Tattvartha Sutra: 04.11-12

04.11 Bhavanavāsino'surnāgvidyutsuparnāgnivatas-tanitodadhidweepdigkumārāh

04.12 Vyantarāh Kinnarkimpurushmahoraggāndhar-vayaksharākshasbhootpishāchāh

04.11-12

English:

Ten categories of Bhavanapati beings consist of Asurkumār, Nāgkumār, Vidutkumār, Suparnakumār, Agnikumār, Vāyukumār, Stanitkumar, Udadhikumār, Dweepkumār and Dikkumār; eight categories of Vyantar beings consist of Kinnar, Kimpurush, Mahorag, Gāndharva, Yaksha, Rakshas, Bhoot and Pishāch.

Of the four types of cosmic beings, Bhavanapatis and Vyantars do not actually reside in upper realms. Bhavanapatis stay underworld below and around the mountain Meru. They are called Bhavanpati, because they reside in vast mansions, which are termed as Bhavans. Since those beings are handsome, soft spoken, youthful and playful, they are known as Kumar. Their ten categories consist of

1. Asurkumār (sinister youths),
2. Nāgkumār (serpentine youths),
3. Vidutkumār (lightening youths),
4. Suparnakumār (eagle-like youths),
5. Agnikumār (beaming youths),
6. Vāyukumār, (sublime youths),
7. Staniīkumār (resonant youths),
8. Udadhikumār (serene youths),
9. Dweepkumār, (islander youths) and
10. Dikkumār (youths from different directions).

Those belonging to Vyantar group do not live in the constructed premises. They mostly stay within hills, mountains, forests, hollows of trees etc. in solitary and more or less deserted areas of Madhyalok and the first infernal level. Their eight categories consist of

1. Kinnar (deformed humans),
2. Kimpurush (deformed persons),
3. Mahorag (great serpents),
4. Gāndharva (musicians),
5. Yaksha (demigods)
6. Rākshas (demons),
7. Bhoot (ghosts) and
8. Pishāch (devils).

Most of them belong to the group of evil spirits. They have been treated as supernatural because of the fright arising from their capability to hurt.