Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c20.5

v3.c20.5

Round the neck of the dome of the vimāna of the central shrine should be placed the four guardians of the vimāna, namely, Nyaksha, Vivasvān, Mitra and Kshattā facing outwards. The gates should be guarded by three pairs of *dvāradēvas* of whom Dhāta and Vidhāta facing the north and the south respectively should be situated on either door-posts of the central shrine. On the door-sill of the same gateway the deity named Bhuvaṅga should be conceived as lying with his head towards the south and the feet towards the north and facing upwards. The officiating priests (*archakas*) should not cross Bhuvaṅga except when they enter the shrine on duty. On the lintel of the same gateway and directly above the door-sill occupied by Bhuvaṅga, the deity named Pataṅga should be conceived as facing downwards with his head towards the north and feet towards the south. Patira and Varuṇa are conceived as occupying the right and the left doors respectively of the same gateway.