Apsara
Apsaras are supernatural female figures prominently in dance, literature, paintings, and sculptures in South Asia. They are depicted as beautiful and youthful females, associated with dance, and entertainment and sometimes seduce gods and men. In Hindu literature, they are considered as the wives of the Gandharvas, the court musicians of Indra.
Although Apsaras are not widely worshiped in the same way that Yoginis and Yakshinis are, they play a significant role in other religions' literatures and epics. Following are some notable apsaras mentioned in various literatures:
Menaka
Menaka is a beautiful apsara who seduced Vishvamitra, a venerated sage, breaking his meditation. According to one tale, she was sent by the gods, who were terrified of Vishwamitra's powers, to break his meditation, but instead, she fell in love with him, giving birth to their daughter, Shakuntala.
Ghritachi
Ghritachi is a well-known apsara known for her extraordinary beauty and seductive appeal. Her legendary charm has resulted in her having children with people who have succumbed to her charms. According to Vishnu Purana, Bharadwaja, a Vedic sage, had an affair with Ghritachi, and together they had a child named Dronacarya.
Urvashi
Urvashi is a well-known apsara, known for her beautiful appearance and dancing ability. She is famous for her marriage to Pururavas, the first king of the Lunar dynasty, albeit this union did not last. Urvashi is particularly important as the mother of two famous sages, Vashishtha and Agastya.
Ramba
Rambha was born during the churning of the ocean and she is known for her arts of dancing and music. She is the spouse of Nalakuvara, Kubera’s son. In a legend, Indra sent her to disturb the penance of Sage Vishwamitra, long before Menaka, but she was cursed to become a rock for ten thousand years.
Tilottama
Tilottama is an apsara and she is said to be created by Vishwakarma in the Mahabharata. She was responsible for the destruction of two Asuras named Sunda and Upasunda.
Hema
The Ramayana contains the narrative of Hema. She married Maya and had two sons, Mayavi and Dundubhi, as well as a daughter, Mandodari, who married Ravana.
Some other Apsaras are Purvachitti, Swayamprabha, Misrakeshi, Dandagauri, Varuthini, Gopali, Sahajanya, Kumbhayoni, Prajagara, Chitrasena, Chitralekha, Saha, and Madhuraswana. They are mentioned in the Mahabharata along with Ghritachi, Menaka, Rambha, and Urvasi.
