Cosmography and Geography in Early Indian Literature c6.s2.34

c6.s2.34

²⁹ The Brahmanical Lokapālas or Dikpālas were also originally four in number, viz. Vāsava (Indra) in the east, Yama in the south, Varuṇa in the west and Kuvera (Vaiśravaṇa) in the north (cf. Sircar, Select Inscriptions, p. 187). To this list were later added the wind-god (north-west), sun-god (or Nairṛta—south-west), fire-god (south-east) and moon-god (Īśa or Īśāna—north-east) for the other four directions (cf. Manusmṛti, vii. 4 ; Amarakoṣa, Digvarga, 4). A similar conception was that of the eight Diggajas (elephants guarding the quarters), viz. Airāvata (east), Puṇḍarīka (south-east), Vāmana (south), Kumuda (south-west), Añjana (west), Puṣpadanta (north-west), Sārvabhauma (north) and Supratīka (north-east). See Amarakoṣa op. cit., verse 5.