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What do the Buddhas' gestures signify?

Pose, gesture, costume, number of arms, implements (properly called attributes) and accompanying animal ("vehicle") help identify the deity and also, the meaning of the image.  This "language" is known as iconography.

The language of gestures or mudras derives from ancient priestly signs.  There is a recent theory that they are modeled after the actual sounds of the language as well as the meaning of words.  

• Some mudras used in Buddhist practice.
• Nitin Kumar's article on mudras.     
• more about mudras (Dharmapala site): "The two arms represent his unfailing skillful means and wisdom. His four-armed form, sitting in the full lotus posture represents the four boundless qualities of a bodhisattva: equanimity, love, compassion and joy."
• Mudras that help identify the kind of buddha.
• Thai system whereby each day of the week is associated with a corresponding Buddha image. 

Mudras in Buddhist & Hindu Practice "A Dictionary of Mudras" by F. Bunce, 2005.

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