དྲི་ཟ། | Glossary of Terms

The term usually (and elsewhere in this text) refers to a class of non-human beings sometimes known as “celestial musicians.” In this particular context, however, it designates a disembodied sentient being in the intermediate state between death and rebirth, seeking a new body in which to take rebirth.

A class of semidivine beings sometimes known as “celestial musicians.”

Gandharvas (literally “odor eaters”) are generally regarded as a class of menacing divine offspring, but in Abhidharma the term is often used differently‍—as a synonym for the mental body assumed by any sentient being of the world system of desire (kāma­dhātu) during the intermediate state between death and rebirth.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A class of nonhuman beings who are particularly renowned as celestial musicians.

Lower class of divine beings under the control of the Guardian King of the East. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.”

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A class of semi-divine beings sometimes referred to as “heavenly musicians.”

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as heavenly musicians.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A type of nonhuman being often rendered as “celestial musicians” who fly through space and serve as musicians for the gods.

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as heavenly musicians.

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as heavenly musicians.

Usually, a particular category of semi-divine celestial being, one of the four kinds on the four sides of Mount Meru; but in the context of the process of rebirth (e.g. in 1.86 in this sūtra), gandharva refers to the consciousness of the being between death and the next rebirth.

The term generally refers to a class of nonhuman beings sometimes known as “celestial musicians.” In Abhidharma cosmology, the term is also used to refer to the mental body assumed by any sentient being in the realm of desire (kāma­dhātu) during the intermediate state between death and rebirth. Gandharvas are said to live on fragrances in the desire realm, hence their Tibetan translation dri za, meaning “scent eater.”

Lower class of divine being, under the control of the Guardian King of the East. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.”

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as “celestial musicians.”

Lower class of divine beings, under the control of the Guardian King of the East. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.”

A semi-divine being “feeding on smell” and musically skilled.

Lower class of divine beings, under the control of the guardian king of the east. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.”

A class of semidivine beings renowned as celestial musicians.

Type of being in Buddhist cosmogony.

A race of deities who are particularly known to be musicians.

A class of generally benevolent semi-divine beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A class of spirits who live on scents. Also, a type of celestial musician living on the rim of Mt. Sumeru.

A race of deities who are particularly known to be musicians.

In Indian religious mythology, a class of nonhuman beings who often appear as semidivine celestial musicians. The same term is used in certain Buddhist texts in a quite different sense: to denote a disembodied sentient being or anguished spirit in the intermediate state between two lives, seeking the conditions for a new birth as a human or other kind of embodied being.

A class of generally benevolent beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A class of generally benevolent semidivine beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A race of deities who are particularly known to be musicians.

Gandharvas, literally “smell-eaters,” are a class of spirits, sometimes described as celestial musicians. In other contexts the term can also refer to beings in the bardo-state.

A class of semidivine beings known for their skills as musicians, sometimes said to inhabit fantastic cities in the clouds but more usually on the slopes of Mount Meru.

A class of celestial beings.

Lower class of divine beings said to dwell in the east, under the jurisdiction of the Great King Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.”

A class of sentient beings who live on scents and are particularly known to be musicians.

Lower class of divine beings said to dwell in the east, under the jurisdiction of the Great King Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.”

Gandharvas, literally “smell eaters,” are a class of spirits sometimes described as “celestial musicians.”

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

Gandharvas are a class of spirits, sometimes described as celestial musicians. In other contexts the term can also refer to beings in the bardo state.

Lower class of divine beings said to dwell in the east, under the jurisdiction of the Great King Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.”

Gandharvas, literally “smell eaters,” are a class of spirits, sometimes described as celestial musicians.

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as “celestial musicians.”

The celestial musicians who reside in the two heavens at the very top of Mount Meru, or beings in the bardo who feed on odors.

Semidivine class of being, under the control of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the Great King of the East. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.”

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as heavenly musicians.

A class of generally benevolent semi-divine beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A semidivine class of beings that are generally identified as ethereal celestial musicians.

Lower class of divine being, under the control of the Guardian King of the East. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.”

Lit. “smell eater.” Gandharvas are a class of spirits and minor gods (deva) in both Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies. They are supposedly messengers, singers, and skilled musicians and dancers. Often closely associated with various nature spirits (yakṣa), they are on occasion depicted as disturbing to monks practicing meditation.

