Thirty-Two Major Physical Characteristics of a Buddha
Thirty-Two Major Physical Characteristics of a Buddha
'Subhuti, what do you think, can the Tathagata be seen by his physical marks?'
'No, World-Honored One, the Tathagata cannot be seen by his physical marks. And why? It is because the physical marks are spoken of by the Tathagatha as no physical marks.'
The Buddha said to Subhuti, 'All with marks is empty and false. If you can see all marks as no marks, then you see the Tathagata.' (VS 46)
'Subhuti, what do you think, can the Tathagata be seen by means of the Thirty-Two Marks?'
'No, World-honored One, one cannot see the Tathagata by means of the Thirty-Two Marks. And why? The ThirtyÄ Two marks are spoken of by the Tathagata as no ThirtyÄ Two Marks; therefore, they are called thirty-Two Marks.' (VS 85)
All Buddhas possess these physical characteristics. They are said to be the karmic result of a hundred kalpas of cultivation on the Bodhisattva Path.
THIRTY-TWO MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS
1) level feet
2) thousand-spoked wheel sign on the feet
3) long, slender fingers
4) pliant hands and feet
5) toes and fingers finely webbed
6) full-sized heels
7) arched insteps
8) thighs like a royal stag
9) hands reaching below the knees
11) height and stretch of arms equal
12) every hair-root dark colored
13) body hair graceful and curly
14) golden hued body
15) ten-foot aura around him
16) soft, smooth skin
17) soles, palms, shoulders and crown of head well-rounded
18) area below the armpits well-filed
20) body erect and upright
21) full, round shoulders
22) forty teeth
23) teeth white, even and close
24) four canine teeth pure white
25) lion-jawed
26) saliva that improves the taste of all food
27) tongue long and broad
28) voice deep and resonant
29) eyes deep blue
30) eyelashes like a royal bull
31) white urna curl that emits light between brows
32) fleshy protuberance on the crown of the head
1) Ch. syang ,
2) Skt. laksana, dvatrimsat mahapurusalaksana, dvatrimsat varalaksana,
3) Pali lakkhana, dvattimsa mahapurisalakkhana, dvattimsavara-lakkhana
,
4) Alternate Translations (including 80 minor characteristics not included here): marks and minor characteristics, subsidiary characteristics, fine marks and special characteristics, magnificent characteristics and subsidiary qualities, hallmarks, attributes.
