As a deity name
Name 46 of the Shiva Sahasranāma — Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva), as taught by Sage Tandi to Sage Upamanyu
Name 544 of the Shiva Sahasranāma — Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva), as taught by Sage Tandi to Sage Upamanyu
Name 519 of the Surya Sahasranāma — Bhavishya Purana, as taught by Lord Brahma / Sages
As a Hindi name
No reading on this path — this spelling has no entry in our Hindi sources, and no near neighbour is attested there either. We say so rather than invent one.
As a Sanskrit word
Meaning
a world-protector, guardian of the w˚, regent of a quarter of the w˚ (the Loka-pālas are sometimes regarded as the guardian deities of different orders of beings, but more commonly…
Scripturally attested Verified split — attested membersMultiple readings (3)Why this matches what you typed
M1 · same meaning "lokapālāya" is the dative of "lokapāla" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
Dictionary citations
loka—pāla m. a world-protector, guardian of the w˚, regent of a quarter of the w˚ (the Loka-pālas are sometimes regarded as the guardian deities of different orders of beings, but more commonly of the four cardinal and four intermediate points of the w˚, viz. accord. to Mn. v, 96, 1. Indra, of the East; 2. Agni, of South-east; 3. Yama, of South; 4. Sūrya, of South-west; 5. Varuṇa, of West; 6. Pavana or Vāyu, of North-west; 7. Kubera, of North; 8. Soma or Candra of North-east; others substitute Nir-ṛti for 4 and Īśānī or Pṛthivī for 8; according to Dharmas. the Buddhists enumerate 4 or 8 or 10 or 14 Loka-pālas), ŚBr. &c. &c.
a protector or ruler of the people, king, prince, Ragh.; Rājat.
Alternative readings
More than one analysis survives full verification. That ambiguity is real, so we show every reading rather than pick one silently.
Caveats
Sources contain errors and engines have limits; every claim above carries its citation so you can verify it. This is guidance about names and their sources — not religious or astrological consultation. How we work · Our sources