Lokapala

Lokapala

लोकपाल, lokapāla

Lokapala is a Sanskrit term consisting of two words:

• loka (लोक), the main meaning is "world", "one of the many parts of the universe", earth (bhūloka), region, province;
• pāla (पाल), the main meaning is "protector", "one who guards, supports".

The Sanskrit word diśā (दिशा) "region", "direction" has a similar meaning, hence the word Dikpala is now even more in use in reference to Lokapāla.

The idea of Lokapalas as deities of directions speaks more to the idea of the universal prevalence of the One God in all directions and sides. The cosmos (space) is the source of all and the dikpalas, by ruling a certain part of that space, control and protect life and living beings. An example of this most general idea can be seen in the Rigveda X.72, which says that Existence manifested from Non-Existence, then, through creative power, the Earth and directions came into existence.

In Hinduism, the Lokapalas are deities of directions in the most general sense, or deities of the sides of the world; in a narrower sense, the Lokapalas are the protectors of the palace, city, province, world, etc., from their respective sides of the world. Depending on the source, the number of Lokapalas can vary from four (according to the four cardinal directions) to ten (eight sides of the world, zenith and nadir).

An example from Kamika Agama which describes the veneration of Shivalinga, shows us the description of the Lokapalas and their weapons (ayudhas) in the fourth and fifth avaranas. 

Indra

"Guru should worship Indra who is seated on the elephant (Airavata), who is of pale yellow color and holds vajra in his hands, the thousand-eyed one, who abides in the east. Guru should worship vajra (lightning-throwing weapon) in the east, which has a light yellow color and a hexagonal shape."

Agni

"He should worship Agni, who is present in the southeast, surrounded by streaks of fire, holding his weapon, shakti, and riding on a ram. In the southeast he should worship the weapon of shakti (spear) of light color."

Yama

"He must worship Yama, who abides in the south, mounted on a buffalo; he is black in color and holds danda in his hand. The danda weapon (a staff) of blue and black color is worshiped in the south."

Nirriti

"Nirriti of blue color is worshiped in the south-west, holding a gada (mace) and [sitting] mounted on the nara (human being). The khadga (sword) of blue color should be worshiped in the south-west."

Varuna

"In the west he should worship Varuna, who is white, seated on a large fish and is holding a pasha (noose). In the west the white-coloured pasha is worshiped."

Vayu

"In the north-west he should worship Vayu, who is of variable color, holding dhvaja in his hands and mounted on an antelope. In the north-west the dhvaja (flag) that is varied colors is worshiped."

Kubera

"In the north, he should worship Kubera who is holding a khadga in his hands, seated on a treasure (or, mounted on a horse) and who is of white and yellow in color. His gada (mace) is of golden color."

Ishana

"In the northeast he should worship Ishana, dark yellow in color, with a shula in his hand, mounted on a bull; three-eyed, shining, with a beautiful face. The trishula (trident) of fiery color is worshiped in the northeast."

Vishnu

"Beneath the yantra he should worship Vishnu, who is black and blue, seated on Garuda, holding chakra in his hand. In the direction below, the chakra (disk), that has the radiance of the sun, is worshiped."

Brahma

"Above the yantra he should worship Brahma, who is red-brown in color, who is riding on a hamsa and holding a padma in his hand. Above the yantra, the padma (lotus) of white color is worshiped."

Modern concept

Direction	Dikpala	Ruled by	Vahana (animal vehicle, deity's "mount")	Ayudha (Weapon)	Shakti (Spouse)
East (Purva)	Indra	Gods	Elephant (Airavata) / Horse (Uchchaihshravas)	Vajra (lightning-throwing weapon)	Shachi
Southeast (Agneya)	Agni	Fire	Ram, Goat (Aja)	Shakti (Spear) / Danda (Staff)	Svaha
South (Dakshina)	Yama	Dharma/Pretas	Buffalo (Ugra / Paundraka)	Danda (Staff)	Dhumorna
Southwest (Nairritya)	Nairrita	Rakshasas	Human beings (Nara)	Khadga (Sword)	Nirriti
West (Pashcima)	Varuna	Rita / Waters	Capricorn (Makara) / Pisces,Fish (Mina)	Pasha  (Noose)	Varuni
Northwest (Vayavya)	Vayu	Air / Prana	Antelope (Mriga/Ruru)	Dhvaja (Flag) / Ankusha (Hook)	Bharati / Anjani
North (Uttara)	1.Kubera 2.Soma	1.Yakshas 2.Nakshatras	1.Treasure (Nidhi) / Horse (Ashva) / Man (Nara) 2.Horse ( ashva) / Antelope ( Mriga / Ruru)	1.Gada (Mace) 2.Shankha (Shell)	1. Bhadra 2.27 Nakshatras
Northeast (Ishanya)	Ishana	Jnana / Different Worlds	Buffalo (Vrishabha)	Trishula (Trident)	Sati / Parvati
Zenith (Urdhva)	Brahma	All of Creation	Swan (Hamsa)	Padma (Lotus)	Sarasvati
Nadir (Patala)	Ananta	Nagas / Patala	-	Chakra (Disk)	Nagini