Buddhist Protectors of the Desire Realm

In Mahayana Buddhism, the protectors of the world are known as lokapalas and the great kings who guard the four sides of Meru are called caturmaharajikas.

Lokapala is derived from the Sanskrit word "lok" (people) and "pala" (protector/caretaker), or "caretaker of people."

Caturmaharajika means four great kings "whose abodes are the four sides of Meru, and who also serve as protectors of the world", and refers to "guardians of the world", specifically the four guardian kings of Mount Meru. They are also known as the four heavenly kings, and are said to "currently live in the Cāturmahārājika heaven ... on the lower slopes of Mount Sumeru, which is the lowest of the six worlds of the devas of the Kāmadhātu."

As the Four heavenly kings, they are "the protectors of the world" who fight off evil, "each able to command a legion of supernatural creatures to protect the Dharma."

The Four Heavenly Kings consist of:

• Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera), he who hears everything, protector of the North, whose followers are yakṣas ;
  
• Virūḍhaka, he who causes to grow, protector of the South, whose followers are kumbhāṇḍas;
  
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra, he who upholds the realm, protector of the East, whose followers are gandharvas; and
  
• Virūpākṣa, he who sees all, protector of the West, whose followers are nagas.
  

In the Chilas I, 82:12. Inscription is the mantra "Om devadharmoyam priyasurasya" which means "homage and devotional offerings to Priyasuras" — probably puja consisting flowers and food offerings were made in ancient times. Priyasuras is defined as "Beloved Asuras", asuras being the lowest deities and demigods of Kāmadhātu. Rather than worship of them, the four heavenly kings symbolize the following aspects of the mind and their resulting conducts:

• Vaiśravaṇa represents generosity and wealth, providing freedom by way of bestowing prosperity;
  
• Virūḍhaka represents the growth of belief in the Buddha and faith in his Dharma:
  
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra represents the maintenance of the mindful state through meditation; and
  
• Virūpākṣa represents the vigilance of the mind by keeping the Five Precepts.
  

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References:

Originally posted: September 20, 2003 1431H
Update edited: March 2, 2013 1853H

Lokpal: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lokpal
Lokapalas and caturmaharajikas in Chilas und Thalpan (Nordpakistan); http://www.thewalt.de/lokapala/lokap_engl.htm
Four male gate keepers: http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Four_male_gate_keepers
Four heavenly kings: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Heavenly_Kings
Guardians of the directions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardians_of_the_directions
Five Precepts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Precepts#Chinese_Mahayana_texts

Shin Buddhists venerated and protected by the gods

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
Brahma and Indra venerate us;
All the benevolent gods of the heavens
Protect us constantly, day and night.

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
The four great deva-kings together
Protect us constantly, day and night,
And let no evil spirits come near.

...

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
Nanda, Upananda, and the other great nagas,
Along with the countless naga-gods, revere
And protect us constantly, day and night.

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
Yama, the king of the dead, reveres us,
And the officers who judge the beings of the five courses of existence
All protect us constantly, day and night.

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
We are protected by the great king of maras
Residing in the sixth heaven;
This he vowed to do in the presence of Sakyamuni Buddha.

The gods of the heavens and earth
Are all to be called good,
For together they protect
The person of the nembutsu.

-- Hymns of the Pure Land, stanzas 100-101, 102-106

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Originally posted: February 5, 2006 2232H
Update posted: March 7, 2013 0237H

Reference:
Within the context of the hell realm, the five courses of existence refers to the god realm, the demi-god realm, the human realm, the animal realm, and the hungry ghosts realm.

Brahmāloka may be the sixth heaven.

Divine Offerings

Om devadhammoyam Priyasurasya - Divine offerings to the Highest Spirit.

Namo arahato buddhassamanam - Homage to Buddha, the essence of spiritual awakening.

Namo arahato dhammassamanam - Homage to the Dharma, the essence of spiritual duty to others.

Namo arahato sanghassamanam.- Homage to the Sangha, the essence of spiritual community.

Virupaksa is mentioned in Journey to the West as a guardian that the Monkey King meets when he is trying to discover a way to defeat the demon king of Mount Jindou.

Virupaksa is one of the Four Great Kings who guard the four directions of North, East, South and West. There is even a Heaven of the Four Great Kings in Indian Buddhist Mythology. These four Great Kings are also known as the Four Guardians of the Directions.

Virudhaka

Virudhaka, Guardian of the South is known to increase people's wisdom, and is often shown holding a sword in his right hand.

Originally, Virudhaka was a king who wiped out Sakyamuni Buddha's clan, after being stopped by the Buddha three times.

He did so out of revenge for being mistreated by the Sakya clan when he visited them as a child.

Later on, Virudhaka becomes one of the Four Heavenly Kings, each of which leads an army of supernatural creatures who keep asuras (demons) at bay.

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References:
Virudhaka: http://buddhistsutras.org/gallery/virudhaka.htm
Virudhaka was a king: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virudhaka
Why Virudhaka wiped out the Buddha's clan : http://venyifa.blogspot.com/2008/09/story-of-prince-virudhaka-massacre-of.html
The Four Heavenly Kings: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Heavenly_Kings