Sadhyas

The sadhyas (Sanskrit: साध्य, romanized: Sādhya) refers to a class of minor deities in Hinduism. According to the Puranas, they are the sons of Dharma and Sadhya, a daughter of Daksha.^[1] Numbering either twelve or seventeen according to various texts, the sadhyas are described to be the embodiments of the rituals and hymns of the Vedas. They are stated to reside with the devas, or dwell in the region between heaven and earth.^[2]

Description

The Puranas feature the sadhyas among the nine classes (gaṇas) of deities, among the adityas, rudras, vasus, visvedevas, tushitas, abhasvaras, anilas, and the maharajikas.^[3]^[4] They are sometimes referred to as a class of the devas,^[5] or the gaṇadevas.^[6]

The Agni Purana offers a list of the twelve sadhyas:^[7]

Manas
Mantā
Prāṇa
Nara
Apāna
Vīrayān
Vibhu
Haya
Naya
Haṁsa
Nārāyaṇa
Prabhu

Literature

Upanishads

The Mundaka Upanishad describes the origin of the sadhyas from Brahman, the Ultimate Reality.^[8]

Shiva Purana

According to the Shiva Purana, the sadhyas serve as the attendants of Shiva, under the command of Ganesha. They are regarded to reside on the Gaṇaparvata mountain, situated on Kailasha.^[9]

Mahabharata

The sadhyas fight with Kartikeya in his battle against Tarakasura.^[10]

Bhagavad Gita

Arjuna mentions the sadhyas as one of the classes that are awed by Krishna's vishvarupa form.^[11]

References

^ Kapoor, Subodh (2004). A Dictionary of Hinduism: Including Its Mythology, Religion, History, Literature, and Pantheon. Cosmo Publications. p. 336. ISBN 978-81-7755-874-6.
^ Dowson, John (2013-11-05). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature. Routledge. p. 271. ISBN 978-1-136-39036-4.
^ Dalal, Roshen (2014-04-18). The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths. Penguin UK. p. 448. ISBN 978-81-8475-396-7.
^ Vettem Mani. Puranic Encyolopaedia Vettem Mani. p. 892.
^ Williams, George M. (2008-03-27). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. OUP USA. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-19-533261-2.
^ Vaidik Sudha (2020-06-17). Puran Encyclopedia. p. 892.
^ Danielou, Alain (2017-01-01). The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 303. ISBN 978-81-208-3638-9.
^ Swami Sivananda. Dialogues from the Upanishads - Swami Sivananda. p. 42.
^ Prof. J. L. Shastri (1950). The Siva Purana Part 1. p. 271.
^ Valmiki; Vyasa (2018-05-19). Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. p. 8075. ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.
^ Harward University Press. The Bhagavad Gita Translated By Franklin Edgerton Harward University Press. p. 57.

[1] Kapoor, Subodh (2004). A Dictionary of Hinduism: Including Its Mythology, Religion, History, Literature, and Pantheon. Cosmo Publications. p. 336. ISBN 978-81-7755-874-6.

[2] Dowson, John (2013-11-05). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature. Routledge. p. 271. ISBN 978-1-136-39036-4.

[3] Dalal, Roshen (2014-04-18). The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths. Penguin UK. p. 448. ISBN 978-81-8475-396-7.

[4] Vettem Mani. Puranic Encyolopaedia Vettem Mani. p. 892.

[5] Williams, George M. (2008-03-27). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. OUP USA. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-19-533261-2.

[6] Vaidik Sudha (2020-06-17). Puran Encyclopedia. p. 892.

[7] Danielou, Alain (2017-01-01). The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 303. ISBN 978-81-208-3638-9.

[8] Swami Sivananda. Dialogues from the Upanishads - Swami Sivananda. p. 42.

[9] Prof. J. L. Shastri (1950). The Siva Purana Part 1. p. 271.

[10] Valmiki; Vyasa (2018-05-19). Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. p. 8075. ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.

[11] Harward University Press. The Bhagavad Gita Translated By Franklin Edgerton Harward University Press. p. 57.

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v t e Hindu deities and texts
Gods	Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Shiva Agni Ashvins Chandra Dattatreya Ganesha Hanuman Indra Kama Kartikeya Krishna Kubera Rama Shasta Surya Varuna Vayu Vishvakarma Yama more
Goddesses	Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Aditi Bhumi Chhaya Durga Ganga Shachi Kali Mahadevi Mahavidya Matangi Matrikas Radha Rati Rohini Rukmini Sanjna Sati Shakti Shashthi Sita more
Other deities	Apsaras Asuras Daitya Danava Devata Dikpāla Gandharvas Gana Kuladevatas Gramadevatas Rakshasas Vahanas Yakshas / Yakshini
Texts (list)	Vedas Rig Sama Yajur Atharva Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita Yoga Sutras of Patanjali more
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