Dikpala (दिक्पाल)
Dikpala (दिक्पाल) is mentioned as deity who dominate certain direction. As a group of eight deities, they are called Asta-Dikpala (अष्ट-दिक्पाल), literally meaning guardians of eight directions.
Generally two extra directions are added to make it ten directions ( ऊर्ध्व and अधरस्त), and ten dikpalas.
Direction in Hinduism
The name of ten direction is mentioned in Varaha Purana (वराह-पुराण)
“ पूर्वाग्नेयी दक्षिणा च नैर्ऋती पश्चिमा तथा। वायवी चोत्तरैशानी ऊर्द्धा चाधोदिशोदशेति”
Number of direction is mentioned as ten directions in Mahabharata –
लोकपालाश्च लोकाश्च नक्षत्राणि दिशो दश – Mahabharata 3.12.58
Ten directions in Hinduism
| No. | English Direction | Dik (दिक्) | Dikpala (दिक्पाल) |
| 1 | East | प्राची , पूर्व | Indra |
| 2 | West | प्रतीची , पश्चिम | Varuna |
| 3 | North | उदीची , उत्तर | Kubera |
| 4 | South | अवाचि , दक्षिण | Yama |
| 5 | North-East | ईशान | Shiva |
| 6 | South-East | अग्नि | Agni |
| 7 | South-West | नैऋत्य | Nairuti ( Demon) |
| 8 | North-West | वायु | Vayu |
| 9 | Skywards | ऊर्ध्व | Brahma |
| 10 | Downwards | अधरस्त | Shesh or Anant |
