Description of Mythical Beings in the Kathasaritsagara

1. Yakshas 510 This cult seems to be popular with the common people 344 during the period of Kathasaritsagara The word Yaksha means being possessed of magical powers. Yakshas are the servants of the gods frequently connected with portals. 345 Kubera, the god of riches, is the king of these mythical-beings. Yakshas have the power to become invisible. They wore heavenly 346 ornaments and dress. People worshipped them and offered them many gifts to obtain various blessings. Wine, flesh and other dainties (maddyapishitadibhi) are the main gifts 347 offered to them by their votaries. 348 Kathasaritsagara mentions the Yaksha Virupaksha, Ratnavarsha, Prythudara, Manibhadra and Sarvasthanagata respectively. Virupaksha is the servant of Kuvera and is the guardian of lacks of treasure lying outside the town of Mathura. 349 Ratnavarsha is the name of a certain king of Yakshas. Yaksha Sarvasthanagata, residing in a tree is mentioned to have granted a boon to a mendicant from Kashmir by which The he could become invincible in disputation, altercation and 350 gambling. A temple of Yaksha Manibhadra is mentioned at 344. Also popular in Patanjali's times; Yaksha and Yakshni figures, as pointed out by J.Marshal appear on the balustrade of Bharahat stupa. According to Coomarswami it was a Bhakti cult, Puri, B.N. India in the times of Patanjali, p.192-193. 345. Nirnaya Sagar 7.1.85. 346. Ibid. 10.1.31. 347. Ibid. 14.1.59. 348. Ibid. 6.8.67-68. 349. Ibid. 5.3.215. 350. Ibid. 10.10.20-56, 61.

ajr 351 511 Tamralipti. An unnamed Yaksha also gave to a certain farmer 352 an inexhaustible pitcher that supplied whatever was required. Many Yakshas with squint eyes are mentioned as 353 dancing at night with their feet turned the other way. 2. Kinnaras (Heavenly Singers) They are super-human though not divine beings that serve the gods. They have house's head and form the band of Kubera. They are very fine singers. They are generally studded with splendid jewels. The vallies of the Himalayas always resound with the songs of Kinnaras (naditam Kinnara geetai). 354 Kind Somaprabha is mentioned to have seen a Kinnara 355 in the Himalaya woods. Naravahanadatta heard the songs of 356 Kinnaras on the Narikeli island. 3. Siddhas 357 According to Hindu mythology the Siddhas, always mentioned with the Gansa, Nagas and Vidyadharas, are independent superhumans often mixing with mortals. They are the most kindly ghosts. Kathasaritsagara mentions the Siddhas with their abode on the Rishayamuka and Udaya mountains, branches 358 of the Malaya mountains. Visvavasu is mentioned as their 351 Nirnaya Sagar 2.5.165-166; Jain Texts also mention him%3 B Jain J.C. Life in ancient India etc. p.219-220 Nirnaya Sagar 10.1.31. Ibid. 12.6.246/2. For additional discription Please refer to Mehta R.L.Op.cit., p.324 352. 353. 354. Nirnaya Sagar 9.2.9. 355. 356. Ibd. 9.5.56. 357. 358. Ibid. 3.4.234-235, 14.3.6. Ibid. 10.3.75,77. Pamer The Ocean of Stories, Vol.1, p.201.

