Editing Gandharva (section)

==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|theyyam]] and [[Kalampattu|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