Ajay Kumar at 18:00, 18 September 2023

2023-09-18T18:00:30Z

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{{Short description|Door guardian statue}}
[[File:0111321 Sondhni Vijayastambha, Mandasor Victory Pillars site, Mandsaur Madhya Pradesh 041.jpg|300px|thumb|[[Sondani]], two [[Dvarapalas]], circa 525 CE.]]
[[File:Plaosan Temple Guardian.jpg|300px|thumb|right|One of two pairs of dvarapala, 9th century Buddhist temple of [[Plaosan]], [[Java]], [[Indonesia]].]]

A '''Dvarapala''' or '''Dvarapalaka''' ([[Sanskrit]], "door guard"; [[IAST]]: ''{{IAST|Dvārapāla}}'' {{IPA-sa|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)|''gada'']] (mace). The dvarapala [[statue]] is a widespread [[architecture|architectural element]] throughout [[Hinduism|Hindu]], [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] and [[Jainism|Jaina]] cultures, as well as in areas influenced by them like [[Java]].
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| image1 = Sculpture of Jaya, guardian to the entrance of the sanctum of Vishnu in Chennakeshava temple at Belur.jpg
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| image2 = Sculpture of Vijaya, guardian to the entrance of the sanctum of Vishnu in Chennakeshava temple at Belur.jpg
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| footer = [[Jaya-Vijaya]] - the Dvarapalas of the god [[Vishnu|Maha Vishnu]]'s abode [[Vaikuntha]] are often depicted in his temples, guarding the doors. Here they are guarding the sanctum of a famous Vishnu temple known as [[Chennakesava Temple]].
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==Names==
In most Southeast Asian languages (including [[Thai language|Thai]], [[Burmese language|Burmese]], [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], [[Khmer language|Khmer]] and [[Javanese language|Javanese]]), these protective figures are referred to as ''dvarapala''.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} Sanskrit ''dvāra'' means "gate" or "door", and ''pāla'' means "guard" or "protector".

The related name in [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] and [[Malaysian language|Malaysia]] is ''dwarapala''. Equivalent door guardians in northern Asian languages are ''Kongōrikishi'' or ''[[Nio|Niō]]'' in [[Japanese language|Japanese]], ''Heng Ha Er Jiang'' in [[Chinese language|Chinese]], and ''Narayeongeumgang'' in [[Korean language|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.<ref>Helena A. van Bemmel, ''Dvārapālas in Indonesia: temple guardians and acculturation By Helena A. van Bemmel'', {{ISBN|978-90-5410-155-0}}</ref> 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 palace]]s, 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 called as [[Jaya-Vijaya]] who are the guardians or (gatekeepers) of the abode of [[Vishnu]], known as [[Vaikuntha]] (meaning ''place of eternal bliss'').<ref>{{cite book|title=Legends of Devi|page=16|publisher=Orient Blackswan|year=1998|author=Bhattacharji, Sukumari}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Ashtanga Yoga The Intermediate Series: Mythology, Anatomy, and Practice|page=34|publisher=New World Library|author=Gregor Maehle|year=2012}}</ref> They are present in almost all [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite temples]] and they are mentioned in several [[Hindu]] scriptures like [[Brahmanda Purana]] and [[Bhagavata Purana|Srimad Bagavatham]]. According to the [[Brahmanda Purana]], Jaya and Vijaya were the sons of [[Kali (demon)|Kali]], an Asura, and Kali, in turn, was one of the sons of [[Varuna]] and his wife, Stuta (Sanskrit (स्तुत, meaning 'praise').<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/BrahmandaPuranaG.V.TagarePart3|title=Brahmanda Purana – English Translation – Part 3 of 5|last=G.V.Tagare|date=1958|pages=[https://archive.org/details/BrahmandaPuranaG.V.TagarePart3/page/n77 794]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/stuta|title=Stuta, Stutā: 5 definitions|last=www.wisdomlib.org|date=2017-10-09|website=www.wisdomlib.org|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref>

The sculptures in [[Java]] and [[Bali]], usually carved from [[andesite]], portray dvarapalas as fearsome giants with a rather bulky physique in semi kneeling position and holding a [[club (weapon)|club]]. The largest dvarapala stone statue in Java, a dvarapala of the [[Singhasari]] period, is {{Convert|3.7|m||abbr=}} 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.

