The Development of Hindu Iconography c16.3

c16.3

The Jaina canonical literature enumerates the Vyantara Devatās usually in this manner: Piśācas, Bhūtas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Kinnaras, Kimpuruṣas, Mahoragas (Nāgas) and Gandharvas. The Buddhist texts also mention similar orders of divinities as Devas, Yakṣas, Nāgas, Rākṣasas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garuḍas, Kinnaras and Mahoragas. Various sections of Brahmanical Hindu literature contain not only the names of these, but add many more names of such mythical beings, as Kumbhāṇḍas, Kabandhas, Daityas, Dānavas, Apsarasas, Siddhas, Sādhyas, Vidyādharas, Pramathas, Gaṇas, etc. In fact, most, if not all, of these different groups are common to the various early texts of India. The word ‘Deva’ (or ‘Devatā’) in the Buddhist list is of special significance in this context, for it denotes the original character of many of these beings of which the Yakṣas and the Nāgas form the most important and interesting groups. These two along with the groups of the Gandharvas and the Apsarasas occupy also a very prominent place in the Brahmanical Hindu mythology. Reference may be made in this connection to the first three lines of the mantra recited by many Hindus in the tarpaṇa and śrāddha ceremonies when they offer water and other objects to the manes (Pitṛgaṇas), mythical heroes like Rāma and Bhīṣma, the gods, the Yakṣas and others. These three lines contain the names of most of the orders of these Vyantara Devatās: Devas, Yakṣas, Nāgas, Gandharvas, Apsarasas, Asuras, Sarpas, Suparṇas (Garuḍas), Trees (sacred ones), Jihmagas (a class of sacred reptiles), Khagas (sacred birds), Vidyādharas, Jalādhāras (sacred acquatic animals), Ākāśagāmis (Sādhyas and Siddhas), etc.¹