512 2. 359 chief. Siddhas have the power to roam in the air (akashachari), to change their forms and know the past. They are experts in the selence of magic. It is mentioned that a certain Siddha who was the friend of Sundaraka taught him 361 They are generally, 362 the spell of descending from heaven. in love with beautiful ladies on the earth. _ The Siddhas and 363 Vidyadharas are mentioned as marrying each other. 4 Gandharvas (Heavenly singers) They form the band of singers of Indra. According to Hindu mythology the Apsaras are their wives and join them 364 as singers. According to Vishnu Purana the Gandharavas Gandharvas are the offsprings of Brahma. They are rarely mentioned in the stories from the Kathasaritsagara and are the devotees of god Vishnu. Two Gandharva brothers named Somaprabha and Devaprabha, who were the votaries of Vishnu with their abode on the Malaya mountain are mentioned as singing in a Vishnu 365 Temple (Keshavayatana). The story of Gandharvas carrying 366 off the mymph Urvasi is referred to. ✓ Symph Also a certain Gandharva named Svatarashmin in the land of Kalinga is mentioned as supernaturally wise, possessed the power of flying through 359. Nirnaya Sagar 4.2.47. 360. Ibid. 12.5.186-187. 361. Ibid. 3.6.180-181. 362. Ibid. 6.7.188. 363. Ibid. 4.2.175. 364. Panzer, Op.cit., Vol.I, p.201-202. 365. Nirnaya Sagar 7.2.112,113,115. 366. Ibid. 3.3.25,29.

513 367 the sky and remembered former birth. 5. Nagas (Serpant Gods) The Naga-cult seems to be prevalent. Nagas were the snake-gods dwelling in the Patala- the under-world- in 368 a city called Bhogawati. They are usually friendly to men. They possess human heads or are human as far as the waist portion. These lower devine-beings were worshipped for fear of their destructive power and at times with a desire to obtain boons from them. Rice-balls (balis) were offered to them. A temple of the Naga king Vasuki in the Lata country is mentioned. People assembled in it and are said to have worshipped his image. His festival was also celebrated in 369 the same country. 370 Again Naravahanadatta is said to have worshipped snakes in the Nagavana out side to city of Kaushambi. 6. Apsaras (Heavenly Nymphs) 371 They are, accordThey were originally water-nymphs. ing to Hindu mythology, the creations of seven Manus. Again 367. Nirnaya Sagar 7.2.13-16. 368. Ibid. 4.2.250. 369. Ibid. 12.7.208. 370. Ibid. 6.8.188. 371. Panzer, Op.cit. Vol.I, p.201-202.

514 their origin is attributed to the churning of the ocean 372 and gods and Asuras would not accept them as their wives, 373 and therefore became common to all. Hindu mythology tells us that they became wives of the Gandharvas whom they join as singers, dancers and 374 musicians in Indra's court. They have the power of changing forms and are most helpful to men. Their feet do not touch the dust and their eyes do not wink. Their vehicle is the aerial chariot (vimana). They are all-knowing and have magic-possessing qualities. They are impatient to reveal their secret and 375 fly back to heaven if questioned. The Kathasaritsagara mentions the tales connected with the heavenly 376 nymphs such as Urvasi, Rambha, and Surabhidatta. Besides these we have the Apsaras named Devarupa, Devarati, Devamala, Devapriya and Somaprabha. It is mentioned that the first four Apsaras were presented to Naravahanadatta by Vishnu. They were among the band of god Indra for a long time. Somaprabha was yet another Apsara who has been mentioned as 378 the friend and benefactor of Kalinga sena. 377 372. Nirnaya Sagar 9.4.40. 973. Ibid. 9.4.40. 974. Panzer Op.cit. Vo.l 1, p.201. 975. Nirnaya Sagar 6.2.61-62,55, 3.4.13, 6.6.116-118 and also see Panzer, Op.cit., Vol.I, p.202. 976. Ibid. 3.3.10,14, 6.1.60, 61,71, 6.2.55. 977. Ibid. 9.4.75. 978. Ibid. 6.4.70.