The ancient sculpture of dvarapala in Thailand is made of a high-fired [[stoneware]] [[clay]] covered with a pale, almost milky [[celadon]] [[Ceramic glaze|glaze]]. [[Ceramic art|Ceramic sculptures]] of this type were produced in [[Thailand]], during the [[Sukhothai Kingdom|Sukhothai]] and [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya periods]], between the 14th and 16th centuries, at several [[kiln]] complexes located in [[northern Thailand]]. <ref>[[Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art]], Gainesville, Florida</ref>

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]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dvarapala - Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia|url=http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Dvarapala|access-date=2020-08-12|website=www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com}}</ref> Some larger sites may have had four ([[Guardians of the directions#Lokapālas|lokapālas]], guardians of the four [[cardinal direction]]s), eight, or 12. In some cases only the fierce face or head of the guardian is represented, a figure very common in the [[Kraton (Indonesia)|kraton]]s in Java.

{{gallery|mode=packed
|Image:Dvarapala Elephanta 2007.JPG|Dvarapala in [[Elephanta Caves|Elephanta]] [[India]].
|Image:Dwarabalakas of Sri Kalyana Ramaswamy temple Ramaiyampatti.jpg|Dvarapala in [[Sri Kalyana Ramaswamy temple]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].
|Image:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Beeld van een demonische tempelwachter Singosari Oost-Java TMnr 10016489.jpg|The largest dvarapala stone statue of [[Java]], [[Singhasari kingdom|Singhasari]] period.
|File:Two Guardian Dvarapalas at 12th Century Preah Khan 1942.jpg|Two Gigantic Guardian Dvarapalas at 12th Century [[Preah Khan]] in [[Angkor]], [[Cambodia]]
|File:Banteay Kdei, Angkor, Camboya, 2013-08-16, DD 15.JPG|Dvarapala at [[Banteay Kdei]] in [[Angkor]], [[Cambodia]]
|Image:Dvarapala.JPG|Dvarapala [[Sukhothai Kingdom|Sukhothai]] and [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya]], 14th and 16th centuries [[Thailand]].
|Image:Dvarapala Dong Duong Style.jpg|Late 9th or early 10th century dvarapala from Indrapura (Dong Duong), [[Champa]], [[Vietnam]].
|Image:Entrée du Temple de Dalem Agung Padantegal.jpg|A pair of male and female dvarapalas guarding gate of a Hindu temple in [[Bali]], [[Indonesia]].
|Image:Geant Grand Palais.jpg|Dvarapala [[Yaksha]] ({{lang-th|ยักษ์}}) of the [[Grand Palace]], [[Bangkok]], Thailand
|File:Bangkok wat ratchabopit 021.jpg|Contemporary soldier dvarapala as doorkeeper at [[Wat Ratchabophit]], Bangkok
|File:Hatadage-stella(js).jpg|Dvarapala at the entrance of Hatadage, [[Polonnaruwa]], [[Sri Lanka]]
|File:Kraton Surakarta - Statue.jpg|Dvarapala at the Kraton of [[Surakarta]], Indonesia
|File:Dvarapalaka.jpg|Dvarapalaka, 11th century ([[Chola dynasty]]), [[Tamil Nadu]], India
|File:Dvarapala (door guard) statue at Hindu temple.jpg|Guardian statue at a Hindu temple in Sri Lanka.
|File:Chaturmukha basadi, Gerusoppa - Dvarapala.jpg|Pair of Dvarapala at [[Chaturmukha Basadi, Gerusoppa|Chaturmukha Basadi]], India
|File:Pawapuri - 005 Door Guardian (9243062075).jpg|Dwaarpalas at a [[Jain temple]]
|File:Pawapuri - 006 Door Guardian (9245834130).jpg|Dwaarpalas at a [[Jain temple]]
}}

==See also==
{{colbegin|colwidth=12em}}
*[[Tutelary deity]]
*[[Buddhist architecture]]
*[[Hindu architecture]]
*[[Guardians of the directions#Lokapālas|Lokapālas]]
*[[Yaksha]]
*[[Dharmapala]]
*[[Nio]]
{{colend}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commonscat|Dvarapala}}
*[http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/between-worlds-guardians-in-tibet-as-agents-of-transformation/ Between Worlds: Guardians in Tibet as Agents of Transformation]
*[http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/seasia/glossary.html Glossary of Southeast Asian Art]

[[Category:Buddhist sculpture]]
[[Category:Asian art]]
[[Category:Tutelary deities]]
[[Category:Architectural elements]]
[[Category:Hindu temple architecture]]

Dvarapala - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 18:00, 18 September 2023