Guardians of the directions

All you want to know about Guardians of the directions

The Guardians of the Directions (Sanskrit Dikpālas / दिक्पाल) are the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Hinduism and Vajrayāna Buddhism - especially Kālacakra. When with eight deities, they're called Aṣṭa-Dikpālas / 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-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 Graha(Planet)
Kubera North Oṃ Shaṃ Kuberāya Namaḥ Gadā Kuberajāyā Chandra (Moon)
Yama South Oṃ Maṃ Yamāya Namaḥ Daṇḍa Varahajāyā Brihaspati (Jupiter)
Indra East Oṃ Laṃ Indrāya Namaḥ Vajra Śacī Surya (Sun)
Varuṇa West Oṃ Vaṃ Varuṇāya Namaḥ Pāśa Varuṇajāyā Shukra (Venus)
Īśāna Northeast Oṃ Haṃ Īśānāya Namaḥ Triśūla Parvathi Rāhu(North Lunar Node)
Agni Southeast Oṃ Raṃ Agnaye Namaḥ Śakti Svāhā Mangal (Mars)
Vayu Northwest Oṃ Yaṃ Vayuve Namaḥ Aṅkuśa Vayujāyā Shani (Saturn)
Nirṛti (sometimes Rakṣasa) Southwest Oṃ Kṣaṃ Rakṣasāya Namaḥ Khaḍga Khaḍgī Budha (Mercury)
Vishnu Zenith Oṃ Aṃ Anantāya Namaḥ Chakra Lakṣmī Lagna
Brahma Nadir Oṃ Hriṃ Brahmaṇe Namaḥ Padma Sarasvatī Ketu(South Lunar Node)

Contents

Directions in Hindu tradition

Directions in Hindu tradition are called as Diśa, Disha or Dik. There are four primary directions and a total of 10 directions.

English Sanskrit Other
East Pūrva Prāchi, Prāk
West Paśchima Pratīchi, Apara
North Uttara Udīchi
South Dakshina Avāchi
North-East Īśānya
South-East Āgneya
North-West Vāyavya
South-West Nairṛti
Up Urdhva
Down Atha

Lokapālas

In Hinduism the Guardians of the four cardinal directions are called the Lokapālas (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.

References

  • The Gods of the Directions in Ancient India. Origin and Early Development in Art and Literature (until c. 1000 A.D.), Berlin: Dietrich Reimer 2001 (ISBN 3-496-02713-4) by Corinna Wessels-Mevissen

See also

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Hinduism · Hindu mythology · Indian epic poetry
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