Ishaan (Sanskrit: ईशान, IAST: Īśāna), is a Hindu god and the dikpala of the northeast direction. He is often considered to be one of the forms of the god Shiva, He is venerated in Hinduism, some schools of Buddhism and Jainism. In the Vastu Shastra, the north-eastern corner of a plot of land is referred to as "Ishana". Ishana also shares qualities with Samhara Bhairava and is therefore a part of the Ashta Bhairava.
Iconography
Ishana is described as having three eyes, a tranquil appearance and white complexion, dressed with a white cloth and a tiger's skin. On his head, a jata-makuta which has on top of it the crescent moon must be placed.
One verse of the Linga Purana describes Ishana as having three feet, seven hands, four horns and two heads
Hinduism
Vedas
An early mention of Ishana is in one of the Pañchabrahma Mantrāṇī found in the Taittiriya Aranyaka (TA 10.21.1) of the Krishna Yajurveda (c.1200 BCE):
: which the Shiva Purana calls the "Ishana Mantra", though the Purana calls a different verse from the same Samhita which also mentions Ishana (VS 39.8) the "Ishana Mantra" as well.
Puranas
Several Puranas mention Ishana; a few of them are detailed here:
Shiva Purana
In the Shiva Purana, Ishana is described as a form or aspect of Shiva. The Purana states that Ishana bestows knowledge and riches on those with intelligence, while curbing evil-doers. Ishana is declared to be the form of Shiva presiding over the ear, speech, sound and ether as well as the "individual soul, the enjoyer of Prakriti".
The Purana also asserts that the "Ishana Mantra" should be recited when fixing Lingams to pedestals,
Linga Purana
One verse of the Linga Purana describes Ishana as "the omnipresent lord of all". In another verse, one who makes the idol of Ishana is said to be "honoured in the world of Vishnu." In one verse, he is said to hold an axe while in another, he is described as wielding a trident. Ishana described as being stationed in every being as the organ of speech.
The Purana mentions Ishana as one of the deities present at Daksha's sacrifice who was attacked by Virabhadra. He is also described as having attended the svayamvara of Parvati to Shiva.
Brahmavaivarta Purana
The Brahmavaivarta Purana states that Ishana was born out of the left eye of Krishna. He is described as wearing tiger's skin, adorned with a crescent crown on his head, possessing three eyes and holding a trident, patissa (sword) and club. He became the leader of the Dikpalas.
Pañchabrahma
The Pañchabrahmas are five specific aspects of Shiva collectively taken together. These aspects include Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha, and Ishana.
As one of the Panchabrahmas, Ishana is the source of spontaneous grace directed to all beings and to all worlds.
Vastu Shastra
According to Vastu Shastra, it is auspicious 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.