Agandharva(Sanskrit:गन्धर्व,lit. 'musician') is a member of a class of celestial beings inIndian religions,such asHinduism,Buddhism,andJainism,whose males are divine performers such as musicians and singers, and the females are divine dancers. In Hinduism, they are regarded to be the celestial demigods who serve as the musicians of thedevas.[1]
It is also a term for skilled singers inIndian classical music.In Buddhism, this term also refers to a being in theintermediate state(between death and rebirth).
In Hinduism
editInHinduism,the gandharvas (Sanskrit:गन्धर्व,romanized:gandharva) are a class of minor deities who serve as divine musicians inHindu mythology.[2]
The term gandharva is present inVedicsources (including in theRigveda) as a singular deity. According to Oberlies, "In mandala I, IX and X the gandharva is presented as a celestial being (dwelling near the Sun / in the heavenly waters) which watches over the Soma (apparently) for the benefit of the gods and the sacrificers." The gandharva also "receives the Soma from the ‘Daughter of the Sun' to put it into the Soma plant (RV 9.113.3), i.e., to bring it to this world."[4]The gandharva also brings other things from the beyond, including humans (RV 10.10.4) and the horse (RV 1.163.2).[4]As such, the function of the gandharva is "to escort things from ‘outside' into this world thereby divesting them of their (potential) dangerous nature."[4]Later, the figure also came to be associated with fertility and virility.[4]
TheAtharvavedamentions 6,333 gandharvas. They are generally the husbands ofapsaras.They are described as handsome beings who wear fragrant attire and are passionate about women. Some are part animal, usually a bird or horse. They have exceptional musical skills.[5]They guard the sacredSomadrink, and play beautiful music for thedevasin their palaces. Gandharvas usually live inIndralokaand serve atIndra'scourt, though they also have their own realm, called the Gandharvaloka.[6]Female gandharvas are called gandharvis.
In Hindu law, agandharva marriageis one contracted by mutual consent and without formal rituals.
Gandharvas are mentioned extensively in the epicMahabharataas associated with thedevas(as dancers and singers) and with theyakshas,as formidable warriors. They are mentioned as spread across variousterritories.
Some of the most prominent gandharvas includeTumburu,Visvavasu (who was the father of Pramadvara), Chitrangada (who killed Chitrangada, the son ofShantanuandSatyavati), Chitrasena (with whom the Kauravas and Pandavas fought in theGhosha-yatra), Drumila (the biological father ofKamsain some texts), and Candavega (king of gandharvas who invaded the city of Purañjana).[7]
Parentage
editVarious parentage is given for the gandharvas. They are called the creatures ofPrajapati,ofBrahma,ofKashyapaand Pradha, of the Munis, of Arishta, or ofVāc.[8]
TheBhagavata Puranamentions that whenBrahma,during creation, saw the activities of some sexually active asuras, he laughed. From his laughter were produced the gandharvas.
In Buddhism
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A gandharva is one of the lowest-rankingDevasinBuddhistcosmology. They are classed among theCāturmahārājakāyikaDevas, and are subject to the Great KingDhṛtarāṣṭra,Guardian of the East. Beings are reborn among the gandharvas as a consequence of having practiced the most basic form ofethics(Janavasabha Sutta, DN.18). gandharvas can fly through the air, and are known for their skill as musicians. They are connected with trees and flowers, and are described as dwelling in the scents of bark, sap, and blossoms. They are among the beings of the wilderness that might disturb a monk meditating alone.
The termsgandharvaandyakṣasometimes refer to the same entity.Yakṣain these cases is the more general term, including a variety of lower deities.
