Colour
White is purity and pacification, yellow increase, red magnetising power, blue-black wrath and transmutation, green enlightened activity. The body colour of a deity tells you what it is for.
Mudra
Bhumisparsha (earth-touching) marks awakening; dhyana is meditation; abhaya grants fearlessness; dharmachakra turns the wheel of teaching. The hands name the moment being depicted.
Attributes
The flaming sword of Manjushri cuts confusion; Tara's utpala flower is swift compassion; the Medicine Buddha's myrobalan is the cure. Attributes are the deity's function made visible.