Ganas

The Ganas (categories) are the horde of sprites, hobgoblins, and ghosts who accompany Siva, acting as his honour guard and residing with him in the cremation ground. Only those who have attained a heroic disposition, who have mastered the horde of threatening powers (by attaining self-mastety), may approach Siva in the cremation ground. The Ganas are sometimes said to be shape-shifters, and are said to possess the powers of flight and invisibility.

Alain Daniélou has compared the Ganas to both the Greek Korybantes and the Celtic Korrigans and has dubbed them "the delinquents of heaven." Some of the Ganas are demons that Siva has defeated in battle, whilst others are former devotees of Siva.