GHANTA-KARNA, GHANTAKANTA – Rakshasa (demonic) brothers

Ghanta and Karna were brothers in some sources, but the older rakshasa was called by both names, Ghantakanta, as the myths were about him. Ghanta’s myth was nested within several others and modified in sectarian versions com­peting over who was the supreme deity, Siva or Vishnu. Ghantakarna came into being…

Continue reading

GANDHARVAS – A class of devas (gods)

  This class of gods appeared first in the Vedic period. They were sky beings, asso­ciated with the preparation of soma. The Atharvaveda said that there were 6,333 gandharvas. They liked mortal women and sported with them, using their pow­ers to shape-shift and fool all but the most disciplined of…

Continue reading