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Lokapāla (Sanskrit:लोकपाल,Tibetan:འཇིག་རྟེན་སྐྱོང་བ,Wylie: 'jig rten skyong ba), Sanskrit,Pāli, andTibetan for "guardian of the world", has different uses depending on whether it is found in aHindu orBuddhist context. In Hinduism,lokapāla refers to theGuardians of the Directions associated with the eight, nine and tencardinal directions. In Buddhism,lokapāla refers to theFour Heavenly Kings, and to other protector spirits, whereas theGuardians of the Directions are referred to asdikpāla.
InHinduism, the guardians of the cardinal directions are calleddikapāla. The four principal guardians are:[citation needed]
In Buddhism,lokapāla are one of two broad categories ofdharmapāla (protectors of the Buddhist religion) -the other category being Wisdom Protectors. In China, "each is additionally associated with a specific direction and the Four Heraldic Animals of Chinese astronomy/astrology, as well as playing a more secular role in rural communities ensuring favorable weather for crops and peace throughout the land...Easily identified by their armor and boots, each has his own magic weapon and associations."[1] Their names are (east)Dhrtarastra, (west)Virupaksa, (north)Vaishravana, and (south)Virudhaka.
InTibetan Buddhism, many of these worldly protector deities are indigenous Tibetan deities, mountain gods, demons, spirits or ghosts that have been subjugated byPadmasambhava or other great adepts and oath bound to protect a monastery, geographic region, particular tradition or as guardians of Buddhism in general. These worldly protectors are invoked and propitiated to aid the monastery or Buddhist practitioner materially and to remove obstacles to practice. However, since they are considered to be Samsaric beings, they are not worshiped or considered as objects ofrefuge.[citation needed]
According toTripitaka MasterShramanaHsuan Hua of theCity of Ten Thousand Buddhas, all of these beings are invoked (hooked and summoned) and exhorted to behave (subdued) andprotect the Dharma and itspractitioners in theShurangama Mantra.[2]