Kinnara are divine beings mentioned in major scriptures in
Hinduism. They are diving being with horse head and human body. The earliest
reference of Kinnaras are found in the Satapatha Brahmana. There are several
versions of the origin of Kinnara in Hindu scriptures.
Manu Smriti and Bhagavad Purana states that they were
created by Prajapati along with Yakshas, apsaras and gandharvas.
Some Puranas are of the view that they were born out of
thumb of Brahma.
Certain Puranas also mention that they are children of Sage
Kashyapa.
Kinnaras are male for one month and female for another
month. They are romantic in character and love flowers.
They render various services to Devas by assuming various
forms. They sing, dance and play musical instruments in heaven.
Kinnaras mainly serve Kubera, who is also known as
Kinnaresha.
On earth they are believed to have guarded fields. People
used to place kinnara figures on the corner of fields.
It must be noted that Kinnaras are also shown in Hindu
sculptures as having human head and a bird’s body.
Manasara, a Shilpa Text, states that Kinnara’s should be
shown with legs like those of animals, upper body like that of man, the face
like that of Garuda, arms with wings, crown should be decorated with lotus and
they hold lutes.
In majority of the sculptures Kinnara are shown
in pair.
Kinnara Sculptures are also widely associated with Buddhism.
Kinnara Sculptures are also widely associated with Buddhism.