pp. 242–243.
465:. SAGE Publications India. p. 181.
370:
311:
277:is portrayed with a spear, a goad, the
261:, and a lotus in her other two hands.
31:Hindu iconography of four-armed deities
64:'four-armed') is a concept in
725:. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 1661.
546:. Creek Ridge Publishing. p. 18.
321:Ganesha in the Indian Museum, Kolkata
7:
297:is described with four hands in the
1000:Hindu architecture and art glossary
752:. Penguin Books India. p. 37.
462:Hinduism in India: The Early Period
287:is featured with four hands in the
1481:Brihadisvara Gangaikondacholapuram
557:Bhattacharya, Sunil Kumar (1996).
117:states that in both Vaishnava and
14:
779:. Sarup & Sons. p. 290.
692:Roberts, Helene E. (2013-09-05).
644:. Popular Prakashan. p. 93.
239:and a rosary in his four hands.
1141:
914:. Sarup & Sons. p. 10.
486:Kirshna, Nanditha (2009-07-20).
378:Stutley, Margaret (2019-04-09).
350:
338:
326:
314:
884:Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide
773:Parmeshwaranand, Swami (2004).
749:Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide
614:Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities
854:Wuthnow, Robert (2011-07-01).
540:Berg, Sebastian (2021-11-03).
235:is depicted to be holding the
189:. His back right hand holds a
1:
935:Kinsley, David (1988-07-19).
833:. Notion Press. p. 529.
806:. Notion Press. p. 186.
719:Shastri, J. L. (2017-01-01).
345:Shiva as Nataraja, Tamil Nadu
95:images, according to scholar
881:Dalal, Roshen (2014-04-18).
776:Encyclopaedia of the Śaivism
519:. BRILL. pp. 157, 168.
215:, a composite form, holds a
989:Hindu inscriptions and arts
887:. Penguin UK. p. 559.
827:Chugh, Lalit (2017-05-23).
800:Chugh, Lalit (2016-04-08).
459:Bailey, Greg (2017-01-02).
53:
1700:
1496:Chennakesava Somanathapura
698:. Routledge. p. 171.
641:Students' Britannica India
617:. Routledge. p. 650.
590:. Routledge. p. 181.
560:Krishna-cult in Indian Art
513:Srinivasan, Doris (1997).
492:. Penguin UK. p. 15.
384:. Routledge. p. 107.
175:, sometimes replaced by a
23:
1648:
1139:
995:
195:
42:
1340:Bateshwar Madhya Pradesh
908:Chandra, Suresh (1998).
587:Encyclopedia of Hinduism
1486:Airavatesvara Darasuram
1476:Brihadisvara Thanjavur
746:Dalal, Roshen (2010).
638:Hoiberg, Dale (2000).
21:
1536:Jageshwar Uttarakhand
1501:Hoysaleswara Halebidu
432:Dowson, John (2004).
281:, and a blue lotus.
19:
1573:Archaeological sites
1511:Nataraja Chidambaram
1436:Archaeological sites
1176:Archaeological sites
1041:Archaeological sites
405:Rama, Swami (1985).
