All four Kings serve Śakra (Buddhism)|, the lord of the devas of . On the 8th, 14th and 15th days of each
lunar month, the Kings either send out emissaries or go themselves to inspect the state of virtue and morality in the world of men. Then they report their findings to the assembly of the devas. On the orders of Śakra, the Kings and their retinues stand guard to protect from another attack by the
Asuras, which once threatened to destroy the realm of the devas. They also vowed to protect the Buddha, the
Dharma, and the Buddha's followers from danger. In Chinese Buddhism, all four of the heavenly kings are regarded as four of the
Twenty Devas (二十諸天 Èrshí Zhūtiān) or the
Twenty-Four Devas (二十四諸天 Èrshísì zhūtiān), a group of Buddhist dharmapalas who manifest to protect the Dharma. in
Beijing, China. According to
Vasubandhu, devas born in the Cāturmahārājika heaven are 1/4 of a
krośa in height (about 750 feet tall). They have a five-hundred-year lifespan, of which each day is equivalent to 50 years in our world; thus their total lifespan amounts to about nine million years (other sources say 90,000 years). The attributes borne by each King also link them to their followers; for instance, the
nāgas, magical creatures who can change form between human and serpent, are led by , represented by a snake; the
gandharvas are celestial musicians, led by , represented with a lute. The umbrella was a symbol of regal sovereignty in ancient India, and the sword is a symbol of martial prowess. 's mongoose, which ejects jewels from its mouth, is said to represent generosity in opposition to greed. ==Gallery==