The Guardian Kings

A painted representation of The Guardian Kings

The Guardian Kings, according Buddhist belief, guard the four quarters of the world and protect the Buddhist law. They are said to live on the mythical Mount Meru, at the gates of the paradise of Indra, the protector of Buddhism. The Guardian Kings are acolytes of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.

Statues of the four kings

Originally, they were regarded as benevolent, but they developed into menacing warriors. They are usually shown wearing armor and helmets or crowns. The kings are said to have assisted at the birth of Gautama Buddha and to have held up the hooves of his horse when he left the palace of his father for the outside world. In Indian art, they are usually shown riding elephants, whereas in Tantrism they are often shown trampling demons.

Images from:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/06/Fourheavenlykings512x170.jpg

http://media.photobucket.com/image/The%20Guardian%20kings%20paintings/wisdompubs/june.jpg

Information from:

The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology by Arthur Cotterell and Rachel Storm

Anubis - Guardian of the Dead

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Anubis is the Egyptian god of the dead, Mummification, Embalming, Magic and the Guardian and Guide of Lost Souls and Orphans. In addition, Anubis weighed and judged the hearts of the dead. He is also the Egyptian version of the personification of time. Anubis is depicted most commonly as a human form with a black Jackal head or just as a black Jackal.



Anubis is one of Ancient Egypt's oldest gods, but when Osiris was introduce Anubis was 'demoted' and turned into one of the sons of Osiris. Anubis is also the son of Nephthys, the wife of Set. Unlike his Step-Father/Uncle, Anubis shows compassion and dislike of cause havoc for civilization. He was quickly abandoned by both his mother and step-father. Osiris' wife Isis found him and raised him as her own and Anubis later became her guardian and helper.

Anubis was a guardian in more ways than one. As a guardian of Lost Souls and Orphans, he not only protected them from harm but guided them. Anubis protected the innocent from Ammut during the judging of the heart. He also protected his adoptive mother Isis from Set as she went about her journey to reclaim all the pieces of Osiris' body and bring him back to life.

Citations:
"The Gods of Ancient Egypt -- Anubis." Egypt Travel, Tours, Vacations, Ancient Egypt from Tour Egypt. Web. 03 Dec. 2009. .

Images:

• http://www.touregypt.net/MUSEUM/anubis.jpg
• http://theunicornshoppe.com/store/images/SA055.jpg