Five transcendent Buddha each head one of the five Buddha-families that organize the vast pantheon of Mayahana Buddhism—one of the two main branches of Buddhism that originated in India in the first century of this era, the other main branch being Theravada Buddhism. Each Tathagatha Buddha presides over a specific direction (east, north, south, west and center) and may be identified by affiliated colors (blue, yellow, red, green and white), particular hand gestures (mudra), symbols (vajra, jewel, begging bowl, vishvavajra, and wheel) and animals below them—elephants, horses, peacocks, bird-men (garuda) and lions. Additional deities and practices are then allocated to their appropriate spiritual father and placed within this organizational framework.