View source for Gandharva

{{Italic title}}
{{Short description|Celestial musicians in Hinduism}}
{{Other uses}}
{{distinguish|Ganadhara|Gandarbha}}

[[File:016 Celestial Musician (9213070982).jpg|thumb|Wood carving of a ''gandharva'', Thailand]]
A '''''gandharva''''' ({{Langx|sa|गन्धर्व|lit=musician}}) is a member of a class of celestial beings in [[Indian religions]], such as [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], and [[Jainism]], 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 the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2009-04-12 |title=Gandharva, Gāndharva, Gamdharva, Gamdharvadurve: 40 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/gandharva |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

It is also a term for skilled singers in [[Indian classical music]]. In Buddhism, this term also refers to a being in the [[Bardo|intermediate state]] (between death and rebirth).

==In Hinduism==
In [[Hinduism]], the gandharvas ({{Langx|sa|गन्धर्व|translit=gandharva}}) are a class of minor deities who serve as divine musicians in [[Hindu mythology]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shendge |first=Malati J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xb60zOx1_WUC&dq=gandharva+divine+musicians&pg=PA100 |title=The Civilized Demons: The Harappans in Rigveda |date=June 2003 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-064-8 |pages=100 |language=en}}</ref> [[File:Worship of Shiva Linga by Gandharvas - Shunga Period - Bhuteshwar - ACCN 3625 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-24 6098.JPG|thumb|400px|[[Linga]] inside a railing (left), being worshipped by gandharvas winged creatures. [[Art of Mathura]], circa 100 BCE.<ref name="US435">{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Upinder |title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |date=2008 |publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=978-81-317-1120-0 |page=435 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&pg=PA435 |language=en}}</ref>]]The term gandharva is present in [[Vedas|Vedic]] sources (including in the [[Rigveda]]) 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."<ref name=":0">Oberlies, Thomas 2005: "Der Gandharva und die Drei Tage Währende 'Quarantäne'", in Indo-Iranian Journal, vol. 48 pp. 97-109.</ref> The gandharva also brings other things from the beyond, including humans (RV 10.10.4) and the horse (RV 1.163.2).<ref name=":0" /> As such, the function of the gandharva is "to escort things from ‘outside' into this world thereby divesting them of their (potential) dangerous nature."<ref name=":0" /> Later, the figure also came to be associated with fertility and virility.<ref name=":0" />

The [[Atharvaveda]] mentions 6,333 gandharvas. They are generally the husbands of [[apsaras]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bhatt |first=Dr G. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=veftDwAAQBAJ&dq=gandharvas+soma&pg=PA879 |title=The Brahma Purana Part 4: Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Volume 36 |date=2013-01-01 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-3903-8 |pages=879 |language=en}}</ref> They guard the sacred [[Soma (drink)|Soma]] drink, and play beautiful music for the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] in their palaces. Gandharvas usually live in [[Svarga|Indraloka]] and serve at [[Indra|Indra's]] court, though they also have their own realm, called the Gandharvaloka.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&dq=gandharvas+hinduism&pg=PT490 |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |date=2014-04-18 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-277-9 |pages=490 |language=en}}</ref> Female gandharvas are called gandharvis.

In Hindu law, a [[gandharva marriage]] is one contracted by mutual consent and without formal rituals.

Gandharvas are mentioned extensively in the epic [[Mahabharata]] as associated with the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] (as dancers and singers) and with the [[yaksha]]s, as formidable warriors. They are mentioned as spread across various [[Gandharva Kingdom|territories]].[[File:Tumbara.jpg|thumb|The horse-head [[Tumburu]] or Tumbara is described as best among gandharvas in Hinduism]]Some of the most prominent gandharvas include [[Tumburu]], Visvavasu (who was the father of Pramadvara), Chitrangada (who killed Chitrangada, the son of [[Santanu|Shantanu]] and [[Satyavati]]), [[Chitrasena (Mahabharata)|Chitrasena]] (with whom the Kauravas and Pandavas fought in the ''Ghosha-yatra''), Drumila (the biological father of [[Kamsa]] in some texts), and Candavega (king of gandharvas who invaded the city of Purañjana).<ref>Bhagavata Purana translation of Motilal Bansaridadss Book 2 Skandha IV Chapter 27</ref>

===Parentage===

Various parentage is given for the gandharvas. They are called the creatures of [[Prajapati]], of [[Brahma]], of [[Kashyapa]] and Pradha, of the Munis, of Arishta, or of [[Vāc]].<ref name="vacdef">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zUezTfym7CAC&pg=PA346 |title=A Sanskrit-English dictionary: etymologically and philologically arranged, by Sir Monier Monier-Williams |isbn=9788120831056 |via=[[Google Books]]|access-date=2012-12-19|last1=Monier-Williams |first1=Sir Monier |last2=Leumann |first2=Ernst |last3=Cappeller |first3=Carl }}</ref>

The [[Bhagavata Purana]] mentions that when [[Brahma]], during creation, saw the activities of some sexually active asuras, he laughed. From his laughter were produced the gandharvas.

===Worship===
Hindu worship of Gandharvas is extremely rare across India and is mostly seen in the southern state of Kerala. In the state, Gandharvas are enshrined in temples, sometimes along with Yakshi and prayed to for fertility and good fortune. It believed that earning the ire of the Gandharvas will result in Gandharva dosha, a curse which will have adverse effect on those who are cursed, especially in terms of fertility and childbirth. In addition, Kerala also has the tradition of [[Gandharvanpattu]], a type of [[theyyam]] and [[kalampattu]] ritual meant to invoke the Gandharvas. 

