Talk:Gandharvas
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Gandharvas as Deities[edit]
Gandharvas are a class of deities described as the sons of Kaśyapa Prajāpati from his wife Ariṣṭā. Their number is 12 or 15. Some of them are:
- Tumburu
- Hāhā
- Huhu
- Viśvāvasu
- Citrasena
- Vidyādhara
- Parāvasu
- Virādha
Gandharvas in Ṛgveda[edit]
In the Ṛgveda[1] the word ‘Gandharva’ has been used to indicate Soma, as the lord of waters.
Gandharvas in Literature[edit]
In the later literature the Gandharvas have been described as celestial musicians[2] in the courts of Yama, Varuṇa and Kubera. Hence it has been named as Gandharvavidyā or Gāndharvaveda for music.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore