Lokapala
Lokapalas ( Sanskrit लोकपाल lokapāla ), also Dikpala ( Sanskrit दिक्पाल dikpāla ; World Guardians , also: royal guardians, Caturmaharajas, Tibetan : Jigen Kyong), are the guardians of the four and eight cardinal directions in the mythology of Hinduism and Buddhism . Each of them is given an elephant as a helper. The eight elephants are called diggajas . They were traditionally depicted in pairs at the entrance of a grave to protect the grave.
Hinduism
The Lokapalas of Hinduism are former high gods who were downgraded to the rank of sky guardians at the time when Brahmanist beliefs and speculations became stronger. In the Amarakosha of the grammarian Amara Simhan the following list of lokapalas appears:
- Indra (east, पूर्व pūrva )
- Agni (southeast, आग्नेय āgneya )
- Yama (South, दक्षिण dakṣiṇa )
- Nirriti (southwest, नैरृत nairṛta )
- Varuna (west, पश्चिम paścima )
- Vayu (northwest, वायन vāyana )
- Kubera (Vaishravana) (North, उत्तर uttara )
- Ishana (northeast, ऐशान aiśāna )
Representations of all Lokapalas or Dikpalas can be found u. a. at the Rajarani Temple in Bhubaneswar .
In tantra there is also Brahma for the zenith and Vishnu for the nadir .
Buddhism
In Buddhism one is one of the Lokapalas:
- Dhritarashtra
- Vaishravana (Kubera) (north)
- Virudhaka
- Virupaksha
- Goalkeeper of the mandala
- Ten tantric protectors of the world directions
In Thai Buddhism there are four of them as lokaban (โลกบาล): Thotsarot (east), Wirunhok (south), Wirunpak (west) and Wessuwan (north).
The Lokapalas protect the four cardinal points and horizons on the world mountain Meru (in the Caturmaharajika heaven) and guard the entrances to the paradise of Indra. They were already represented in early Buddhist art - from this time they are known as protectors of the relics that guard the four cardinal points of the stupas .
According to legend, they were already present at the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni . Later they gave him alms bowls, which he turned into one as a sign of non-duality . They are also said to have been present at the Parinirvana of the Buddha. They are the protectors of Buddhist teaching and the world.
According to the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra they are the protectors of Buddha Shakyamuni, according to the Shi-tenno-kyo they are absent for six days in order to inspect all rulers, their ministers, entire peoples, insects, fish and the Nagas and Pretas of the parallel universes and look to their spiritual advancement as they go around the world.
While they are shown in early Buddhist-Indian art as stupa protectors with bare chests and lances and clubs, you see them in the later illustrations as royal guardians and protectors of the doctrine in warrior clothing and armor.
They are depicted heroically - mostly standing on snakes (more rarely: sitting), with armor or chain mail and arm and leg protection and a helmet with plume, a hat made of elephant skin or a crown. They also wear precious jewelry. Mostly they have Mongolian mustaches and a stern look. At times they are surrounded by wisdom flames.
Guardian
- Japanese representation of the four heavenly kings
Jikoku-ten (east)
Zōjō-ten (south)
Kōmoku-ten (west)
Bishamon-ten (north)
According to Burmese traditional representation (1906)
Dhritarashtra
"Keeper of the state," Tib. Yulbkhor Bsrungs , jap . 持国天 Jikokuten
Dhritarashtra rules in the east and is the protector of the doctrine and the “keeper of the state”. The army of heavenly musicians ( Gandharvas ) and demonic vampires is subordinate to him .
Dhritarashtra is white in body color. As King of the Gandharvas, his attribute is the lute or some other stringed instrument. He is only shown in the group of four.
Vaishravana
“The one who knows everything,” Tib. Rnam Thas-kyi Bu , Japanese 毘 沙門 天 Bishamonten
Vaishravana rules in the north and is the head of the four lokapalas - he is "the one who knows". He is the one who hears everything in the kingdom and can defend it powerfully and excellently at any time.
