Dhritarashtra commands the gandharvas, the celestial musicians who dwell on the eastern slopes of Mount Meru, marshalling their host as part of his charge to guard the eastern quarter of the world.
The Ashtasena gathers before the Buddha as the great assembly of eight non-human classes — devas descending from their heavens, nagas rising from underwater palaces, yakshas and asuras setting aside their warfare, gandharvas and kinnaras filling the air with celestial music, garudas folding their vast wings, and mahoragas dragging their serpent coils forward — all drawn by the power of the dharma to hear, protect, and transmit the teaching.
The dri za are the Tibetan reflex of the Indian gandharvas, celestial smell-eaters transmitted into Tibetan Buddhist cosmology as one of the eight classes of non-human beings.
The Hindu Gandharvas passed directly into Buddhist cosmology as one of the eight classes of devas, retaining their identity as celestial musicians who perform in Indra's heaven.
We use cookies to understand how you use our site and improve your experience. Learn more