Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.135

c4.135

3) Agni—One of the Aṣṭa-dik-pālakas. (Aṣṭa=eight, dik=zone, pālaka=guardian). The Devī Bhāgavata states in its eighth chapter that Agni is one of the eight guards posted at the eight different zones to protect the universe. Indra guards the east; Agni, the south-east; Yama the south; Nirṛti, the south-west; Varuṇa, the west; Vāyu, the north-west; Kubera, the North and Śiva, the north-east. The place where Agni sits on guard is known as tejovati.