Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2179

c9.2179

became Rākṣasas (giants). Those who said “We will eat him”, became Yakṣas (demi-gods). Because of Yakṣaṇa (Bhakṣaṇa-Food), they got the name Yakṣa. Because of the dislike at seeing these creatures the hair had fallen from the head of Brahmā. They crept back again into his head. Because they did ‘sarpaṇa’ (creeping up) they were called sarpas (serpents) and they were ‘Hīna’ (fallen) they were called Ahis (serpents). After this the Lord of creation became very angry and created some creatures. Because of their colour which was a mingling of red and black, they were horrible and they became piśitāśanas (those who eat flesh). Then Brahmā began to sing and from his body the Gandharvas were born. Because they did ‘dhyana’ (Appreciate) of ‘go’ (word) when they were born, they were called Gandharvas.