Legend has it that the north was thought to have huge riches and treasures, which is why it is seen as an emanation from the rich Kubera. Kubera is related to worldly wealth or the expansion of material things. Because of this, Vaishravana's most important attribute is the mongoose - for Kubera it has successfully fought against the snakes that guard earthly treasures.
Vaishravana is yellow in body color. As the king of the treasure-keeping yakshas, his attributes are the round banner and the jewel-spitting mongoose (more rarely: jewel and snake). As the most important of the Lokapalas, it can be represented both individually and in groups of four.
Virudhaka
" Who enlarges the kingdom", Tib. Hphags Skyes-po , Japanese 増 長 天 Zōjōten or Zōchōten
Virudhaka rules in the south and is "the mighty one who enlarges the kingdom". Im subordinate to the Khumbhandas; Giants or gnomes . Virudhaka is green (more rarely: blue) in body color, sometimes with a beard. As king of the Khumbhanda (giants or gnomes) his attribute is the sword (more rarely: a parasol). It is only shown in a group of four.
Virupaksha
“The one who observes everything”, Japanese 広 目 天 Kōmokuten
Virupaksha rules in the west and is the protector "who watches everything that goes on in the kingdom". Virupaksha is red in body color. Its attribute is an open sutraroll , a stupa or metal vessel in which Nagarjuna found Buddhist scriptures. It is only shown in a group of four. EN:
- Four World Guardians in Gyantse (Tibet)
Dhritarashtra
Vaishravana
Virudhaka
Virupaksha
Goalkeeper of the mandala
In the context of naming the Lokapalas, another group of four deities must also be named, who are also known from the Bardo Thödöl, but, if you look closely, are among the great Heruka (blood drinkers) of Mahayoga.
These are the gatekeepers of the mandala , who are also mentioned in the Tibetan Book of the Dead , they belong to the apparitions of the peaceful visions of the sixth day after death, they are considered to be manifestations of one's own purified projections.
While the mandala embodies the five aspects of enlightenment, the entrances to the four cardinal points are guarded by the gatekeepers, who represent goodness, compassion, compassion and equanimity.
East: The white Vijaya with his companion Ankusha (spiked stick). The hook of the Ankusha symbolizes the limitless love for all sentient beings, which captures the heart - to overcome suffering.
South: The yellow Yamantaka with his companion Pasha (noose bearer). The noose symbolizes the all-encompassing, captivating compassion that lives within us.
West: The red Hayagriva with his companion Shrinkala (or: Sphota), (chain carrier). The chains symbolize the immeasurable joy that no one can escape because it is part of our original selves.
North: The green Amritadhara (Amritakundali) with his companion Ghanta (bell). The ringing bell symbolizes the limitless, indistinguishable equanimity for all sentient beings.
Ten tantric protectors of the world directions
In addition, there are the ten powerful guardians of the ten world directions, who protect the four main and secondary directions, zenith and nadir. They also help to avert the danger of war. They are considered khrodag deities (wrathful deities).
They all wear the jewelry of the wrathful deities and stand in right or left lunge in union with their companion. They each have three faces and six arms. Guardian and companion have the same mirror attributes (sword, wheel, lotus , ax, vajra , lance).
literature
Gerhard J. Bellinger, Knaurs Lexikon der Mythologie, Knaur, Munich 1999, Lokapala
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ A b Gerhard J. Bellinger : Knaurs Lexikon der Mythologie, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-8289-4154-0 , page 293: Lokapāla
- ↑ Peter and Anneliese Keilhauer: The visual language of Hinduism. The Indian world of gods and their symbolism. DuMont, Cologne 1986, pp. 217ff, ISBN 3-7701-1347-0 .
- ↑ Amarakosha 1, 2, 6. Quoted in DC Sircar: Studies in the geography of ancient and medieval India. 2nd edition Delhi 1971, p. 331
- ↑ [1]