About Virūpākṣa

Virūpākṣa is a major deity in Buddhism. He is one of the Four Heavenly Kings and a dharmapala.
The Four Guardian Kings in Burmese depiction.

Lokapalas – The Heavenly Kings and protector spirits

Lokapāla means "guardian of the world" in Sanskrit and Pāli. The term has different uses depending on whether it is found in a Hindu or Buddhist context. In Hinduism, lokapāla refers to the Guardians of the Directions associated with the eight, nine and ten cardinal directions. In Buddhism, lokapāla refers to the , and to other protector spirits. Lokapāla is one of two broad categories of Dharmapāla (protectors of the Buddhist religion) -the other category .

Spiritual Objectives of the 4 Heavenly Kings

The have been a staple in for centuries, with two distinct visual : a royal representation in and Southeast and a warrior-like depiction in Central and East Asia. In Korea, the interpretation of these figures has been limited to their title, "," which translates to 'guardians of the world.' , also known as The Historical , has invoked the aid of the Four Heavenly in .