ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Dikpala

Okay kiddo, let's talk about something called dikpala. Dikpala is a word that comes from ancient Indian teachings called Hinduism and Buddhism.

Dikpala means "guardians of the directions" in English. Think of it like this: imagine there's a big circle and it's divided into four equal parts like a pizza. Each of those parts is a direction - north, south, east, and west. Guardians are special beings who are in charge of watching over those directions to make sure everything is safe and strong there.

The dikpalas are those guardians for each of those four directions. They have special powers to protect and guide people who live or travel in those directions. For example, the dikpala of the north is named Kubera and he is the guardian of wealth and prosperity. The dikpala of the south is named Yama and he is the guardian of death and the afterlife.

They are usually shown in big temples or statues with special symbols that represent the direction they are guarding. So the next time you visit a temple or see a statue of a guardian with symbols, remember that they are called dikpalas and they are there to protect and guide us in each direction.