Ishana

"Ishan" redirects here. For the Nigerian ethnic group, see Ishan people. For the villages in Iran, see Ishan, Ishan.

A sculpture of Ishana

File:Eeesanar Brihadisvara Temple.jpg

Ishana (ஈசானர்), at Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Ishana (Sanskrit: ईशान, IAST: Īśāna), is a deity in Indian mythology and guardian of the northeast direction.

According to the Vaastu Shastra, it is auspicious in for homes and offices to be situated in the northeast. North is the direction wealth resides, associated with Kubera, while East is the direction where knowledge resides, associated with Indra. For this reason, Ishana symbolizes the culmination of both knowledge and wealth.

Ishans's Past

According to the Brahmavaivarta Purana, Isana was born out of the left eye of Lord Krishna, during the creation. He was known as Digambara and Mahakaya. He is defined as terrific, wielding a trident, pattissa, and a club, clad in tiger skin, he had three eyes, and having a crescent crown. He became the leader of the Dikpalas.

Mythology

Īśāna is one of the twelve devas who guard the directions.He is one of form of shiva and king of rudras. He is a chief among the gods of Paranirmitavaśavarti, the sixth heaven of the kāmadhātu.

According to the Ainōshō, there is a theory that this deity is synonymous with Pāpīyas as well as the Shinto deity Izanagi. The Jinnō Shōtōki also states that there is a theory that the names of Japan's primordial creator gods Izanagi and Izanami are the same as the Sanskrit names Īśāna and Īśānī.

Īśānī is Īśāna's consort. According to the Secret Storehouse Records (祕藏記) she is flesh white in color and wields a spear.

Appearance

Īśāna is often depicted with three eyes and having a fierce expression.