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:
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—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“Even though fathers, grandparents, siblings, memories of ancestors are important agents of socialization, our society focuses on the attributes and characteristics of mothers and teachers and gives them the ultimate responsibility for the child’s life chances.”
—Sara Lawrence Lightfoot (20th century)