Many Arms Collection

The Hindu Goddess Durga, Late 17th century. Creator: Unknown
The Hindu Goddess Durga, Late 17th century

Shiva Performing the Dance of Bliss while Vishnu and Brahma Provide Musical Accompaniment, c1760. Creator: Unknown
Shiva Performing the Dance of Bliss while Vishnu and Brahma Provide Musical Accompaniment, c1760

Varuna, the God of Waters (image 1 of 3), between 1675 and 1700. Creator: Unknown
Varuna, the God of Waters (image 1 of 3), between 1675 and 1700

The Hindu Goddess Durga Slaying the Demon Nishumbha... between c1825 and c1850. Creator: Unknown
The Hindu Goddess Durga Slaying the Demon Nishumbha, Folio from a Devimahatmya (Glory of the Goddess), between c1825 and c1850

Matsya Avatar of Vishnu, between c1700 and c1725 or later. Creator: Unknown
Matsya Avatar of Vishnu, between c1700 and c1725 or later

Raja Surma Sen (Reigned 1781-1788) and His Attendant Nagatu Worshipping the Goddess Kali, c1785. Creator: Unknown
Raja Surma Sen (Reigned 1781-1788) and His Attendant Nagatu Worshipping the Goddess Kali, c1785

Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma Adoring Kali (image 5 of 7), c1740. Creator: Unknown
Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma Adoring Kali (image 5 of 7), c1740

Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma Adoring Kali (image 1 of 7), c1740. Creator: Unknown
Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma Adoring Kali (image 1 of 7), c1740

Ravana Receiving a Boon from Shiva, between c1850 and c1900. Creator: Unknown
Ravana Receiving a Boon from Shiva, between c1850 and c1900

Ganesha, Lord of Obstacles, early 19th century. Creator: Unknown
Ganesha, Lord of Obstacles, early 19th century

Durga Being Worshipped by Two Devotees (image 1 of 3), c1850. Creator: Unknown
Durga Being Worshipped by Two Devotees (image 1 of 3), c1850

Durga Being Worshipped by Two Devotees (image 2 of 3), c1850. Creator: Unknown
Durga Being Worshipped by Two Devotees (image 2 of 3), c1850

Buddhist deity, between 1644 and 1911. Creator: Unknown
Buddhist deity, between 1644 and 1911

Painted Banner (Thangka) of the Avalokiteshvara Incarnation of the Rain God Rato... 18th/19th cent. Creator: Unknown
Painted Banner (Thangka) of the Avalokiteshvara Incarnation of the Rain God Rato Matsyendranatha, 18th/19th century

Tou Mu, Goddess of the North Star, 1922. Creator: Unknown
Tou Mu, Goddess of the North Star, 1922. Doumu, a goddess in Chinese religion and Taoism, the feminine aspect of Heaven, seen to possess many arms and three eyes which symbolise her power to see

Four-Armed Bodhisattva, 9th / 10th century. Creator: Unknown
Four-Armed Bodhisattva, 9th/10th century

Four-Armed God Vishnu Holding Discus and Conch, Vijayanagar period, 15th century

Four-Armed God Brahma Standing in Frontal Posture (Samabhanga), 10th century

Shiva as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja), Chola period, about 10th / 11th century
Shiva as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja), Chola period, about 10th/11th century. A bronze sculpture of the Hindu divinity Shiva

Lion-Headed Incarnation of God Vishnu (Narasimha), c. 15th century. Creator: Unknown
Lion-Headed Incarnation of God Vishnu (Narasimha), c. 15th century

Karttikeya, Commander of the Divine Army, Seated on a Peacock, Ganga Period, about 12th century. Gray statue with multiple heads and arms seated on Peacock

Four-Armed Sarasvati, Goddess of Learning, Seated in Lotus Position (Padmasana), Hoysala period, 12th century

Krishnas Fifth and Sixth Avatars, page from a copy of the Gitagovinda of Jayaveda, late 17th century

Guhyasamaja Manjuvajra, an Esoteric Form of Bodhisattva Manjushri, Pala period, 12th century

Shadakshari Mahavidya, Pala period, 12th century. Creator: Unknown
Shadakshari Mahavidya, Pala period, 12th century

Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini), Angkor period, 10th century

Dancing Hevajra (Ardhaparyanka), Angkor period, 12th / 13th century. Creator: Unknown
Dancing Hevajra (Ardhaparyanka), Angkor period, 12th/13th century

The famed Vishnu from Amphoe Takua Pa, 8th-9th century (stone)
LIT390029 The famed Vishnu from Amphoe Takua Pa, 8th-9th century (stone) by Siamese School; Bangkok National Museum, Bangkok

