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Biography
Other uses Gandharva is a name used for distinct mythological creature|mythological beings in Hinduism and Buddhism ; it is also a term for skilled singers in Indian classical music .
In Hinduism
In Hinduism , the gandharvas ( Sanskrit : ???????, gandharva , Tamil language|Tamil :?????????, Telugu language|Telugu :??????) are male nature spirits, husbands of the Apsaras . Some are part animal , usually a bird or horse . They have superb musical skills. They guarded the Soma and made beautiful music for the gods in their palaces. A gandharva means a singer in the court of Gods.
In Hindu theology, gandharvas act as messengers between the gods and humans. 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 .
Parentage
Various parentage is given for the gandharvas. They are called the creatures of Prajapati , of Brahma , of Kashyap|Kasyapa , of the Munis, of Arishta , or of Vac . http://books.google.ca/books? id=zUezTfym7CAC& pg=PA346& lpg=PA346& dq=Arishta+mother+of+the+Gandharvas& source=bl& ots=a_svu1RnGJ& sig=p4jXm9bXSej3qkBN677uWD8L3nk& hl=en& ei=Vgy6TJjwNo-0ngfmwI2yDQ& sa=X& oi=book_result& ct=result& resnum=1& ved=0CBQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage& q=Arishta%20mother%20of%20the%20Gandharvas& f=false=1 A Sanskrit-English dictionary: etymologically and philologically arranged , by Sir Monier Monier-Williams
In Buddhism
A gandharva ( Sanskrit ) or gandhabba ( Pali ) is one of the lowest-ranking Deva (Buddhism)|devas in Buddhist cosmology. They are classed among the Four Heavenly Kings|Caturmaharajikakayika devas, and are subject to the Great King IAST|Dh?tara??ra, Guardian of the East. Beings are reborn among the gandharvas as a consequence of having practiced the most basic form of Sila|ethics (Janavasabha-sutta, DN.18). It was considered embarrassing for a monk to be born in no better birth than that of a gandharva.
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 blossom. They are among the beings of the wilderness that might disturb a monk meditating alone.
The terms gandharva and yaksha|IAST|yak?a are sometimes used for the same person; IAST|yak?a in these cases is the more general term, including a variety of lower deities.
Among the notable gandharvas are mentioned (in DN.20 and DN.32) Panada, Opamañña, IAST|Na?a, Cittasena, Raja. Janesabha is probably the same as Janavasabha, a rebirth of King Bimbisara|Bimbisara of Magadha . Matali the Gandharva is the charioteer for Sakra .
Timbaru was a chieftain of the gandharvas. There is a romantic story told about the love between his daughter Bhadda Suriyavaccasa (Sanskrit: Bhadra Suryavarcasa) and another gandharva, Pañcasikha (Sanskrit: Pañcasikha). Pañcasikha fell in love with Suriyavaccasa when he saw her dancing before Sakra, but she was then in love with Sikhandi (or Sikhaddi), son of Matali the charioteer. Pañcasikha then went to Timbaru's home and played a melody on his lute of beluva -wood, on which he had great skill, and sang a love-song in which he interwove themes about the Buddha and his arhat s.
Later, Sakra prevailed upon Pañcasikha to intercede with the Buddha so that Sakra might have an audience with him. As a reward for Pañcasikha's services, Sakra was able to get Suriyavaccasa, 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 Matali, the latter representing Sakra and the Trayastrimsa|IAST|Trayastri?sa devas.
Gandharva or gandhabba is also used in a completely different sense, referring to a being (or, strictly speaking, part of the causal continuum of consciousness) in a liminal state between death and rebirth.
In Indian classical music
Unreferenced section|date=January 2011There are many singers known as gandharvas for their mastery of Indian classical music . All of them, at one time or another, were theater actors who performed in various musicals. Their style of music is known as Natya Sangeet in Marathi, literally "theater music". They are regarded as masters of Indian classical music by the vast majority of the general population, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra .
See also
Yesudas|Gana Gandharvan Yesudas (a musician who goes by the name "Gandharva")
Gandharva Kingdom
Tumburu , a well-known Gandharva
References
reflist Buddhism topicsBuddhism2HinduMythology Category:Buddhist deities, bodhisattvas, and demons Category:Non-human races in Hindu mythology Category:Sanskrit words and phrases
