GUARDIANS OF EIGHT DIRECTIONS

 

 

 

A stone carving of people on a building Description automatically generatedParshvanatha Temple, Khajuraho, the southeast corner, with guardians Indra (E) and Agni (SE).

The Guardians of the Directions (Sanskrit: दिक्पाल, IAST: Dikpāla) are the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Hinduism, Jainism and Vajrayāna Buddhism—especially Kālacakra. As a group of eight deities, they are called Aṣṭa-Dikpāla (अष्ट-दिक्पाल), literally meaning guardians of eight directions. They are often augmented with two extra deities for the ten directions (the two extra directions being zenith and nadir), when they are known as the Daśa-Dikpāla. In Hinduism it is traditional to represent their images on the walls and ceilings of Hindu temples. They are also often portrayed in Jain temples, with the exception that Nāga usually takes the place of Vishnu[1] in the nadir. Ancient Java and Bali Hinduism recognize Nava-Dikpāla, literally meaning guardians of nine directions, that consist of eight directions with one addition in the center. The nine guardian gods of directions is called Dewata Nawa Sanga (Nine guardian devata). The diagram of these guardian gods of directions is featured in Surya Majapahit, the emblem of Majapahit empire.

There are strong similarities between the concept of the guardians of the directions and the lore surrounding the Chinese four symbols, four ancestral spirits who are responsible for four of the cardinal directions (North, South, East, and West).[citation needed]

Directions in Hindu tradition

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A group of statues on display Description automatically generatedBrahma, Lord of the Zenith (center) with (from left) Varuna, Kubera, Yama and Indra.

Directions in Hindu tradition are called as Diśā, or Dik. There are four cardinal directions, six orthogonal directions and a total of ten directions, however infinite combinations are possible.

English

Sanskrit

North

Uttara, Udīcī

South

Dakṣiṇa, Avācī

East

Pūrva, Prācī, Prāk, Aruna

West

Paścima, Pratīcī, Aparā

Northeast

Īśāna

Southeast

Agni

Northwest

Vāyu

Southwest

Nirṛta

Zenith

Ūrdhva

Nadir

AdhaH

Lokapālas

In Hinduism, the guardians of the cardinal directions are called the Lokapālas (लोकपाल), or Dikpalaka.[2] Three main distinctions of Dikpalaka are recognized, being:

The Ashta-Dikpala with Brahma in the centre denoting Zenith

Aṣṭa-Dikpāla ("Guardians of Eight Directions")

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Name

Direction

Kubera, God of Fortune

North

Yama, God of Justice and Death

South

Indra, Lord of Heaven and God of the Weather, Sky, Rain, and Storms

East

Varuna, God of the Seas, Oceans, and Rain

West

Ishana, God of Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Time

Northeast

Agni, God of Fire

Southeast (in the image incorrectly shown on southwest)

Vayu, God of the Winds and Air

Northwest

Nirṛta, God of Death, Sorrow, and Decay[3][4]

Southwest (in the image incorrectly shown on southeast)

Daśa-Dikpāla ("Guardians of Ten Directions")

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Besides the eight guardians, the following are added:[5][6]

·       Brahma (Zenith, meaning "the farthest up from the gravitational force")

·       Vishnu (Nadir, meaning "the direction in which gravity pulls")

Nava-Dikpāla ("Guardians of Nine Directions")

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A colorful circular design with different symbols Description automatically generated with medium confidenceThe diagram of Surya Majapahit shows the arrangements of Hindu deities each resided in main cardinal points.

(Called Devata Nawa Sanga in ancient Java and Bali Hinduism)

·       Shiva (Center)

·       Vishnu (North)

·       Brahma (South)

·       Isvara (East)

·       Mahadeva (West)

·       Sambhu (Northeast)

·       Mahesora (Southeast)

·       Sangkara (Northwest)

·       Rudra (Southwest)

See also

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· Hinduism portal

· iconReligion portal

·       Bacab

·       Bhairava

·       Diggaja

·       Dikpali

·       Four Heavenly Kings

·       Four sons of Horus

·       Mahavidya

·       Maitei Ngaakpa Lai

·       Matrikas

·       Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri

·       Titan

 

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