Talk:Dvarapalas or dvarapalakas
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Dvarapalas or dvarapalakas are the ‘guardians of doors’.
All the temples built in the traditional style have dvarapalas or door-guardians, generally at the sides of the main doorway of the sanctum. Their iconographic details vary according to the sectarian affiliation of the temple (Śaiva, Śakta or Vaiṣnava).
In Vaisnava temples there are three pairs of dvarapalas: Canda and Pracanda at the sides of the temple; Jaya and Vijaya at the sides of the sanctum in the ardhamandapa; Purna and Puskara at the outside enclosure. Sometimes Nanda and Sunanda, as also Kumuda and Kumudaksa are also mentioned as dvarapalas. There are other deities also who too function as guardians. For instance
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore