Jain Journal 1983 01

SR No.: 520069
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 2 MB

Page 28

Asta Dikpalas at Vimala Vasahi, Mt. Abu
MARUTI NANDAN PRASAD TIWARI & Kamal Giri
The Dikpalas or Lokapalas, the guardian deities of the quarters, were held in veneration in Brahmanical sect since remote past. In
auranic literature and other works their usual number is eight, hence called Asta Dikpalas. They, with their respective jurisdictions, are as follows : Indra as lord of east, Agni, Yama, Nirriti, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera and Isana respectively of south-east, south, south-west, west, north-west, north and north-east. Sometimes their number becomes ten, including the names of Vasuki and Brahma, respectively the guardian deities of nether and upper regions. Of these, Indra, Varuna, Vayu, Agni, Yama, Nirriti, Brahma also known as Prajapati, and Kubera, called Vaisravana, occupy prominent positions in Vedic literature but at a later stage their importance decreased as indenpendent deities, and were consequently grouped as Asta Dikpalas, sometimes ten in number. The representation of the Asta Dikpalas at the eight cardinal points became a regular feature with the Brahmanical temples all over India from c. seventh century A.D.
The names and the iconographic features of the Jaina Dikpalas were borrowed from the Brahmanical sectin c. eighth-ninth century A.D., although some of them were known as independent deities or as the yakşas prior to this. The early Jaina works, Kalpasūtra and Paumacariyam, mention Indra as the chief attendant of all the Jinas. The Kalpasūtra visualises, Indra (Sakra) as carrying a thunderbolt and riding on an elephant. Kubera and Brahma, respectively known as Sarvanubhuti and Brahmasanti, were also worshipped as yak şas.
1 Banerjea, J. N., The Development of Hindu Iconography, Calcutta, 1956, pp. 519-29. 2 Ibid., p. 521.
The Jainas, besides Asta Dikpalas, also assimilated Rama, Krsna, Ganesa, Brahma, Kumara, Siva, Visnu and several other Brahmanical deities in their pantheon. Kalpasutra, sutra 14 ; Paumacariyam, 3.76-88.