Guardians of the directions

The Guardians of the Directions (, ) 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, 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 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 , 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 s (लोकपाल), or Dikpalaka. Three main distinctions of Dikpalaka are recognized, being:

("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 Decay Southwest (in the image incorrectly shown on southeast)

("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 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)

Directions in Japanese Onmyōdō In Japanese Onmyōdō, directional guardianship is associated chiefly with the Konjin (金神), itinerant deities of metal believed to change position according to the year, lunar month, and season. The direction currently occupied by a Konjin was considered inauspicious, and travelers observed the practice of katatagae ("changing direction"), deliberately journeying toward a different direction for a day before resuming their route, to avoid setting out toward a taboo direction where a Konjin, Ten'ichijin, or Taihakujin was believed to reside. Widely observed among Heian-period nobility, the practice was reinforced by belief in the "seven deaths of Konjin", according to which violating a Konjin's taboo direction could cause the deaths of up to seven close relatives.

From the mid-Heian period, the Jingikan (Department of Worship) also conducted the Shikaku-sai ("Festival of the Four Directions") as part of a broader effort to formalize directional ritual observance within the Onmyōdō-influenced court religious system.

Guardians of the directions

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