Avalokitesvara figure from the Srivijaya Period, found in Chaiya, Thailand
LIT390021 Avalokitesvara figure from the Srivijaya Period, found in Chaiya, Thailand, 9th-10th century (bronze) by Srivijaya (7th-13th Century); height: 65 cm; Bangkok National Museum, Bangkok

Statue of Vishnu (bronze)
423765 Statue of Vishnu (bronze) by Thai School, (14th century); National Museum, Bangkok, Thailand; (add.info.: 2.67m tall. Cast in Sukhothai in the 14th C)

Shiva Nataraja, 11th century (bronze)
1071553 Shiva Nataraja, 11th century (bronze) by Indian School (11th century); 88.9x71.1x25.4 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas

Statue of Vishnu (bronze)
894741 Statue of Vishnu (bronze) by Thai School, (14th century); National Museum, Bangkok, Thailand; (add.info.: Statue geante de Vishnou (en pied). 2.67m tall. Cast in Sukhothai in the 14th C

Wrathful Eight-armed and Three-faced Goddess Tara Marichi... ca. 1090. Creator: Unknown
Wrathful Eight-armed and Three-faced Goddess Tara Marichi, Leaf from a dispersed Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita Manuscript, ca. 1090. Tara Marichi, an emanation from, and sakti of, Vairocana

Mahadevi, the Great Goddess, ca. 1725. Creator: Unknown
Mahadevi, the Great Goddess, ca. 1725. Mahadevi holds an array of weapons, affiliating her with all the male gods

Khambhavati Ragini: Folio from a ragamala series (Garland of Musical Modes), ca. 1675. A female mendicant makes a Vedic fire offering to the god Brahma

Vishnu on Garuda, ca. 1810-20. Creator: Sajnu
Vishnu on Garuda, ca. 1810-20

Vajrabhairava with His Consort Vajravetali, 18th century. Creator: Unknown
Vajrabhairava with His Consort Vajravetali, 18th century

The Creation of Durga: Page from a Dispersed Markandeya Purana... ca. 1810-20. Creator: Unknown
The Creation of Durga: Page from a Dispersed Markandeya Purana: (Stories of the Sage Markandeya), ca. 1810-20. Durga was created by the gods to vanquish the demon Mahish

The Bodhisattva, Manjusri, Gilt-Bronze, Yung-Lo Period, c1403-1424. Manjusri is a bodhisattva associated with prajna (insight) in Mahayana Buddhism. British Museum

Gilt Bronze Figure of a Dharmapala, Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368. A dharmapala is a type of wrathful god in Buddhism. The name means Dharma protector or defender in Sanskrit

Bronze figure of the Hindu god Ganesh
A bronze figure of the Hindu god Ganesh from Nepal

Tibetan gilt-bronze statuette of Mahakala

Sassanian dish showing a goddess seated on a lion
Sassanian silver dish showing a goddess, possibly Ishtar, seated on a lion. From the British Museums collection

Greek gold pectoral plaque showing Artemis, 7th century BC
Gold pectoral plaque from Kamiros, Rhodes showing Artemis. From the British Museums collection, 7th century BC

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"Many Arms: A Glimpse into the Divine Realm" Step into a world where deities and mythical beings reign supreme, their power embodied in their many arms. From the ancient times to the medieval era, artists have captured these awe-inspiring figures with intricate detail and profound symbolism. Tou Mu, known as the Goddess of the North Star, emerges from history's shadows in a 1922 artwork by an unknown creator. With her multiple arms outstretched, she guides lost souls towards enlightenment and protection. Intriguingly, a Four-Armed Bodhisattva from the 9th/10th century captivates our imagination. The unknown artist skillfully portrays this divine being who embodies compassion and wisdom through his four graceful limbs. Vishnu, one of Hinduism's most revered gods, appears in a Vijayanagar period artwork from the 15th century. Holding his iconic discus and conch shell with four arms extended elegantly, he symbolizes preservation and cosmic order. Brahma stands tall in a frontal posture dating back to the 10th century. This depiction showcases his four arms representing creation while exuding an aura of divinity that resonates across time. Shiva takes center stage as Lord of Dance during Chola period around the 10th/11th century. His dynamic form adorned with numerous arms evokes both destruction and creation—a mesmerizing portrayal capturing Shiva's eternal cosmic dance. The enigmatic Lion-Headed Incarnation of God Vishnu (Narasimha) comes alive in a stunning piece created around the 15th century. With fierce eyes gazing forth from its many arms' embrace, it represents Vishnu's ferocious yet protective nature against evil forces. Karttikeya commands attention seated on a peacock during Ganga Period—an embodiment of valor leading divine armies against darkness—his multiple hands holding weapons that symbolize his supreme power.