Some temples in Kerala where Gandharvas are enshrined as deities are:

* [[Vazhappully Temple|Vazhapully Sree Rajarajeswari Temple]]
* Sree Aiswarya Gandharva Swami Temple, Urulikunnam, Chengalam
* Andoor Sree Gandharvaswami Temple, Elackad
* Sree Vaishnava Gandharva Swamy Temple, Champakkara
* Gandharva Swamy Temple, Kothala
* Gandharva Temple, Thalayazham
* Maniyassery Vaishnava Gandharva Swamy Temple, Maravanthuruthu
* Kunnamthanam Thuranganattu Aiswarya Gandharva Swamy Temple, Pathanamthitta
* Sree Yakshi-Gandharva Swamy Temple, Paravanthuruthu, Kallara
* Kaduvinath Gandharva Temple, Bharanikkavu, Alappuzha
* Oorikattil Sree Gandharva Swamy Temple, Kottayam
* Mullethu Gandharva Swamy Temple, Chandiroor, Alappuzha
* Marthandamparambu Gandharva Temple, Pazhaveedu, Alappuzha
* Sree Ponnumpoomala Gandharva Temple, Parudur 
* Vaikkathusseril Sree Gandharva Nagaraja Bhadrakali Temple, Kumarakom

==In Buddhism==
[[File:Guardian of Phra Meru Mas of Bhumibol Adulyadej - Dhatarattha (left side).jpg|thumb|[[Dhṛtarāṣṭra]], one of the [[Four Heavenly Kings]] and the king of the gandharvas.]]
[[File:観音と乾闥婆 Avalokitasvara and Gandharva.jpg|thumb|An illustration from an 1866 Japanese book. Gandharva, who is an incarnation of [[Guanyin|Bodhisattva Kannon]] in this scene, gives a sermon to folks.]]

A gandharva  is one of the lowest-ranking [[Deva (Buddhism)|Devas]] in [[Buddhist]] cosmology. They are classed among the [[Cāturmahārājakāyika]] Devas, and are subject to the Great King {{IAST|Dhṛtarāṣṭra}}, Guardian of the East. Beings are reborn among the gandharvas as a consequence of having practiced the most basic form of [[Śīla|ethics]] (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 terms {{IAST|gandharva}} and [[yaksha|{{IAST|yakṣa}}]] sometimes refer to the same entity. {{IAST|Yakṣa}} in these cases is the more general term, including a variety of lower deities.

===Intermediate Rebirth===
In the ''Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta'' of the ''[[Majjhima Nikāya]]'', the [[Buddha]] explains to the [[bhikkhu]]s that an [[embryo]] develops 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 word ''gandhabba'' doesn't refer to a celestial Deva, but a being enabled to be born by its [[Karma#In Buddhism|karma]]. It is the state of a sentient being between rebirths.<ref name="MN38" />

===Notable gandharvas===
Among the notable gandharvas mentioned (in DN.20 and DN.32) are '''Panāda''', '''Opamañña''', '''Nala''', '''Cittasena''', '''Mātali''', and '''Janesabha'''. The last in this list is thought to be synonymous with '''Janavasabha''', a rebirth of King [[Bimbisara|Bimbisāra]] of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]].  Mātali is the charioteer of [[Śakra (Buddhism)|Śakra]].

[[Tumburu|Timbarū]] is a chieftain of the gandharvas. There is a romantic story told about the love between his daughter Bhaddā Suriyavacchasā ([[Sanskrit]]: {{IAST|Bhadrā Sūryavarcasā}}) and another gandharva, [[Pancasikha|Pañcasikha]] ([[Sanskrit]]: {{IAST|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 the [[Arhat]]s.

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 the [[Four Heavenly Kings]], conveying news from them to Mātali, the latter representing Śakra and the [[Trayastrimsa|{{IAST|Trāyastriṃśa}}]] Devas.

==In Jainism==
[[File:Apsara Gandharva Dancer Pedestal Tra Kieu.jpg|thumb|Gandharva (right) with an Apsara, 10th century, [[Cham (Asia)|Cham]], Vietnam]] In [[Jainism]], gandharvas are classed among the eight Vyantara Devas.

The [[Tiloya Panatti|Tiloyapaṇṇatti]] provides a list of ten gandharvas:

*Hāhā
*Huhū
*Nārada
*Tumbara
*Vāsava
*Kadamba
*Mahāsvara
*Gītarati
*Gītarasa
*Vajravān

The Saṃgrahaṇī Sūtra of the [[Śvetāmbara]] sect provides a slightly different list:

*Hāhā
*Huhū
*Tumburu
*Nārada
*Ṛṣivādika
*Bhūtavādika
*Kadamba
*Mahākadamba
*Raivata
*Viśvāvasu
*Gītarati
*Gītayaśas

The [[Digambara]] sect describes the gandharvas as having a golden complexion while the [[Śvetāmbara]] tradition recognizes them as blackish. The Tumbaru is their sacred tree.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shah |first1=Umakant Premanand |title=Jaina-Rūpa-Maṇḍana, Volume 1 |date=1987 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=9788170172086}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Gandharvas|List of gandharvas]]
* [[Chitrasena (Mahabharata)|Chitrasena]]
* [[Tumburu]]
* [[Kabandha]]
* [[Gandharva marriage]]

==References==
<references>
<ref name="MN38">
{{cite web
|last=Thanissaro Bhikkhu
|title=The Greater Craving-Destruction Discourse (MN 38)
|publisher=Access to Insight (BCBS Edition)
|date=30 November 2013
|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.038.than.html
|access-date=14 October 2017
}}
</ref>
</references>

{{Buddhism topics}}
{{HinduMythology}}
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[[Category:Legendary creatures in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Gandharvas| ]]
[[Category:Nature spirits]]
[[Category:Types of deities]]
[[Category:Avian humanoids]]
[[Category:Buddhist deities]]