Vidyadhara(s) (SanskritVidyādhara, meaning "wisdom-holders") are a group of supernatural beings inIndian religions who possess magical powers.[1] In Hinduism, they also attendShiva, who lives in theHimalayas.[2] They are consideredUpadevas, ordemi-gods.[3]
In theHindu epics, Vidyādharas are described as essentially spirits of the air. They are described as doing different activities in the epics like gazing at human prowess with astonishment, strewing flowers watching a combat, rejoicing with music and laughter, crowned with wreaths and fleeing with their wives from danger. They possess great magical powers like the ability to diminish their size. They are endowed with epithets describing them as "doers of good and devoted to joy". They also live in Gandhamandhana mountain and other Himalayan mountains withKinnaras. They are also described residing on Mount Krauncha, on Citrakuta whereRama saw Vidyadhara women playing, in the hills ofMalabar and in theKhandava forest. They are also seen inKubera's court, headed by their leader Chakradharman and inIndra's palace under Vipracitti. A third leader of the Vidyadharas is described to the wiseJambavan.[4] In the epicMahabharata, Vidyadharas are described as following Indra with other semi-divine beings to the serpent-sacrifice ofJanamejaya.[3][4] In the epics, the women of the Vidyadharas, calledVidyadharis are described to possess great beauty, and were victims of kidnapping by demons likeRavana.[4] In theRamayana, Sundarkanda Verses 1.22 to 1.26 describe the plight of Vidyadharas and their women following the pressure exerted on Mount Mahendra by Hanuman while taking his position in his attempt to leapcross the ocean.[5]
InAgni Purana, they are described as wearing garlands in the sky and mentioned with other semi-divine beings likeYakshas andGandharvas.[3]
In theBhagavata Purana, Citraketu is described as the king of Vidyadharas.[6] It also tells about a cursed Vidyadhara called Sudarshana.[7] In various references in thePurana, they are coupled with other semi-divine beings, who pray to the godVishnu for help or enumerated among the many creations of God.[8] The Vidyadhras withsiddhas are said to have milked Mother Earth (Prithvi), who had assumed the form of a cow, by using the sageKapila as the calf and collected different yogic mystic powers (siddhis) and the art of flying as milk in the pot of the sky.[9]
Gunadhya is said to have composed seven massive stories about Vidyadharas, then to have destroyed the first six stories when the king rejected them, retaining only the seventh story — of Naravahanadatta — which became theBrihatkatha written inPaishachi language. This work is not extant, but three adaptations exist in Sanskrit:Brhatkathamanjari[10] byKshemendra,Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva, andBṛhatkathāślokasaṃgraha by Budhasvamin. TheKathasaritsagara presents some stories about Vidyadharas like Devadatta (a Brahmin boy who acquired Vidyadhara-hood),[11] Jimutavahana,[12] Muktaphalaketu[13] and Naravahanadatta (who became an emperor of the Vidyadharas).[14]
Jain legends describe Vidyadharas as advanced human beings or Aakashagochari human beings. According to Jainism, Vidyadharas are human beings but they have vidyas.[citation needed] Vidyadhara possess mystical powers and abilities inJainism like flying.Vanara andRakshasa are two of the many Vidyadhara clans according toJain literature. Some of the Kings wereRavana,Hanuman andVali.[citation needed]
