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The Guardians of the Directions ( Sanskrit: दिक्पाल, Dikpāla) are the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Hinduism, Jainism and '' '' Buddhism—especially . As a group of eight deities, they are called (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 . 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 in the nadir. Ancient Java and Bali Hinduism recognize , 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
Directions in Hindu tradition are called as ', or ''Dik''. There are four primary directions and a total of 10 directions.
(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)
The Guardians of the Directions ( Sanskrit: दिक्पाल, Dikpāla) are the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Hinduism, Jainism and '' '' Buddhism—especially . As a group of eight deities, they are called (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 . 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 in the nadir. Ancient Java and Bali Hinduism recognize , 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
Surya Majapahit ( Kawi: ꦯꦸꦂꦪꦩꦗꦥꦲꦶꦠ꧀, Sanskrit: मजपहितस्य सूर्य) (Surya of the Majapahit) is the emblem commonly found in ruins dated from the Majapahit era. The emblem commonly took the form of an ...
, 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).
Directions in Hindu tradition
Directions in Hindu tradition are called as ', or ''Dik''. There are four primary directions and a total of 10 directions.
Lokapālas
In Hinduism, the guardians of the cardinal directions are called the s (लोकपाल), or Dikpalaka. Three main distinctions of Dikpalaka are recognized, being:
("Guardians of Eight Directions")
("Guardians of Ten Directions")
Besides the eight guardians, the following are added: # Brahma ( Zenith, meaning "the farthest up from the gravitational force") # Vishnu ( Nadir, meaning "the direction in which gravity pulls")("Guardians of Nine Directions")
(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
* Bacab * Bhairava * Diggaja * Dikpali * Four Heavenly Kings * Four sons of Horus *Mahavidya
The ''Mahavidya'' ( sa, महाविद्या, , lit. ''Great Wisdoms'') are a group of ten Hinduism, Hindu Tantra, Tantric Devi, goddesses. The 10 Mahavidyas are usually named in the following sequence: Kali, Tara (Devi), Tara, Tripura Su ...
* Maitei Ngaakpa Lai
* Matrikas
* Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri
* Titan
Titan most often refers to:
* Titan (moon), the largest moon of Saturn
* Titans, a race of deities in Greek mythology
Titan or Titans may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Fictional entities
Fictional locations
* Titan in fiction, fictiona ...
Notes
References
* * * * *External links
{{HinduMythology Hindu gods Onmyōdō deities