515 7. Ganas (Attendants of Siva) Ganas are the attendants of gods, especially of Siva and Parvati, frequently connected with mortals. Any breach of discipline on their part was punished by banishment from Kailasa, Siva's abode, usually to the world of mortals, where they had to serve their time till some event or other brought the curse to an end. They usually 379 enter the paradise (svarga) on the 11 th day (ekada syam). The Kathasaritsagara mentions many Ganas of Siva and Parvati. As usual most of them are cursed by Siva or Parvati and are born as mortals and when the curse ends are reinstated. Mention may be made of the Ganas such as Malyavan, Pushpadanta, Pingeshwara, Virabhadra, Pushpabhuti, Guheshawara, 386 Dhurjata, Murajaka, Bhringi etc. Panchamukha, Chaturvakra, Mahodara and Vika tavadana are referred to as the four Ganas of Ambika. They were cursed to be born as mortals. 381' 382 Manipushpeshyara is yet another Gana of Parvati. Jaya, wife of the Gana Pushpadanta is the attendant 383 Another lady named Chandralekha is mentioned of Parvati. 384 as the chauri-bearer of Parvati. She is the daughter of Jaya. 879. Nirnaya Sagar 2.4.167. 380. Ibid. 1.1.49,51,57,60,64, 8.7.72, 17.1.71,3.6.175,1.1.52. 17.1. (the whole story is occupied by him), 17.1.80, 1.1.50, 1.1.57,65. 381. Ibid. 9.2.245,246. 382. Ibid. 17.1.66,65. 383. Ibid. 1.1.52,17.1.72. 384. Ibid. 17.1.59,66.

385 516 These Ganas are said to possess magic power. At times they seem to be born as mortals for the benefit of mankind. Thus it is stated that Gana Malyavan, at the order of Siva, was to be born as the brave son of King Mahendraditya to slay all the Mlenchchas and was to have 386 command over Yakshas, Rakshasas and the Vetalas. 8. Lokpalas (The Regents of Directions) They are eight in number. They are mentioned with Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesha and Indra. They are said to have occupied the sky over the battle-field of Vidyadhara's and 387 Naravahandattas armies. In times of distress people seem to worship them. King Malayasimha of Rajagraha was a votary of Lokapalas and is mentioned to have appealed to them when his task 388 seemed difficult. as Even though Indra is one of the Lokapala, it should be noted that he is mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara, having honoured and then dismissed the Lokapalas to their several stations after they had helped him in winning a battle against the 389 390 Asuras. At another place he is shown as their head. 385. Nirnaya Sagar 1.1.50. 386. Ibid. 18.1.26-30. 387. Ibid. 8.4.45-49. 388. Ibid. 16.2.135. 389. Ibid. 17.3.88. 390. Ibid. 8.2.387.

517 9. Kuvera (God of Wealth) He is the god of wealth. He is also referred to in the Kathasaritsagara His attendants, the Guhayakas are mentioned as 391 the guardians of his wealth. He also cursed a certain 392 Yaksha Kanabhuti who was his servant. He is the owner 393 of the city named Alaka. A Brahmin named Somadatta is mentioned, by the favour of his attendants, to have obtained 394 great wealth from the King Somaprabha. 10 Nandi 395 He is mentioned among many chiefs of Ganas of Siva, who with the host of attendants, is said to be guarding one of the door to the hermitage of Siva on the Kailasa mountain. At another place he is mentioned as the prince of the host of the Bhutas (bhutaganadhipati) who received a portion of the offering (balibhaga) to Rudra. 396 11. Narada He is one of the seven great seers. He is always with his famous Vina. He is a wandering ministrel and also a 397 mischiefmaker. Kathasaritsagara describes him as a great sage, descending from heaven, (his abode), who is surrounded with a circle of 398 light and appeared like a second sun. When he called on 391. Nirnaya Sagar 3.6.45. 392. Ibid. 1.2.18. 393. Ibid. 3.5.107, 8.6.187. 394. Ibid. 3.6.45. 395. Ibid. 8.7.187-188, 1.1.46. 396. Ibid. 8.2.42,45. 397. Danielou, A. Op. cit., p.187. 398. Nirnaya Sagar 14.1.82.

518 Udayana he is also described as illuminating the region with 399 his splendour. His residence in the down deep stream of 400 the river Ganges is mentioned at one place. 12. Tumbaru Tumbaru who is the dance-teacher of the Apsara Rambha is also mentioned. 401 Apsaras. His abode is in the heaven among the 13. Vidyadharas (Holders of Magic) They have been discussed in details under appendix "B" in Chapter VI. The trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Siva) are also mentioned. The royal guards of the palace-gate of King Sudraka used to worship Vishnu and Siva. 402 Sri, Savitri are some of the minor goddesses mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara