Names and Attributes
The names of the Dikpālas vary slightly, but generally include the following:
| Name | Direction | Mantra | Weapon | Consort | Graha (Planet) | Guardian Mātṛkā |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kubera | North | Oṃ Śaṃ Kuberāya Namaḥ | Gadā (mace) | Kuberajāyā | Budha (Mercury) | Kumārī |
| Yama | South | Oṃ Maṃ Yamāya Namaḥ | Daṇḍa(staff) | Yami | Maṅgala (Mars) | Varahi |
| Indra | East | Oṃ Laṃ Indrāya Namaḥ | Vajra (thunderbolt) | Śacī | Sūrya (Sun) | Aindri |
| Varuṇa | West | Oṃ Vaṃ Varuṇāya Namaḥ | Pāśa (noose) | Nalani | Śani (Saturn) | Varuṇī |
| Īśāna | Northeast | Oṃ Haṃ Īśānāya Namaḥ | Triśūla (trident) | Pārvatī | Bṛhaspati (Jupiter) | Māheśvarī |
| Agni | Southeast | Oṃ Raṃ Agnaye Namaḥ | Śakti(Spear) | Svāhā | Śukra (Venus) | Meṣavāhinī |
| Vāyu | Northwest | Oṃ Yaṃ Vāyuve Namaḥ | Aṅkuśa (goad) | Bhāratī | Candra (Moon) | Mṛgavāhinī |
| Nirṛti (sometimes Rakṣasa) | Southwest | Oṃ Kṣaṃ Rakṣasāya Namaḥ | Khaḍga (sword) | Khaḍgī | Rāhu (North Lunar Node) | Khaḍgadhāriṇī |
| Brahmā | Zenith | Oṃ Hriṃ Brahmaṇe Namaḥ | Padma (lotus) | Sarasvatī | Ketu (South Lunar Node) | Brahmāni |
| Viṣṇu | Nadir | Oṃ Kliṃ Viṣṇave Namaḥ | Cakra (discus) | Lakṣmī | Lagna | Vaiṣṇavī |
Read more about this topic: Guardians Of The Directions
Famous quotes containing the words names and/or attributes:
“Shut out that stealing moon,
She wears too much the guise she wore
Before our lutes were strewn
With years-deep dust, and names we read
On a white stone were hewn.”
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)
“Why does not the kitten betray some of the attributes common to the adult puss? A puppy is but a dog, plus high spirits, and minus common sense. We never hear our friends say they love puppies, but cannot bear dogs. A kitten is a thing apart; and many people who lack the discriminating enthusiasm for cats, who regard these beautiful beasts with aversion and mistrust, are won over easily, and cajoled out of their prejudices, by the deceitful wiles of kittenhood.”
—Agnes Repplier (1858–1950)