Guhyaka(s) (गुह्यक, literally "hidden ones") is a class of supernatural beings in
Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology refers to the collection of myths associated with Hinduism, derived from various Hindu texts and traditions. These myths are found in sacred texts such as the Vedas, the Itihasas (the ''Mahabharata'' and the ''Ramayan ...
. Like
Yakshas
The Yakshas (, , ) in Mythology are a broad class of nature spirits, usually benevolent, but sometimes mischievous or capricious, connected with water, fertility, trees, the forest, treasure and wilderness. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Budd ...
(nature-spirits), they are often described as attendants of
Kubera
Kubera (, ) also known as Kuvera, Kuber and Kuberan, is the god of wealth, and the god-king of the semi-divine yakshas in Hinduism. He is regarded as Guardians of the directions, the regent of the north (''Dikpala''), and a protector of the ...
, the keeper of wealth, and protect his hidden treasures. Guhyakas are believed to live in mountain caves; thus their name, "hidden ones".
As lord of Guhyakas, Kubera is called "Guhyakadhipati".
[Hopkins pp. 144]
Description
Edward Washburn Hopkins
Edward Washburn Hopkins, Ph.D., LL.D. (September 8, 1857 July 16, 1932), an American Sanskrit scholar, was born in Northampton, Massachusetts.
He graduated at Columbia College in 1878, studied at Leipzig, where he received the degree of Ph.D. ...
suggests that Guhyakas may not be distinct beings, but a generic name for spirits of concealment.
They are mentioned in the ''
Manu Smriti
The ''Manusmṛti'' (), also known as the ''Mānava-Dharmaśāstra'' or the Laws of Manu, is one of the many legal texts and constitutions among the many ' of Hinduism.
Over fifty manuscripts of the ''Manusmriti'' are now known, but the earli ...
'' and the ''
Harivamsa'', appendix of the epic ''
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...
'', as distinct beings;
however, the epic and the ''
Meghaduta'' identify them with Yakshas.
Guhyakas are described as the most trusted and close associates of Kubera, who resides with them on Mount
Kailash
Mount Kailash (also Kailasa; ''Kangrinboqê'' or ''Gang Rinpoche''; ; ; , ) is a mountain in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It lies in the Kailash Range (Gangdisê Mountains) of the Transhimalaya, in the western part of ...
. Kubera assigns them important tasks like delivering a magic eye-wash to the god and epic-hero
Rama
Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda' ...
, to aid him in war.
They also serve as messengers and are sent to witness battles.
In other instances, they are described as residing on
Hemakuta or on Mount
Gandhamandana, in the palace of Kubera.
They also live on earth and in hills.
[Hopkins pp. 147-8] They are described as half-bird or half-equine in nature.
They have glowing forms in heaven, take demonic forms during war, and look like
gnome
A gnome () is a mythological creature and diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th century and widely adopted by authors, including those of modern fantasy literature. They are typically depict ...
s on earth.
The ''Mahabharata'', which treats them as a type of Yakshas, mentions that the airborne palaces of Kubera are held in the sky by Guhyakas; in other instances, the god himself is described as being carried by Guhyakas. It is also described that
Bhima
Bhima (, ), also known as Bhimasena (, ), is a hero and one of the most prominent characters in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. As the second of the five Pandava brothers, Bhima was born to Kunti—the wife of King Pandu—fathered by Vayu, the ...
, a hero in the epic, kills them when he attacks Kubera on Gandhamandana.
The soldiers who die by sword neither bravely nor cowardly, as mentioned in the
Mahabharata war
The Kurukshetra War (), also called the Mahabharata War, is a war described in the Hindu epic poem ''Mahabharata'', arising from a dynastic struggle between two groups of cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas, for the throne of Hastinapura. ...
, are said to go to the abode of Guhyakas after death. This is the second lowest realm that souls can enter, the lowest being
Naraka
Naraka () is the realm of hell in Indian religions. According to schools of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, ''Naraka'' is a place of torment. The word ''Neraka'' (modification of ''Naraka'') in Indonesian language, Indonesian and Malaysian langu ...
(hell) for sinners.
Guhyakas are also associated with
Pitrs
The pitris (, ) are the spirits of departed ancestors in Hinduism. Following an individual's death, the performance of the antyesti (funeral rites) is regarded to allow the deceased to enter Pitrloka, the abode of one's ancestors. The non-perfor ...
("ancestors") and are sometimes equated to ghosts.
The twin-physician gods
Ashvins
The Ashvins (, ), also known as the Ashvini Kumaras and Asvinau,, §1.42. are Hindu deities, Hindu Divine twins, twin gods associated with medicine, health, healing, sciences, and the twilight. In the ''Rigveda'', they are described as youthf ...
, annual plants, and inferior animals are described as Guhyakas.
In the ''
Bhagavata Purana
The ''Bhagavata Purana'' (; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam)'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' () or simply ''Bhagavata (Bhāgavata)'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen major Puranas (''Mahapuranas'') and one ...
'', Kubera's son
Nalakuvara
Nalakuvara, also known as Nalakubara (), appears in Hindu and Buddhist mythology as the brother of Manigriva (also known as Manibhadra), the son of the yaksha
The Yakshas (, , ) in Mythology are a broad class of nature spirits, usually b ...
and Manigriva are described as Guhyakas.
Though often associated with Kubera, the ''Brihat-Samhita'' of
Varahamihira as well as some
describe Guhyakas as attendants of
Revanta
Revanta or Raivata (Sanskrit: रेवन्त, lit. "brilliant") is a minor Hinduism, Hindu deity. According to the ''Rig-Veda'', Revanta is the youngest son of the sun-god Surya, and his wife Saranyu.
Revanta is chief of the Guhyakas, supern ...
, the son of the Sun-god
Surya
Surya ( ; , ) is the Sun#Dalal, Dalal, p. 399 as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchaya ...
. The ''
Markandeya Purana
The ''Markandeya Purana'' (; IAST: ) is a Sanskrit text of Hinduism, and one of the eighteen major Puranas. The text's title Markandeya refers to a sage in Sanatana Dharma, who is the central character in two legends, one linked to Shiva and oth ...
'' mentions that Revanta was assigned the duty as the chief of Guhyakas by Surya. In sculpture, Revanta is often depicted with the Guhyakas in hunting scenes.
References
Books
* {{cite book, last=Hopkins , first=Edward Washburn, authorlink=Edward Washburn Hopkins, title=Epic mythology , url=https://archive.org/stream/epicmythology00hopkuoft#page/n147/mode/2up/search/Kubera, year=1915, publisher=Strassburg K.J. Trübner, isbn=0-8426-0560-6
Legendary creatures in Hindu mythology
Earth spirits