( The 'dh' in this name is pronounced like a hardened sound of 'dh' in 'brother' .)
In our mythology, various demi-gods were mentioned. They have their own world and leader but subject to the control of Indra, the lord of Gods, over them. They possess many divine powers. Their status was considered to be below that of the gods and above that of humans. Some categories of demi gods were Gandharvas,Yakshas,Garudas,Kinnaras,Kimpurushas,Uragas(naagas),Saadhyas, Vidyaadharas,Chaaranas,Siddhas etc.
Gandharvas are the divine singers and dancers. They fly in air-borne vehicles. Music and dance are their arts. They come onto the earth as a pastime. Like all the supernatural beings,they too are invisible to the earthly beings unless they wished to be otherwise. Sometimes they grace the humans with gifts and sometimes punish with curses.
In many stories in mythology, we come across the mention of Gandharvas. The prominent names of Gandharvas in Mahaabhaaratham are :
1.) Chithraangada who killed Shanthanu's son Chithraangada,
2.) Chithrasena who taught music and dance to Arjuna in the heaven ( he took Duryodhana captive too and let him free at the request of Yudhishthira but not before being defeated by Arjuna),
3.) Angaaraparna who threatened Arjuna in a dark night in the forest and lost to him,
4.) Vishvaavasu, mentioned in Udyoga parava, entertaining Nahusha with his music, 5.) Dhrithraashtra (Hamsa), whose incarnation was Dhritharaashtra, the kouravas' father. And mentioned in Aashvamedhika parva, sent by Indra to Samvartha.