Lokapala

thumb|260px|The 9th century Hindu Lokapala [[devata, the guardians of the directions, on the wall of Shiva temple, Prambanan, Java, Indonesia.]] thumb|right|160px|The Korean statuette of Lokapala thumb|right|160px|Statues of two Tang dynasty Lokapala

(, ), Sanskrit, Pāli, and Tibetan for "guardian of the world", 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 Four Heavenly Kings, and to other protector spirits, whereas the Guardians of the Directions are referred to as dikpāla.