Exotic India's collection of brass sculptures, sourced from artisan families wherein the art of brass sculpting runs through generations, captures perfectly the ethereal beauty and grace of apsaras. These Indian nymphs are known to emerge from the fluid elements of nature, revealing the allure of their forms and their art to humans and gods alike. 

The Origin and Significance of Apsaras

Originally believed to be water nymphs, Apsaras, are celestial maidens of Indra Puri with enthralling elegance. They are exceedingly beautiful and sensuous, thereby having the capability to lure, attract and amuse. They were experts in dance and music and were the court entertainers of Indra Puri -The heavenly kingdom of Lord Indra. These cosmic nymphs were the companions of the Gandharvas, while some were created with a devoted mission to be a reason or a cause.

The Ramayana attributes the origins of Apsaras to the Samudramathanam or the churning of the ocean, while Manu Sastra asserts that Apsaras were created with the seven Manus to serve as wives of the Gods and daughters of pleasure.

They have been beautifully depicted in sculpture and painting in India and throughout areas of South and Southeast Asia influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism.

Apsaras are significant in Indonesian and Malay culture. Images of Apsaras are found in several temples of ancient Java, dating from the era of the Sailendra Dynasty to the Majapahit Empire. The Apsaras are usually integral parts of a story in bas-relief.

In Balinese culture, the theme of Apsaras often occurs, for example in dances such as Sanghyang Dedari and Legong. Apsaras are also often depicted as the wives of celestial musicians in Indonesian folklores and fairytales such as the "Story of Apsara Menaka". Since folktales are often reflective of a country's culture, the fact that Apsaras are often present shows that they are a prominent figure in Indonesian culture.

In Cambodia, Thailand many symbolic remnants of India’s influence are visible in their art, culture and civilisation can be seen in the form of stylised figures. Apsaras have been a consistent part of Hinduism, having an insightful presence in Vedic literature. The commonality lies in the fact that these beautiful creations were females with captivating powers and immense dedication to their creators.

Apsaras of India

Multiple prominent Apsaras appear in their specific myths told inside larger texts such as the Mahabharata or the Rg Veda. Some examples of these Apsaras are Urvashi, Rambha and Tilottama.

Tilottama

According to the Mahabharata, Tilottama is an Apsara created by Visvakarman. Visvakarman combined all the elements of beauty found in the world, both animate and inanimate, to create Tilottama. Thus, Tilottama was so beautiful that Siva spouted faces on all sides of his head so that he may always see her and Indra grew one thousand eyes so that he may never lose sight of her. Aside from impressing the gods, Tilottama’s beauty was created to seduce the Asuras, Sunda and Upasunda. Ultimately, in this seduction, Tilottama’s goal was to entice the two Asuras into battle. Tilottama successfully seduces both Asuras, causing them to kill each other over her love.

Urvashi

Urvashi (the one born of a thigh) is an Apsara who was created from the thigh of Lord Narayana. She became the wife of King Pururavas who is an ancestor of the Kauravas and Pandavas. The story is that Urvasi lived with Pururava, a human king, for a while and then left him to return to her Apsara and Gandharva companions.

Rambha

Rambha is known as the Queen of the Apsaras. Her accomplishments in the arts of dancing, music, and beauty were unrivalled. She was often asked by the king of the Devas, Indra to break the Tapasya of sages so that the purity of their penance is tested against temptation, and also that the order of the three worlds remains undisturbed by any one man’s mystical powers. When she tried to disturb the penance of Rishi Vishwamitra (who was meditating to become a Brahmarishi), she is cursed by him to become a rock for 10,000 years till a Brahmin delivers her from the curse.

Exotic India has a wide variety of alluring statues of Apsaras made of Brass. With divine accomplishments in music and performing arts, these apsaras come in a great variety of sizes and postures and tempers, each meant to add to your home or office an otherworldly aura of seduction.

FAQs

Q1. What does Apsara look like?

Although nobody has ever seen an Apsara, from the description in the Puranas and also from the sculptures, we can imagine what they look like. These celestial nymphs have been extremely beautiful having curvy bodies. They had big eyes, fair skin, long hair, high hips & deep breasts. They were fully decorated with golden ornaments and lockets and were dressed in fine and attractive clothing. The Apsaras used to move attractively so as to seduce others.

Q2. How are Apsaras shown in Khmer art?

An Apsara is a heavenly dancer and celestial maiden who accompany the gods in Hindu mythology. The Apsara dance is a traditional dance of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Khmer is based on the famous Angkorian-period Khmer King, Javayarman VII (12th century). The Apsara is a dance that depicts epic stories engraved on the walls of ancient temples. The Apsara figures are carved in the temples at Angkor Wat waving flowers in dancing poses or facing temple custodians (Devatas). In addition to the Apsara's hypnotic movements are their gorgeous and elaborate costumes, fashioned after the bas-relief carvings of Angkor Wat. The most notable features are adorned with breathtaking jewelry, flowing silk skirts, flowers, and precious matching accessories.

Q3. What do Apsaras wear?

The costumes of the Apsara role are based on the devatas as depicted on a bas-relief of Angkor Wat. They wear a sampot sarabap, a type of silk brocade that is intricately pleated in the front. As per some religious Hindu books, they used to wear only a blouse on their upper body exposing their stomach, and a well-pleated dazzling saree-like cloth from the waist downwards. They have also been bejeweled with so many attractive golden ornaments with matching accessories.

Q4. What do the statues of the Apsaras display?

Statues depicting Apsaras as the most charming, young, and beautiful dancers possessing all the nine kinds of emotions or Rasas described in early literature such as the Natya sastra bursting with Shringar Rasa. The Nati, i.e; the performer poses and has a serene look which makes her graceful. The focused gaze draws attention to an action, a place, or part of her curvy body. An aesthetic expression is a form of pleasure.  Some of the Idols showing Apsaras are applying collyrium and kajal in their lotus-shaped eyes, and arched brows and are adorned with bright clothes and gorgeous jewelry admiring herself with awareness.