The Guardians of the Directions (Sanskrit: दिक्पाल, Dikpāla) are the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Hinduism, Jainism and VajrayānaBuddhism—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.
Parshvanatha Temple, Khajuraho, the southeast corner, with guardians Indra (E) and Agni (SE).
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]
Brahma, 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.
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")Edit
Gopal, Madan (1990). Gautam, K. S. (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
Kumar, Sehdev (2001). A Thousand Petalled Lotus: Jain Temples of Rajasthan: Architecture & Iconography. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts Series. Abhinav Publications.
Mani, Vettam (1975). Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
Wessels-Mevissen, Corinna (2001). The Gods of the Directions in Ancient India. Origin and Early Development in Art and Literature (until c. 1000 A.D.). Berlin: Dietrich Reimer. ISBN3-496-02713-4.
External linksEdit
Media related to Guardians of the directions at Wikimedia Commons
October 14, 2023
guardians, directions, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, octo. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Guardians of the directions news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Guardians of the Directions Sanskrit द क प ल Dikpala are the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Hinduism Jainism and Vajrayana Buddhism especially Kalacakra As a group of eight deities they are called Aṣṭa Dikpala अष ट द क प ल 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 Dasa Dikpala 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 Naga usually takes the place of Vishnu 1 in the nadir Ancient Java and Bali Hinduism recognize Nava Dikpala 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 Parshvanatha Temple Khajuraho the southeast corner with guardians Indra E and Agni SE 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 Contents 1 Directions in Hindu tradition 2 Lokapalas 2 1 Aṣṭa Dikpala Guardians of Eight Directions 2 2 Dasa Dikpala Guardians of Ten Directions 2 3 Nava Dikpala Guardians of Nine Directions 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksDirections in Hindu tradition Edit nbsp Brahma Lord of the Zenith center with from left Varuna Kubera Yama and Indra Directions in Hindu tradition are called as Disa or Dik There are four cardinal directions six orthogonal directions and a total of ten directions however infinite combinations are possible English SanskritNorth Uttara UdiciSouth Dakṣiṇa AvaciEast Purva Praci Prak ArunaWest Pascima Pratici AparaNortheast isanaSoutheast AgniNorthwest VayuSouthwest NirṛtaZenith urdhvaNadir AdhaHLokapalas EditIn Hinduism the guardians of the cardinal directions are called the Lokapala s ल कप ल or Dikpalaka 2 Three main distinctions of Dikpalaka are recognized being nbsp The Ashta Dikpala with Brahma in the centre denoting ZenithAṣṭa Dikpala Guardians of Eight Directions Edit Name DirectionKubera The God of Fortune NorthYama The God of Justice and Death SouthIndra The Lord of Heaven and God of the Weather Sky Rain and Storms EastVaruna God of the Seas Oceans and Rain WestIshana God of Birth Death Resurrection and Time NortheastAgni God of Fire Southeast In the image incorrectly shown on southwest Vayu God of the Winds and Air NorthwestNirṛta God of Death Sorrow and Decay 3 4 Southwest In the image incorrectly shown on southeast Dasa Dikpala Guardians of Ten Directions Edit This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed May 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 Dikpala Guardians of Nine Directions Edit nbsp The diagram of Surya Majapahit shows the arrangements of Hindu deities each resided in main cardinal points Called Dewata 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 Edit nbsp Hinduism portal nbsp Religion portalBacab Bhairava Diggaja Dikpali Four Heavenly Kings Four sons of Horus Mahavidya Maitei Ngaakpa Lai Matrikas Nordri Sudri Austri and Vestri TitanNotes Edit Kumar 2001 p 17 The Lokapala Guardians of the Directions Medium September 12 2019 Retrieved 2023 02 20 Gopal 1990 p 71 Mani 1975 p 62 About Guardians of the directions 5 May 2020 Retrieved 2023 02 20 Guardians of The Directions Retrieved 2023 02 20 References EditDallapiccola Anna 2002 Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend ISBN 0 500 51088 1 Gopal Madan 1990 Gautam K S ed India through the ages Publication Division Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government of India Kumar Sehdev 2001 A Thousand Petalled Lotus Jain Temples of Rajasthan Architecture amp Iconography Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts Series Abhinav Publications Mani Vettam 1975 Puranic encyclopaedia a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature Delhi Motilal Banarsidass Wessels Mevissen Corinna 2001 The Gods of the Directions in Ancient India Origin and Early Development in Art and Literature until c 1000 A D Berlin Dietrich Reimer ISBN 3 496 02713 4 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Guardians of the directions at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Guardians of the directions amp oldid 1173389248, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