Intermediate Rebirth
editIn theMahātaṇhāsankhaya Suttaof theMajjhima Nikāya,theBuddhaexplains to thebhikkhusthat anembryodevelops when three conditions are met: the woman must be in the correct point of her menstrual cycle, the woman and man must have sexual intercourse, and a gandhabba must be present. According to the commentary of this sutta, the use of the wordgandhabbadoesn't refer to a celestial Deva, but a being enabled to be born by itskarma.It is the state of a sentient being between rebirths.[9]
Notable gandharvas
editAmong the notable gandharvas mentioned (in DN.20 and DN.32) arePanāda,Opamañña,Nala,Cittasena,Mātali,andJanesabha.The last in this list is thought to be synonymous withJanavasabha,a rebirth of KingBimbisāraofMagadha.Mātali is the charioteer ofŚakra.
Timbarūis a chieftain of the gandharvas. There is a romantic story told about the love between his daughter Bhaddā Suriyavacchasā (Sanskrit:Bhadrā Sūryavarcasā) and another gandharva, Pañcasikha (Sanskrit:Pañcaśikha). Pañcasikha fell in love with Suriyavacchasā when he saw her dancing before Śakra, but she was then in love with Mātali's son Sikhandī (or Sikhaddi). Pañcasikha went to Timbarū's home and played a melody on his flute of beluva-wood, with which he had great skill, and sang a love song in which he interwove themes about the Buddha and theArhats.
Śakra petitioned Pañcasikha to intercede with the Buddha so that he might have an audience with him. As a reward for Pañcasikha's services, Śakra was able to get Suriyavacchasā, already pleased with Pañcasikha's display of skill and devotion, to agree to marry Pañcasikha.
Pañcasikha also acts as a messenger for theFour Heavenly Kings,conveying news from them to Mātali, the latter representing Śakra and theTrāyastriṃśaDevas.
In Jainism
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InJainism,gandharvas are classed among the eight Vyantara Devas.
TheTiloyapaṇṇattiprovides a list of ten gandharvas:
- Hāhā
- Huhū
- Nārada
- Tumbara
- Vāsava
- Kadamba
- Mahāsvara
- Gītarati
- Gītarasa
- Vajravān
The Saṃgrahaṇī Sūtra of theŚvetāmbarasect provides a slightly different list:
- Hāhā
- Huhū
- Tumburu
- Nārada
- Ṛṣivādika
- Bhūtavādika
- Kadamba
- Mahākadamba
- Raivata
- Viśvāvasu
- Gītarati
- Gītayaśas
TheDigambarasect describes the gandharvas as having a golden complexion while theŚvetāmbaratradition recognizes them as blackish. The Tumbaru is their sacred tree.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^wisdomlib.org (2009-04-12)."Gandharva, Gāndharva, Gamdharva, Gamdharvadurve: 40 definitions".wisdomlib.org.Retrieved2022-11-02.
- ^Shendge, Malati J. (June 2003).The Civilized Demons: The Harappans in Rigveda.Abhinav Publications. p. 100.ISBN978-81-7017-064-8.
- ^Singh, Upinder (2008).A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century.Pearson Education India. p. 435.ISBN978-81-317-1120-0.
- ^abcdOberlies, Thomas 2005: "Der Gandharva und die Drei Tage Währende 'Quarantäne'", in Indo-Iranian Journal, vol. 48 pp. 97-109.
- ^Bhatt, Dr G. P. (2013-01-01).The Brahma Purana Part 4: Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Volume 36.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 879.ISBN978-81-208-3903-8.
- ^Dalal, Roshen (2014-04-18).Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide.Penguin UK. p. 490.ISBN978-81-8475-277-9.
- ^Bhagavata Purana translation of Motilal Bansaridadss Book 2 Skandha IV Chapter 27
- ^Monier-Williams, Sir Monier; Leumann, Ernst; Cappeller, Carl.A Sanskrit-English dictionary: etymologically and philologically arranged, by Sir Monier Monier-Williams.ISBN9788120831056.Retrieved2012-12-19– viaGoogle Books.
- ^ Thanissaro Bhikkhu (30 November 2013)."The Greater Craving-Destruction Discourse (MN 38)".Access to Insight (BCBS Edition).Retrieved14 October2017.
- ^Shah, Umakant Premanand (1987).Jaina-Rūpa-Maṇḍana, Volume 1.Abhinav Publications.ISBN9788170172086.