Kshetrapala

Kshetrapala (Sanskrit: क्षेत्रपाल, romanized: Kṣetrapāla) is a guardian deity featured in Indian religions. In Hindu belief, a kshetrapala is the guardian deity of consecrated land or farmland.^[1] Kshetrapala became a generic name applied to deities associated with a piece or parcel of land, or a particular region (Sanskrit: Kṣetra).

Sculpture of a kshetrapala

Description

Kshetrapalas are generally found in South India, the Himalayas and in various other part of India like villages of Gujarat, Rajasthan. It is worshipped as village deity. Their shrines are commonly present in the north-east corner of a village or a town. Associated with the deity Bhairava, they are portrayed in the nude and accompanied by a dog. They are depicted with three or six eyes, and an even number of hands, which are regarded to be representative of different gunas. They possess fangs in their mouths and wear a sacred thread composed of snakes. They carry a sword and a shield, and are often featured with Shaiva iconography.^[2]

See also

• Dharmapala
• Dikpala
• Ayyanar