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ISAVASYA UPANISHAD
As time went on Isa was degraded in the Puranas, from the Supreme Lord who pervades everything to a minor god.
By the time of Puranas Isa became a dikpala, a guardian of northeastern quarter, and an ekadasarudra, one of eleven rudras - as an aspect of Shiva - Eshana Rudra. He rides a goat or bull. His color is white, and attributes are five arrows, ax, drum, fruit, hatchet, hook, lute noose, rosary, and staff. He is three-eyed. This degradation went hand in hand with the intense fight between the Saivites and the Vaishnavites. The 11 Rudras are as follows:
1. Mahadeva, 2. Shiva, 3. Maha Rudra, 4. Shankara, 5. Neelalohita, 6. Eshana Rudra, 7. Vijaya Rudra, 8. Bheema Rudra, 9. Devadeva, 10. Bhavodbhava and 11. Adityatmaka Srirudra.
Worship is offered to Indra and Dikpalas (guardians of directions, Indra, Agni, Yama, Yaksa, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, Isana, Brahma and Ananta who carry weapons: Vajra, (thunderbolt); Sakti, (energy); Danda (staff); Khadga (sword); Pasa, (noose); Ankusa (hooked goad); Gada, (mace); Sula (trident); Padma (lotus flower); and Chakra (discus).
Isana, Astadikpalas, Bhubanesvara Holds mala (prayer beads), trisula (trident)
ca. 1000 CE, 975 CE - 1025 CE
Dikpalas Ishana Parshvanatha Temple Jain complex, Khajuraho His name means, simply, "the Lord." He
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