Lipikas

Lipikas are 'Lords of Karma' or 'Gods of destiny' that guide the human being on the budhi (and nirvana) plane(s) and provide the base organization for the incarnations that follow.

The lipikas have a relationship with Man's physical body: they are responsible for guiding the germinal being to its destiny and its parents and family (1906-10-22-GA096), they 'create an astral schematic from the mental substance of the individuality' and hence stand in a relation to the stream of heredity and Man's physical body (see 1906-07-03-GA094). The latter is important, because the physical body is a carrier of karma, see Model for hereditary physical body, see also Fall and redemption - original sin and grace.

In esoteric traditions typically very little information on the lipikas is available for incarnate souls, except that they exist.

Aspects

the excerpt of 1906-10-22-GA096 is illustrated very well by Schema FMC00.389 and variants, which illustrates how the principle of karma works. One can contemplate that the spiritual hierarchies are the carriers
see also relation with Mahadevas, as during the journey between death and a new birth, mahadevas assist the human being in getting the right human etheric body during the descent towards incarnation, just as the lipikas assist the human being towards the suitable human physical body in the stream of heredity (1906-07-03-GA094)

Illustrations

Schema FMC00.389A is a simplified version of reference table Schema FMC00.389. It shows the akashic record used by clairvoyant investigation in the middle, in amber.

Notice the 'mirroring' across the fourth layer of the spirit world (explained in 1904-11-03-GA089). More in Note [2] in the 'Discussion area' below.

Schema FMC00.078 shows the 'wheel of planes' as described in 1904-02-02-GA090A and explained in 1904-11-10-GA089, showing correspondences between planes.

Lecture coverage and references

Book of Dzyan - Stanza V

The Lipika circumscribe
the triangle, the first one (the vertical line or the figure I.),

the cube, the second one,

and the pentacle within the egg (circle) (a).
It is the ring called “Pass not,” for those who descend and ascend (as also for those) who, during the Kalpa, are progressing toward the great day “Be with us” (b). . . . Thus were formed the Arupa and the Rupa (the Formless World and the World of Forms); from one light seven lights; from each of the seven seven times seven lights. The “Wheels” watch the Ring.

H.P. Blavatsky

also describes these spirits in 'The Secret Doctrine Vol 1':

There are three chief groups of Builders (DL ‘editor: Prajapatis) and as many of the Planetary Spirits and the Lipika, each group being again divided into Seven sub-groups.
The Lipika (a description of whom is given in the Commentary on Stanza IV. No. 6) are the Spirits of the Universe, whereas the Builders are only our own planetary deities.
The former belong to the most occult portion of Cosmogenesis, which cannot be given here. Whether the Adepts (even the highest) know this angelic order in the completeness of its triple degrees, or only the lower one connected with the records of our world, is something which the writer is unprepared to say, and she would incline rather to the latter supposition. Of its highest grade one thing only is taught: the Lipika are connected with Karma, being its direct Recorders.

1904-02-09-GA090A

the Lipika are such high intelligences, that they belong to the circle 'do not touch me' .. cannot be counted

1904-02-18-GA090A

describes how karma is registered in the akasha or akashic chronicle, and the lipikas that completely rest in the nirvana and budhi planes regulate physical existence and induce souls to incarnate in a certain geography and family as regulars of karma.

1906-07-03-GA094

see long and relevant extract on: Mahadevas#1906-07-03-GA094

1906-08-26-GA095

describes the process of incarnation

Higher beings, the lipikas, guide the human germ to the chosen parents, while the maharajas form the etheric body according to the astral form and the contribution by the parents to the physical body. The seer can perceive the astral substance in the ardour experienced during the act of impregnation, and the passional nature of the child is determined by the intensity of this passion. Then etheric matter shoots in from north, south, east and west, from the heights and from the depths.

1906-10-22-GA096

edited internet translation

Man continuously populates the astral world with thought forms, the spirit world with forms of his inclinations, the budhi plane with imprints of his actions. All this surrounds us continuously on the higher planes. That is one side.
Now there is another side to it. Think that you have done something to some person, that you have done something to him that has harmed him. During the kamaloka time, you experience this in yourself. What one then takes away as the pain that one has experienced in the other becomes a force that is inscribed on the budhi plane. The development of this power is prepared by the fact that it is inscribed on the budhi plane. Man is guided to all that is inscribed on the budhi plane. Through the experiences he has had in kamaloka, he reconnects with the consequences of his actions on the budhi plane.
[editor: see Schema FMC00.389A on this page]

Because Man cannot live on the buddha plane now, he cannot do it himself. He must have guides. These are the lipikas, the gods of karma. They guide man into his destiny, because he is not yet able to grasp it himself.