A Dvarapala or Dvarapalaka (
Sanskrit, "door guard";
IAST: DvārapālaSanskrit pronunciation:[dʋaːɽɐpaːlɐ]) is a
door or
gate guardian often portrayed as a warrior or fearsome giant, usually armed with a weapon - the most common being the
gada (mace). The dvarapala
statue is a widespread
architectural element throughout
Hindu,
Buddhist, and
Jaina cultures, as well as in areas influenced by them like
Java.
Jaya-Vijaya - the dvarapalas of
Vishnu's abode of
Vaikuntha are often depicted in his temples, guarding the doors. Here they are depicted guarding the sanctum of a famous Vishnu temple known as
Chennakesava Temple.
Names
In most Southeast Asian languages (including
Thai,
Burmese,
Vietnamese,
Khmer, and
Javanese), these protective figures are referred to as dvarapala.[citation needed] Sanskrit dvāra means "gate" or "door", and pāla means "guard" or "protector".
The related name in
Indonesian and
Malaysia is dwarapala. Equivalent door guardians in northern Asian languages are Kongōrikishi or Niō in
Japanese, Heng Ha Er Jiang in
Chinese, and Narayeongeumgang in
Korean.
Origin and forms
Dvarapalas as an architectural feature have their origin in
tutelary deities, like
Yaksha, and
warrior figures, such as
Acala, of the local popular religion.[1] Today some dvarapalas are even figures of policemen or soldiers standing guard.
These statues were traditionally placed outside Hindu temples or Buddhist temples, as well as other structures like
royal palaces, to protect the holy places inside. A dvarapala is usually portrayed as an armed fearsome guardian looking like a
demon, but at the gates of Buddhist temples in
Sri Lanka, dvarapalas often display average
human features. In other instances, a fierce-looking
nāga snake figure may perform the same function. Dvarapalas are present in almost all Hindu temples, Dvarapalas are highly important in
Vaishnavism and are called
Jaya-Vijaya they are the guardians or (gatekeepers) of the abode of
Vishnu, known as
Vaikuntha (meaning place of eternal bliss).[2][3] They are present in almost all
Vaishnavite temples and they are mentioned in several
Hindu scriptures like
Brahmanda Purana and
Srimad Bagavatham. According to the
Brahmanda Purana, Jaya and Vijaya were the sons of
Kali, an Asura, and Kali, in turn, was one of the sons of
Varuna and his wife, Stuta (Sanskrit (स्तुत, meaning 'praise').[4][5]
The sculptures in
Java and
Bali, usually carved from
andesite, portray dvarapalas as fearsome giants with rather bulky physiques in semi-kneeling positions and holding a
club. The largest dvarapala stone statue in Java, a dvarapala of the
Singhasari period, is 3.7 metres (12 ft) tall. The traditional dvarapalas of Cambodia and Thailand, on the other hand, are leaner and portrayed in a standing position holding the club downward in the center.
Depending on the size and wealth of the temple, the guardians could be placed singly, in pairs, or in larger groups. Smaller structures may have had only one dvarapala. Often there was a pair placed on either side of the threshold to the
shrine.[7] Some larger sites may have had four (
lokapālas, guardians of the four
cardinal directions), eight, or 12. In some cases only the fierce face or head of the guardian is represented, a figure very common in the
kratons in Java.
A Dvarapala or Dvarapalaka (
Sanskrit, "door guard";
IAST: DvārapālaSanskrit pronunciation:[dʋaːɽɐpaːlɐ]) is a
door or
gate guardian often portrayed as a warrior or fearsome giant, usually armed with a weapon - the most common being the
gada (mace). The dvarapala
statue is a widespread
architectural element throughout
Hindu,
Buddhist, and
Jaina cultures, as well as in areas influenced by them like
Java.
Jaya-Vijaya - the dvarapalas of
Vishnu's abode of
Vaikuntha are often depicted in his temples, guarding the doors. Here they are depicted guarding the sanctum of a famous Vishnu temple known as
Chennakesava Temple.
Names
In most Southeast Asian languages (including
Thai,
Burmese,
Vietnamese,
Khmer, and
Javanese), these protective figures are referred to as dvarapala.[citation needed] Sanskrit dvāra means "gate" or "door", and pāla means "guard" or "protector".
The related name in
Indonesian and
Malaysia is dwarapala. Equivalent door guardians in northern Asian languages are Kongōrikishi or Niō in
Japanese, Heng Ha Er Jiang in
Chinese, and Narayeongeumgang in
Korean.
Origin and forms
Dvarapalas as an architectural feature have their origin in
tutelary deities, like
Yaksha, and
warrior figures, such as
Acala, of the local popular religion.[1] Today some dvarapalas are even figures of policemen or soldiers standing guard.
These statues were traditionally placed outside Hindu temples or Buddhist temples, as well as other structures like
royal palaces, to protect the holy places inside. A dvarapala is usually portrayed as an armed fearsome guardian looking like a
demon, but at the gates of Buddhist temples in
Sri Lanka, dvarapalas often display average
human features. In other instances, a fierce-looking
nāga snake figure may perform the same function. Dvarapalas are present in almost all Hindu temples, Dvarapalas are highly important in
Vaishnavism and are called
Jaya-Vijaya they are the guardians or (gatekeepers) of the abode of
Vishnu, known as
Vaikuntha (meaning place of eternal bliss).[2][3] They are present in almost all
Vaishnavite temples and they are mentioned in several
Hindu scriptures like
Brahmanda Purana and
Srimad Bagavatham. According to the
Brahmanda Purana, Jaya and Vijaya were the sons of
Kali, an Asura, and Kali, in turn, was one of the sons of
Varuna and his wife, Stuta (Sanskrit (स्तुत, meaning 'praise').[4][5]
The sculptures in
Java and
Bali, usually carved from
andesite, portray dvarapalas as fearsome giants with rather bulky physiques in semi-kneeling positions and holding a
club. The largest dvarapala stone statue in Java, a dvarapala of the
Singhasari period, is 3.7 metres (12 ft) tall. The traditional dvarapalas of Cambodia and Thailand, on the other hand, are leaner and portrayed in a standing position holding the club downward in the center.
Depending on the size and wealth of the temple, the guardians could be placed singly, in pairs, or in larger groups. Smaller structures may have had only one dvarapala. Often there was a pair placed on either side of the threshold to the
shrine.[7] Some larger sites may have had four (
lokapālas, guardians of the four
cardinal directions), eight, or 12. In some cases only the fierce face or head of the guardian is represented, a figure very common in the
kratons in Java.