Perhaps Buranhobbit is on to something when he talks about the five fingers of a had.
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The best* that I've come up with in discussion is that they are five fingers** of a hand, to grab at Sauron and depose him.
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If the number of Istari (Five) is meant to represent the five fingers of a hand, then whose hand does it represent? This could be the hand of the Valar, sent to fight against the Hand of Sauron (four fingered).
There were Five Istari (Mithrandir, Radagast, Saruman, Pallando and Alatar) perhaps they were all supposed to help stop Sauron in some way. We know Gandalf helped for sure, Saruman betrayed them, Radagast became infatuated with his birds and the blue wizards we know nothing of.