Guardians of the directions
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The Guardians of the Directions (Template:Langx, Template:IAST3) are the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Hinduism, Jainism and [[Vajrayana|Template:IAST]] Buddhism—especially [[Kalachakra|Template:IAST]]. As a group of eight deities, they are called Template:IAST (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 Template:IAST. 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 Template:IAST, 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).Template:Citation needed
Directions in Hindu tradition
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Directions in Hindu tradition are called as Template:IAST, 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 | Template:IAST, Pratīcī, Aparā |
| Northeast | Īśāna |
| Southeast | Agni |
| Northwest | Vāyu |
| Southwest | Nirṛta |
| Zenith | Ūrdhva |
| Nadir | AdhaH |
Lokapālas
[edit]In Hinduism, the guardians of the cardinal directions are called the [[Lokapala|Template:IAST]]s (लोकपाल), or Dikpalaka.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Retrieved</ref> Three main distinctions of Dikpalaka are recognized, being:
Template:IAST ("Guardians of Eight Directions")
[edit]| 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) |
Template:IAST ("Guardians of Ten Directions")
[edit]Template:Unsourced sectionBesides the eight guardians, the following are added:<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Retrieved</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Retrieved</ref>
- Brahma (Zenith, meaning "the farthest up from the gravitational force")
- Vishnu (Nadir, meaning "the direction in which gravity pulls")
Template:IAST ("Guardians of Nine Directions")
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(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
[edit]- Bacab
- Bhairava
- Diggaja
- Dikpali
- Four Heavenly Kings
- Four sons of Horus
- Mahavidya
- Maitei Ngaakpa Lai
- Matrikas
- Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri
- Titan