[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Religion and philosophy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion) › [The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925) › v1.c19.s2.1 # The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c19.s2.1 The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c19.s2.1 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c19.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s2.1) In the Rigveda the word Gandharva occurs twenty times, but only thrice in the plural, from which it is fair to deduce that the nature of the spirit was originally conceived as one. What is still more important is that it occurs but once in book ii–vii, and is found twice in the eighth book as a being hostile to Indra. The epithet \*viçvāvasu\*, ‘possessing all good things’, which accompanies it, appears once in the Rigveda¹ itself, and often later, to denote a definite individual. The Gandharva of that text is a high being of the air of the sky, a measurer of space who stands erect on the vault of heaven. He is brought into relation with the sun, the sun-bird, the sun-steed, and Soma likened to the sun. He is also connected with the rainbow in a late hymn.² He is, however, especially connected with Soma, whose place he guards, standing on the vault of heaven. Kṛçānu, the archer, who shoots at the eagle which steals the Soma, is expressly said in a later text³ to be a Gandharva. But the Gandharva is also connected with the waters: Soma in the waters is said to be the Gandharva of the waters: the parents of Yama and Yamī are the Gandharva and the maiden of the waters: the Gandharva is the lover of the Apsaras. The Gandharva is further found in the marriage ceremony: the bride is claimed by him, and he is in the beginning of the marriage a rival of the husband.⁴ Further the Gandharva has a fragrant garment,⁵ and is wind-haired.⁶ - [Previous: v1.c19.s1.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s1.23) - [Next: v1.c19.s2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s2.2) - [Up: v1.c19.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s2.1) · Pramāṇa