Shri Shiva Ganas and Nandi Dev

Ganas are not gods. But they aren't exactly demons, either. They are different "categories" of supernatural beings who travel with Lord Shiva, and are seen as causing delays, obstacles, and red tape. They come in a wide variety of types. Gandharvas are celestial musicians with wings (all male). Apsaras are beautiful female temple dancers who distract Yogis with erotic fantasies. Kinnaras are horse-headed musicians who scare the travellers.

Pretas are ghosts who haunt the places near where they lived as mortals. Vetalas are body-stealing vampires. Bhairavas are animal-headed spirits who like to tease humans. Yakshas are nature spirits who dwell in trees, or deep under the earth. Dakinis are warrior women who travel with Kali. Nagas are serpent below the waist, human above, and hide treasures deep in the earth.

Nandi is Shiva's vahana. Shiva ganas comprise of bhootas, naagas, yakshas, pramathis, pishacas, raksha ganas, vinayakas, guhyakas, manushya and deva gandharvas, vidhyadharas, and siddhas. Bhairavas are ansha of rudra so technically not ganas. The Shiva-Ganas are both demented and celestial beings. They are not really deities, but not demons, too. But a class of supernatural beings. Shiva is a yogi, so he does not surround himself with beings who are drowned in Bhoga-Vilasa (luxury) or are socially very presentable (Good clothing and ornament) generally.

However, he accepts them too, who are generally his bhaktas, who might be exceptions (ornament cladded semi-deities, who are his fans and admirers and devotees), he also accepts those that are shunned by the world and the society, who have no one to call their own, sad -souls or unconventional souls who do not fit in or detached beings, like saints and Rishi-Munis called Sidhhas who naturally become closer to Adi-Yogi Shiva.

Nandi is Shiva's Vaahana and the chief among Ganas. Shiva Ganas comprise Bhootas, Naagas, Yakshas, Pramathis, Pishachas, Raksha Ganas, Vinayakas, Guhyakas, Manushya and Devas, also Gandharvas, Vidhyadharas, and Siddhas. Bhairavas are Amsha of Rudra so technically not Ganas. The Ganas (categories) are the host of spooks, hobgoblins and spirits who accompany Shiva. Some are said to dwell with him on Mount Kailasa, whilst the more fearsome and terrifying Ganas are confined to the cremation grounds.

The latter, Shiva’s friends, were not like human beings, and it is clearly said that they never spoke any of the human languages. They spoke in an utter cacophony. When Shiva and his friends communicated, they spoke a language that nobody understood, so human beings described it as a total, chaotic cacophony. Ganas are not gods. But they aren't exactly demons, either. They are "categories" of supernatural beings who travel with Lord Shiva, and are seen as causing delays, obstacles, and red tape to take tests of devotees, but also help and support them when they pass out with flying colours.

They come in a wide variety of types. Gandharvas are celestial musicians with wings ( all Male). Apsaras are sexy, very attractive femme-Fatales, female dancers who distract Yogis with erotic fantasies. Kinnaras are horse-headed musicians. Pretas are ghosts and spirits who haunt the places near where they lived as mortals. Vetalas are body-stealing vampires. Bhairavas are animal-headed spirits. Yakshas are celestial treasurers and nature spirits who dwell in trees, or deep under the earth. Dakinis are warrior women who travel with Kali. Nagas are serpents below the waist, humans above, and hide treasures deep in the earth.

Most Shiva Ganas, mainly the Smashana Vashi or cremation dwellers are male, while the Dakinis accompanying his consort Shakti or Kali are female spirits. Unlike Krishna or Indra who are always surrounded by women and beautiful women, Shiva is an all-male circle God. The stag party also enjoys Bhang and meditation, some say, but they never discuss or insult women, are mostly brahmacharis and yogis like Shiva.

Though women, both in body and spirits are also Shiva Ganas, who come in both categories, ie, demented female spirits and beautiful seductive nymphs and Apsaras, Yakshinis, also human female devotees. He is generally with male devotees and Rishis, the first female presence in his life, and probably one is his Spouse Devi Sati/Parvati alone, Puranas state Shiva has daughters, with contrasting views. Among female Ganas, there are yakshinis too, who are very beautiful, dressed in exquisite clothing, clad in ornaments and they smell like a fragrant garden of Lotus, Rajanigandha and Lilies, seductive voice and Yakshinis are portrayed as beautiful and voluptuous women.

I wonder how Shiva does not give them any manly attention as they are exceptionally attractive and people can be greatly infatuated at their beautiful sight. He only lost his heart to Devi Parvati due to her devotion, I guess. They serve Lord Shiva and there are many whom you can appease through Sadhana, too. There are many, but let me give one example. Yakshini Sulochana/???????, her name means one with very beautiful eyes (Su - Good/ Beautiful and Lochana - Eyes). She possesses very beautiful eyes and is the Yakshini of Time Travel, Shiva has given her the responsibility to guard the portals of time that connect the Present to the past and to make sure no one can go back to their past.

If you can appease the Yakshinis (The Mantra Sadhana is secret and available in Shiva Rahasya maya Tantra Sadhana Books), she will be appeased and ask Lord Shiva if she can help the Sadhakas/Sadhika with time travel, if He permits, she can make you time travel, with the condition that you do not alter the past, she can also make you walk on waters without drowning, similarly many extremely beautiful Yakshinis also serve Shiva and carry on some mystical, magical and supernatural responsibilities he has given them.

If these Yakshinis are all-powerful, imagine what their master Lord Shiva, Devadhideva Mahadeva is capable of granting you, even the magical boons, by his tantra sadhana alone, Moksha etc are very big things. Shiva is a mysterious God. So you see Shiva Ganas can be extremely fascinating /celestial, magical, mystical or demented or just normal beings like the spirits of devotees or some accomplished human devotees even who have been granted Shiva Loka due to their Bhakti. Everyone loves Shiva and he loves everyone. Om Namah Shivay