Notes on Lokapala

Lokapāla, Sanskrit and Pāli for "guardian of the world", has different uses depending on whether it is found in a Hindu or Buddhist context.

In Hinduism, lokapāla refers to the Guardians of the Directions associated with the four cardinal directions.
In Buddhism, lokapāla refers to the Four Heavenly Kings, and to other protector spirits, whereas the Guardians of the Directions are referred to as the 'dikpālas'

In Buddhism

(Pronunciation: "LOH kah pah lah") Guardians of the four directions, or "Four Heavenly Kings," commonly found in Buddhist temple architecture. Chinese: Tien Wang ("TYEN wahng"); Japanese: Shi Tenno ("SHEE ten noh").

Guardians of the Four Directions. As protectors of the Buddhist faith, these guardians are typically represented wearing armor and brandishing weapons. In Buddhist sculptural programs, they are typically placed at the four corners of the altar.

The eight Lokapalas, the guardians of this world are

Indra,
Agni,
Yama,
Surya,
Varuna,
Pavana,
Kubera
and Soma.


The are also called the guardians of directions and each one is associated with a particular cardinal point on the compass.

In Buddhism, lokapāla (Wylie: 'jig rten pa'i srung ma) are one of two broad categories of Dharmapāla (protectors of the Buddhist religion) -the other category being Wisdom Protectors.

In Tibetan Buddhism many of these worldly protector deities are indigenous Tibetan deities, mountain gods, demons, spirits or ghosts that have been subjugated by Padmasambhava or other great adepts and oath bound to protect a monastery, geographic region, particular tradition or as guardians of Buddhism in general.

These worldly protectors are invoked and propitiated to aid the monastery or Buddhist practitioner materially and to remove obstacles to practice. However, since they are considered to be Samsaric beings they are not worshiped or considered as objects of refuge.

According to Tripitaka Master Shramana Hsuan Hua of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, All of these beings are invoked (hooked and summoned) and exhorted to behave (subdued) and protect the Dharma and its practitioners in the Shurangama Mantra

Lokapala, Heavenly Guardian, China - early 8th century

In Hinduism

In Hinduism, the guardians of the cardinal directions are called the Lokapālas (लोकपाल), or Dikpalaka. Three main distinctions of Dikpalaka are recognized, being:


Aṣṭa-Dikpāla ("Guardians of Eight Directions")

Kubera (North)
Yama (South)
Indra (East)
Varuṇa (West)
Īśāna (Northeast)
Agni (Southeast)
Vayu (Northwest)
Nirṛti (Southwest)

Brahma & four Lokapalas (the Hindu origin)
Brahma standing on a turtle in the center, surrounded by the four Lokapalas, guardians of the Cardinal directions, Anuradhapura Period, Sri Lanka, 9th century.
Brahma is Lord of the center. (from the left) Varuna, the Lord of the West and knowledge, with his mount, a horse. Kubera, the Lord of the North and wealth, carrying a mace and with a lion. Yama, the Regent of the south and Lord of death, with a bull. Indra, the Lord of the East and heaven with an elephant, holding a thunderbolt.

Daśa-Dikpāla ("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")




Nava-Dikpāla ("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)

The diagram of Surya Majapahit shows the arrangements of Hindu deities each resided in main cardinal points.