Guardians of the directions

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File:Khajuraho ni05-11.jpg
Parshvanatha Temple, Khajuraho, the southeast corner, with guardians Indra (E) and Agni (SE).

The Guardians of the Directions (Template:Langx, Template:IAST3) are the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Hinduism, Jainism and Script error: No such module "lang". Buddhism—especially Script error: No such module "lang".. As a group of eight deities, they are called Script error: No such module "lang". (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 Script error: No such module "lang".. 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 VishnuTemplate:Sfnp in the nadir. Ancient Java and Bali Hinduism recognize Script error: No such module "lang"., 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).Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Directions in Hindu tradition

File:Brahma and the Lokapalas.jpg
Brahma, Lord of the Zenith (center) with (from left) Varuna, Kubera, Yama and Indra.

Directions in Hindu tradition are called as Script error: No such module "lang"., 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 Script error: No such module "lang"., 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 Script error: No such module "lang".s (लोकपाल), or Dikpalaka.[1] Three main distinctions of Dikpalaka are recognized, being:

File:578 CE Dikpalas, rock cut Badami Cave 3 ceiling.jpg
The Ashta-Dikpala with Brahma in the centre denoting Zenith

Script error: No such module "lang". ("Guardians of Eight Directions")

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 DecayTemplate:SfnpTemplate:Sfnp Southwest (in the image incorrectly shown on southeast)

Script error: No such module "lang". ("Guardians of Ten Directions")

Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Besides the eight guardians, the following are added:[2][3]

  • Brahma (Zenith, meaning "the farthest up from the gravitational force")
  • Vishnu (Nadir, meaning "the direction in which gravity pulls")

Script error: No such module "lang". ("Guardians of Nine Directions")

File:Surya Majapahit Diagram.svg
The 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)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Retrieved 2023-02-20.

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References

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External links

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