Ādityas

deities descended from Aditi

apsarases

semi-divine female beings

avatāras

the physical manifestations of a deity in this world

cāraṇas

a class of heavenly singers

Daityas

demons descended from Diti

Dānavas

demons descended from Danu

gandharvas

semi-divine male beings

guhyakas

demons, similar to rākṣasas

guṇas

the three constituent qualities of the universe

kiṃnaras

a class of semi-divine beings

kimpuruṣas

a class of semi-divine beings

kṣatriyas

the community of warriors

kūṣmāṇḍas

a class of demons

mahat

the fundamental element, ‘greatness’

Manus

legendary rulers of the world

Maruts

wind gods

nāgas

semi-divine serpents

piśācas

flesh-eating demons

Pramathas

a class of demons in the service of Śiva

rākṣasas

night-ranging demons

saṃsāra

the cycle of life, death and rebirth

siddhas

highly accomplished seers with semi-divine powers

śrāddha

a ritual to sustain deceased relatives in the afterlife

śūdras

the community of servants

svayaṃvara

a tournament of warriors at which a noblewoman chooses a husband

vaiśyas

the community of merchants and farmers

Vasus

a class of deities

vidyādhara

a class of semi-divine musicians

Viśvas

a class of deities

yakṣas

a class of semi-divine beings