106:According to author
1622:Hinduism by country
1491:Chennakeshava Belur
1400:Sirpur Chhattisgarh
1395:Mahabalipuram Group
1364:Alampur Telangana
1350:Chaturbhuj Gwalior
1089:Hathibada Ghosundi
357:Brahma, Tamil Nadu
22:
1679:Hindu iconography
1666:
1665:
1641:
1633:
1588:
1587:
1559:
1558:
1526:Dewark Sun Temple
1422:
1421:
1418:
1417:
1137:
1136:
1094:Heliodorus pillar
1068:Pandu Rajar Dhibi
948:978-0-520-90883-3
921:978-81-7625-039-9
894:978-81-8475-277-9
867:978-1-4008-3724-3
840:978-1-947137-36-3
813:978-93-5206-825-8
786:978-81-7625-427-4
759:978-0-14-341421-6
732:978-81-208-3871-0
705:978-1-136-78792-8
678:978-3-643-90108-8
651:978-0-85229-760-5
624:978-1-135-96397-2
597:978-1-135-18979-2
570:978-81-7533-001-6
526:978-90-04-10758-8
499:978-81-8475-865-8
472:978-93-5150-573-0
445:978-81-206-1786-5
418:978-0-89389-090-2
391:978-0-429-62425-4
139:Sudarshana Chakra
66:Hindu iconography
63:
51:
1691:
1639:
1631:
1617:Pilgrimage sites
1570:
1433:
1335:Pattadakal Group
1259:
1157:
1145:
1099:Lakulisa Mathura
1027:Didarganj Yakshi
1017:
982:
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968:
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375:
354:
342:
333:Lakshmi, Gujarat
330:
318:
198:
197:
151:ten incarnations
115:Doris Srinivasan
108:Nanditha Krishna
74:Hindu literature
58:
56:
46:
44:
1699:
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1694:
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1692:
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1689:
1688:
1684:Hindu mythology
1669:
1668:
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1626:
1584:
1565:
1555:
1541:Sasbahu Gwalior
1521:Modhera Gujarat
1462:
1428:
1414:
1385:Somnath Gujarat
1355:Masrur Himachal
1323:
1319:Elephanta Caves
1269:Udayagiri Caves
1248:
1244:Mandasor Pillar
1212:
1198:Chandraketugarh
1171:
1160:Arts, sculpture
1152:
1146:
1133:
1109:Mountain Temple
1072:
1036:
1032:Pompeii Lakshmi
1020:Arts, sculpture
1012:
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295:Tripura Sundari
213:Ardhanarishvara
128:
89:
32:
29:
12:
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5:
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1567:
1566:(1400-1799 CE)
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1551:Jagannath Puri
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1390:Dwarka Gujarat
1387:
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1345:Teli ka Mandir
1342:
1337:
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1304:Mandasor Shiva
1301:
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1289:Nachna Parvati
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1256:
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1239:Mandasor Stone
1236:
1234:Vadathika Cave
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569:
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498:
489:Book of Vishnu
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179:and a mirror.
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30:
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10:
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1607:Denominations
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1506:Udupi Krishna
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1458:Somanathapura
1456:
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1429:(900-1299 CE)
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1360:Lakshana Devi
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1274:Bhumara Shiva
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1174:
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1144:
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1129:Vasu Doorjamb
1127:
1125:
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1120:
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1284:Eran Vishnu
1279:Dashavatara
1229:Gopika Cave
1124:Yavanarajya
135:Panchajanya
113:Indologist
97:Gavin Flood
87:Description
35:Chaturbhuja
1673:Categories
1546:Konark Sun
1368:Navabrahma
1328:600-899 CE
1262:400-599 CE
1053:Bet Dwarka
1009:Beginnings
366:References
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141:(discus),
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1531:Khajuraho
1410:Meenakshi
1405:Srirangam
1299:Gop Surya
1104:Mora Well
243:Saraswati
196:gajahasta
143:Kaumodaki
137:(conch),
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48:romanized
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1427:Advanced
1373:Papanasi
1193:Besnagar
1167:Nataraja
1151:Maturity
1114:Naneghat
227:Harihara
217:trishula
187:Nataraja
171:and the
126:Examples
43:चतुर्भुज
39:Sanskrit
1594:Related
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1468:Temples
1254:Temples
1084:Ayodhya
1063:Kumhrar
1048:Mathura
1013:400 CE)
1011:(before
305:Gallery
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221:Parvati
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177:kalasha
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119:Shaiva
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26:Vishnu
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1602:Hindu
1580:Hampi
1443:Belur
1058:Dihar
279:Vajra
275:Indra
257:, an
251:noose
247:veena
237:Vedas
183:Shiva
147:Padma
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