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In Pali Buddhism, the word "gandhabba" is used in relation to the conception of an embryo.

In the following passage, the question is asked to & answered by Brahmins. Therefore, it seems this subject matter was common knowledge to Vedic Brahmins.

Do you know how there is the descent of an embryo?

Yes, master, we know how there is the descent of an embryo. There is the case where the mother & father have come together, the mother is fertile, and a gandhabba [the being about to be reborn] is standing present. The coming together of these three is the descent of the embryo.

Assalayana Sutta

However, Buddhists remain unclear about & often debate what the "gandhabba" is.

In Hinduism, is the word "gandharva (gandhabba)" related to the conception of an embryo?

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Is the word "gandharva (gandhabba)" related to the conception of an embryo?

No. The word Gandharva is not related to the conception of an embryo.

Gandharvas are a type of celestial beings. They are recognised as celestial musicians in the court of Indra along with the celestial nymphs.

A Gandharva named Viśvāvasu has been mentioned several times in the Rig Veda and also in the Shatapatha Brahmana. He is the king of Gandharvas. His special duty is to guard Soma. For example:

The middle stick he lays down first (on the west side of the fire), with the text 'May the Gandharva Viśvāvasu lay thee around. (Shatapatha Brahmana 4.2)

उदीर्ष्वातः पतिवती हयेषा विश्वावसुं नमसागीर्भिरीळे |
अन्यामिछ पित्र्षदं वयक्तां स ते भागोजनुषा तस्य विद्धि || Rig Veda 10.85.21

udīrṣvātaḥ pativatī hayeṣā viśvāvasuṃ namasāgīrbhirīḻe |
anyāmicha pitrṣadaṃ vayaktāṃ sa te bhāgojanuṣā tasya viddhi ||

Bound for the world of life immortal, Sūrya: make for thy lord a happy bridal journey. Rise up from hence: this maiden hath a husband. I laud Viśvāvasu with hymns and homage.

Gandharvas are many times mentioned in epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata also. But they are not told that they are related to embryos.

Hence, they are not related to the conception of Embryos.

By observing the text you have quoted, the word Gandhabba could be synonomous to Kandarpa. Kandarpa is another name of Kāma, the god of Love. He is the reason for the birth of an off-spring.

Quoting from Srimad Bhagavad Gita:

āyudhānām ahaṃ vajraṃ dhenūnām asmi kāmadhuk |
prajanaścāsmi kandarpaḥ sarpāṇām asmi vāsukiḥ || BG 10.28 ||

Among weapons, I am the Vajra (thunderbolt). Among cows, I am Kamadhuk; among progenitors, I am Kandarpa (the god of love). Of dragons, I am Vasuki .

And Kāndarpa is a person related to Kandarpa. A child is born when a father, mother and their love is combined. So, the word Kandarpa can be related to conception of embryo.

Above paragraph is just a guess. I might be wrong though.

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    OP quoted "a gandhabba [the being about to be reborn]" - I don't see any connection b/w Kandarpa & 'a being about to be reborn'.
    – Say No To Censorship
    Jun 11, 2017 at 0:12
  • Thank you. I could have excluded the "being about to be reborn" because this is not part of text. Instead, it is only an interpretation by the translator. Regards
    – Dhammadhatu
    Jun 11, 2017 at 1:57
  • @Sree Charan. Thank you for your answer. Do you know if there is anything linguistically that would have resulted in the Buddhists confusing "Kandarpa" with "Gandharva". Thanks
    – Dhammadhatu
    Jun 11, 2017 at 2:09
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    @Dhammadhatu I am not sure about Kandarpa being synonymous to Gandhabba. It is just a wild guess.One of experienced users on site said that Gandharva might have some relation to embryo. Let's wait for his answer. He is good at finding sources. There is a statement which says some Gandharvas have a relation with women's mind. But I didn't find a statement which says they are directly related to embryo conception. I will modify the answer adding relevant details if found.
    – Sarvabhouma
    Jun 11, 2017 at 2:38
  • Sree, Kamdarpa is not related to embryo, it represents​ a person who enjoys coitus just for the fulfillment of pitra rina and as a duty to Bhagwan.
    – Yogi
    Jun 11, 2017 at 4:19

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