Gandharva

Gandharva

Gandharva is a word used for more than one being and thing in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Each is listed below with where it is told; choose the one you are looking for.

People

  • Gandharvas: the singers of svarga, born of Kaśyapa and Arishṭā, who sing for Bhagavān Sūrya month by month. Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 3–4, 9–11, 17, 22, 25–27, 31, 36, 39, 43–44, 47–48, 53, 58–59; Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapters 8, 10, 12, 15–16, 19, 25; Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 11–13, 18–19, 50, 84, 111, 120, 132, 167, 211, 219, 269, 288–289, 360, 383; Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapters 45–46; Mahābhārata, Aśvamedhika Parva, Chapter 10; Mahābhārata, Āśramavāsika Parva, Chapter 31; Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 2, Chapters 1, 3; Skandha 3, Chapters 10–11, 15, 20, 24; Skandha 4, Chapters 6–7, 15, 18; Skandha 5, Chapters 5, 16, 19, 21; Skandha 6, Chapter 6; Skandha 7, Chapter 8; Skandha 8, Chapters 4, 8, 18; Skandha 9, Chapters 7, 11, 14; Skandha 10, Chapters 3, 25, 27, 33; Skandha 11, Chapters 6, 12, 31; Skandha 12, Chapters 8, 11; Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 2, 16–17, 52–53, 55, 64, 66, 76, 93, 103, 120–121, 123–127, 133; Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 1, Chapter 1; Bhāga 2, Chapters 19–21; Bhāga 3, Chapters 9–11; Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 1, Chapter 2; Uttara Parva, Chapters 21, 27, 29, 37, 55, 58, 69–71, 91–93, 95, 102, 105–106, 115–116, 123, 133–136, 138, 156, 169, 172–173, 175, 177, 191, 193, 195–199, 202–203
  • Gandharvas in the Agni Purāṇa: what the Agni Purāṇa tells of them: their birth from Arishṭā, their lord Citraratha and their part in the rites of kings. Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 11–13, 18–19, 50, 84, 111, 120, 132, 167, 211, 219, 269, 288–289, 360, 383
  • Gandharvas in the Vāmana Purāṇa: what the Vāmana Purāṇa tells of them: their dharma, their song at the festivals of the devas and their part in the wars. Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 3–4, 9–11, 17, 22, 25–27, 31, 36, 39, 43–44, 47–48, 53, 58–59; Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapters 8, 10, 12, 15–16, 19, 25

Things and ideas

  • Gāndharva: The Science of Divine Music: gāndharva, the divine science of music: the seven svaras, three grāmas, twenty-one mūrchanās, tānas and ornaments. Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Madhyama Bhāga, Chapters 61–62; Vāyu Purāṇa, Uttarārdha, Vaivasvata-Manvantara-Vaṃśa section; Vāyu Purāṇa, Uttarārdha, Gīta-alaṅkāra-nirdeśa section; Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 219, 383

Named in passing

  • Gandharva, of the Vāstu: the fourteenth of the Vāstu devatās, told on Vāstu-purusha. Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 2, Chapters 10–13

See also