Apsara

Apsara's are divine dancers. They are mentioned in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. In Hindu puranas they are beautiful charmer who dance in the court of Indra, the king of the heaven. Apsaras are so full of eternal beauty that they are often sent to seduce people on earth who are trying to gain power by doing rigorous penance.


The beauty of apsaras have become a regular subject of Hindu art and architecture. Rambha, Menaka, Tilottama and Urvashi are a few famous names in Hindu scripts. Among all apsaras Urvashi is known to be most beautiful. Menaka is famous for her success in seducing Rishi (saint) Vishwamitra. It is said that while Menaka was bathing, Vishwamitra got arrested by her naked beauty. Artist Raja Ravi Varma painted a few Vis



Also in the Khmer Temple of Angkor Wat, Combodia, inscriptions of beautiful apsaras have been found. These apsaras are well-ornamented with a skirt and bare breasts. The apsara dnace is a part of Combodian traditional dances.

Many beautiful apsara paintings have been done by Combodian artist Reahu. However, the govt. banned his artwork in the country with the charge of obscenity to deities.