Who are Apsaras and Gandharvas?

Apsaras originated during the Great Churning of Milk Sea. Basically, they are very attractive, beautiful, enchanting celestial concubines. According to Bhagavata, they were born out of the palm of Lord Brahma. Their basic duty is to sing and dance in the conventions organized by Indra to entertain the deities. Normally, they do not marry. At times, they try to breach the penance of Rishis at the behest of Lord Indra. Urvashi, Menaka, Rambha, Tilottame and a few others are prominent among them. Gandharvas are basically musicians and singers meant to entertain the deities. Gandharvas are men and are believed to be descendants of Sage Kashyapa and Arishta. They generally accompany Apsaras. They are choristers and are endowed with great skill to sing. They are also known to guard the Soma, but are barred from consuming Soma. Yakshas are a section of deities created by Lord Brahma at the very beginning, preceded only by the creation of Udaka or water. Some of these beings, who were actually meant to protect water, pronounced the word Jaksha (eat0 and some said Raksha (protect). Then, Lord Brahma called those sying Jaksha as Yakshas and those saying Raksha as Rakshasas. Later, Kubera impressed Lord Shiva with penance at the confluence of Kaveri and Narmada Rivers and secured the kingdom of Yakshas. Pannagas are a race belonging to Nagas or serpents and believed to be descendants of Kadru. Vidyadhara literally means a person of great wisdom. These Vidyadharas mentioned by Lord Brahma may be semi-deities with super-natural powers to reduce or expand their sizes at will. Kinnaras are said to be beings with human body and horse’s face born from deities. They are all subjects of Kubera. They were born to Surase from Kashyapa.