The Dikpālas of ancient Java revisited: A new identification for the 24 directional deities on the Śiva temple of the Loro Jonggrang complex

A new identification of the 24 directional deities (Dikpālas) adorning the Śiva temple at Prambanan's Loro Jonggrang complex, previously an unresolved issue in Central Javanese art history, is proposed. These deities, depicted as seated figures with attendants on the temple's body, were traditionally interpreted as Lokapālas but are now reconsidered for their broader iconographic significance. The study analyzes narrative and iconic reliefs along the eastern staircase and perambulatory, offering insights into the master plan of Loro Jonggrang and its influence on Indo-Javanese and Balinese iconography. This re-evaluation enhances our understanding of the temple's symbolic architecture and its cultural context.

Acri, A., & Jordaan, R. (2012). The Dikpālas of ancient Java revisited: A new identification for the 24 directional deities on the Śiva temple of the Loro Jonggrang complex. Bijdragen Tot de Taal-, Land- En Volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia, 168(2-3), 274–313. https://doi.org/10.1163/22134379-90003562