Editing Gandharva (section)

==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, 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.