In Hindu mythology, which group of deities is traditionally known as the Lokapalas, the four directional Guardians of the Universe?

Introduction / Context:
In Hindu religious traditions, the cosmos is often described in terms of directions and guardians who protect those directions. These guardian deities are known as Lokapalas, literally the protectors of the worlds or directions. Many general knowledge and competitive examinations ask about these groups of deities because this reflects basic cultural literacy about Indian mythology and classical texts. This question specifically asks which combination of deities is regarded as the Lokapalas or Guardians of the Universe.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question mentions the term Lokapalas, meaning guardians of directions or worlds.
• Each option gives a group of four deities, and only one grouping matches the classical list.
• We assume the standard four directional guardians traditionally recognised in many Puranic sources.
• We are not dealing with the extended list of eight Dikpalas but with the basic four Lokapalas.

Concept / Approach:
The classical understanding is that each of the four main cardinal directions has a guardian deity. Indra guards the east, Yama guards the south, Varuna guards the west and Kubera guards the north. These four together are often mentioned as Lokapalas or Dikpalas in simplified lists. The other deities mentioned in the options, such as Skanda, Brahma or Shiva, are important gods but are not part of this specific traditional group of four directional guardians in their simplest form. The approach is to recall this standard mapping of deities to directions and then choose the option that matches it exactly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Indra is traditionally associated with the eastern direction and is frequently listed as one of the Lokapalas. Step 2: Remember that Yama, the god of death and justice, is regarded as the guardian of the southern direction. Step 3: Varuna is associated with water and the oceans and is generally considered the guardian of the western direction. Step 4: Kubera, the god of wealth, is traditionally the guardian of the northern direction. Step 5: Compare the options and see that the combination of Yama, Indra, Varuna and Kubera appears together only in one option. Step 6: Conclude that the group Yama, Indra, Varuna and Kubera is the correct set of Lokapalas.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall that in many depictions of temple iconography and classical texts, the four primary directions have these guardians, while the intermediate directions may have others such as Agni, Vayu, Nirrti and Ishana. If you think of the eight Dikpalas list, you will still find Indra, Yama, Varuna and Kubera present among them, which strengthens the memory that these four together can legitimately be called the Lokapalas. Cross checking with the alternative options, you will notice that they introduce additional deities such as Skanda, Brahma or Shiva, which changes the classical grouping and therefore makes those options incorrect.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Indra, Varuna, Skanda and Kubera: Skanda (or Kartikeya) is not one of the standard directional guardians, so this set is inaccurate.
• Indra, Varuna, Yama and Brahma: Brahma is a creator god but is not usually counted as one of the four Lokapalas, so this combination is incorrect.
• Yama, Shiva, Kubera and Indra: Shiva is a principal deity in Hinduism but is not part of the standard four Lokapalas in this way, so this option is also wrong.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that any combination containing prominent gods like Shiva or Brahma must be correct, simply because they are better known. Another pitfall is to confuse the four Lokapalas with the full group of eight Dikpalas and to mix up additional deities in the list without checking the exact traditional grouping that is usually tested in exams. Candidates should also avoid guessing based only on familiarity with names and should instead remember the directional associations of each guardian.

Final Answer:
The group of deities traditionally known as the Lokapalas or Guardians of the Universe is Yama, Indra, Varuna and Kubera.