Guardians of the directions
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The Guardians of the Directions (Sanskrit Aṣṭa-Dikpālas / अष्ट-दिक्पाल) are the deities who rule the eight directions of space according to Hinduism and {{IAST Buddhism - especially . 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-dikpālas. In Hinduism it is traditional to represent their images on the walls and ceilings of Hindu temples. The names of the Dikpālas vary slightly, but generally include the following:
| Name | Direction | Mantra | Weapon | Consort | Planet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kubera | North | Moon | |||
| Yama | South | {{IAST | Jupiter | ||
| Indra | East | Vajra | Sun | ||
| {{IAST | West | Venus | |||
| {{IAST | Northeast | {{IAST | |||
| Agni | Southeast | Mars | |||
| Vayu | Northwest | Saturn | |||
| {{IAST (sometimes {{IAST) | Southwest | {{IAST | Mercury | ||
| Brahma | Zenith | Cakra | Ketu | ||
| Ananta | Nadir | Padma | Lagna |
Lokapālas
In Hinduism the Guardians of the four cardinal directions are called the {{IASTs (लोकपाल). They are:
Images of the Lokapālas are usually placed in pairs at the entrance to tombs. As Guardians they can call upon the spirits of the next world to help them protect the tomb if necessary.
Reference
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0500510881) by Anna Dallapiccola
See also
- redirect
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