Tolkien's pantheon put as simply and directly as I can.
Eru / Illuvatar - the One, the Creator.
The Ainur - angelic beings, in existence before the creation of Arda, the material world.
The Valar - those of the Ainur who chose to come into Arda upon its creation and rule there as Powers.
The Maiar - similar spirits to the Valar but of lesser stature. The 'servants' of the Valar.
Gandalf was both an Istari and a Maia. The Istari were a group of five Maiar clothed in mortal-seeming flesh and placed on Middle-Earth by the Valar, to guide the Children of Eru (Men, Elves) in their long fight against the forces of darkness. The Istari you will be familiar with are Gandalf and Saruman. There were three others, Radagast and two others who do not feature on Lord of the Rings.
Other Maia include Sauron and also the Balrogs.
A remarkably brief explanation of 'the forces of darkness'. Nine Valar came into Arda. Of these the greatest was Melkor. He turned against the other Valar and wished dominion over Middle-Earth. He was later named Morgoth by Fëanor of the Noldor. He was the Enemy and at one time the Master of Sauron. There were thus eight beings remaining who were known as the Valar and their King was Manwë.
This is the briefest outline of the truth of it: I recommend you read The Silmarillion for a better understanding.
[ August 09, 2002: Message edited by: Stephanos ]
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And all the rest is literature
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