File:8th century dikpalas, Shaiva Hindu temple, Alampur, Telangana.jpg

English: Dikapala are the guardians of the directions. They are found in mythology and many temples of Buddhists, Hindus and Jains. They are also found in discussions of the mandala in Vastu Shastras. Some historic Indian texts call them Dikpala, Lokpala or Lokapala or Vastudevatas or Kumaras or Dikpati.

There are some differences in who is where, and particular who is in the center. In Shaivism, it is Shiva; in Vaishnavism, it is Vishnu; in Shaktism, it is Devi; in Tibetan Buddhism, the eight outer dikpala are same as in Shaivism, but the central figure is either Lord Buddha or a goddess. The Niṣpannayogāvalī text describes 10 deities which includes the eight Hindu ones but innovates further. In some esoteric Buddhist traditions, tantric goddesses take the role of being guardians of the directions. Jain literature shares the same ideas found in Hindu literature, but with Jain context.

They are found carved into ceilings or octagonal pillars or individually placed as reliefs/statues on the outer walls of major temples.

A common iconography consists of,

east: Indra

south-east: Agni (however, Nrrti is shown in that corner above)

south: Yama

south-western: Nrriti (however, Agni is shown in that corner above)

western: Varuna

north-western: Vayu

northern: Kubera

north-eastern: Ishana