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HINDU SURAS - GANDHARVAS
The Gandharvas are important
spirits of Indian Mythology. They are
half-man and half-bird and are friendly
towards human beings. There is
controversy over their origin. Some
texts advocate that they are directly
descended from Brahma while
others say that they are the children of
the sage Kasyapa.
The first Gandharva had knowledge of
divine truths and was appointed by the
Gods to prepare and be guardian of the
celestial soma juice. This initial
ancestor may have symbolized the fire of
the sun. His descendants are the
guardians of amrita (ambrosia). They are
also famed for their prowess as healers
and are proficient in medicine.
Gandharvas are supposed to have splendid
cities of their own somewhere in the
universe but they are usually found in
Indra’s heaven Vaikunth. There, together
with the Apsaras (celestial nymphs),
they sing and dance and play their
musical instruments entertaining
everyone.
The Gandharvas are known to haunt the
air, forests and mountains of the earth.
They are mischievous and often fool
people with their illusions which they
work at the time of twilight. Very
occasionally they have been known to
fight humans but only in cases where the
humans were evil.
The Gandharvas have serious rivalry with the Nagas
(serpents) whose netherworld kingdom they conquered and plundered.
On that occasion the Nagas sought the help of Vishnu who descended
to Patala (the nether region kingdom of the Nagas) in the form of
the river Narmada and swept away the Gandharva army thus driving
them out. The Gandharvas are partial to women and are famed for
their powers over them.
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In Hindu mythology, the Gandharva was a minor deity
in the Rig-Veda, however in later writings they were described as a
class of divine beings. As a unity Gandharva has no special
attributes but many duties, and is in close relation with the great
gods. Thus he is director of the sun's horses; he is guardian of
soma, the sacred liquor, and therefore is regarded as the heavenly
physician, soma being a panacea. He is servant of Agni the god of
light and of Varuna the divine judge. He is omnipresent: in the
heavens, in the air and in the waters. He is the keeper of heaven's
secrets and acts as messenger between gods and men. He is gorgeously
clothed and carries shining weapons. For wife he has the spirit of
the clouds and waters, Apsaras, and by her became father of the
first mortals, Yama and Yami.
Gandharva is the tutelary deity of women and
presides over marriage ceremonies. In their collective capacity the
Gandharva share the duties allotted to the single deity. They live
in the house of Indra and with their wives, the Apsaras, beguile the
time by singing, acting and dancing. Sometimes they are represented
as numbering twelve, sometimes twenty-seven, or they are
innumerable. In Hindu law a Gandharva marriage is one contracted by
mutual consent and without formality.
What you have is his gift to you,
and what you do with what you have is your gift to him.
Swami Chinmayananda