In Indian religious mythology, a class of nonhuman beings who often appear as semidivine celestial musicians. The same term is used in certain Buddhist texts in a quite different sense: to denote a disembodied sentient being or anguished spirit in the intermediate state between two lives, seeking the conditions for a new birth as a human or other kind of embodied being.

A class of spirits, sometimes described as celestial musicians. In other contexts the term can also refer to beings in the bardo-state.

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as “heavenly musicians.”

Lit. “scent-eater.” A heavenly musician.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

The term generally refers to a class of non-human beings sometimes known as “celestial musicians.” In Abhidharma cosmology, the term is also used to refer to the mental body assumed by any sentient being in the realm of desire (kāma­dhātu) during the intermediate state between death and rebirth. Gandharvas are said to live on fragrances in the desire realm, hence the Tibetan translation dri za, meaning “scent eater.”

Here and very frequently in the canonical texts, a type of non-human, semi-divine celestial being or spirit. The term is also used to refer to the consciousness of a being between death and the next rebirth.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

The name of a kind of preta (ghost). These spirits are said to live on odours, hence their name “smell-eater.” Known for their music.

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as “celestial musicians.”

A type of spirit typically known as celestial musicians.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

The term generally refers to a class of nonhuman beings sometimes known as “celestial musicians.” In Abhidharma cosmology, the term is also used to refer to the mental body assumed by any sentient being in the realm of desire (Skt. kāmadhātu) during the intermediate state between death and rebirth. Gandharvas are said to live on fragrances in the desire realm, hence the Tibetan translation dri za, meaning “scent eater.”

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as heavenly musicians.

Gandharvas (literally “odor eaters”) are generally regarded as a class of menacing divine offspring, but in Abhidharma the term is often used differently‍—as a synonym for the mental body assumed by any sentient being of the world system of desire (kāma­dhātu) during the intermediate state between death and rebirth.

Class of ethereal beings, living on scents.

Gandharvas, lit. “smell-eaters.” A class of deities known for being skilled musicians. Also the name of spirits in the bardo state.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A class of nonhuman beings known particularly for their musical abilities.

A class of nonhuman beings known particularly for their musical abilities.

Semidivine celestial musicians.

A class of generally benevolent divine beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

Lower class of divine being, under the control of the Guardian King of the East. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.”

A lower class of divine being, under the control of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the Great King of the East. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.”

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as “heavenly musicians.”

Gandharvas, literally “smell eaters,” are a class of spirits, sometimes described as celestial musicians. In other contexts the term can also refer to beings in the bardo state.

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as heavenly musicians.

A class of celestial beings.

A class of semidivine beings sometimes known as “celestial musicians.”

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as “heavenly musicians.”

Literally “smell eaters,” these are a class of spirits, sometimes described as celestial musicians. In other contexts the term can also refer to beings in the bardo state.

Class of beings under the control of the King of the East. Capable of flight, they are often described as “celestial musicians.” This term can also refer to beings who have died and not yet taken rebirth.

A class of celestial spirits and minor gods (deva) in both Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies who are said to live on scents. They are messengers, singers, and skilled musicians and dancers.

Here and very frequently in the canonical texts, a type of non-human, semi-divine celestial being or spirit. In a very few texts (but not this one), e.g. The Questions of Bhadrapāla the Merchant, the term is also used to refer to the consciousness of a being between death and the next rebirth.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A class of generally benevolent beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A class of nonhuman beings, literally “smell-eaters,” who are sometimes seen as anguished spirits but more often appear, as in many passages in this text, as semi-divine celestial musicians. The same term is used in other passages in a quite different sense: to denote a disembodied sentient being in the intermediate state between two lives, seeking the conditions for a new birth as a human or other kind of embodied being.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as heavenly musicians.

A class of semidivine beings sometimes referred to as heavenly musicians.

A class of spirit beings that dwell in the heavens.

A class of spirit beings that dwell in the heavens.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A class of celestial beings.

A class of semidivine beings associated with music and singing.

A race of deities who are renowned to be great musicians and gain their nutrition through smells.

A race of deities who are renowned to be great musicians and gain their nutrition through smells.

A class of nonhuman beings.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are best known as celestial musicians.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the sky and are most renowned as celestial musicians.

A class of nonhuman beings known for their musical skills.