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Apsaras I

© Harsh Nevatia

Apsaras have been variously described as fairies, angels, nymphs and sirens. Actually they are celestial maidens of exquisite beauty and alluring charm, and have the power and will to use both. Like other divine creatures they are able to change their form as and when desired. Hierarchically, the Apsaras were under the control of Indra, the king of the demi-Gods. Under his directions they seduced mortals, kings and sages, who were becoming powerful enough to threaten Indra. They also danced at his court and entertained his guests. The male counterparts of the Apsaras were the Gandharvas. The Gandharvas were the custodians of music and the arts.

The sage Kashyap, through his many wives, fathered many races of celestial beings. The demi-Gods were born from Aditi, while a race of demons from Diti. The Bhagavata Purana states that the Apsaras were born from Kashyap and Muni. In the Mahabharata the mother is stated as Pradha. This kind of inconsistency between the texts is common in Hindu mythology. In a later canto in the Bhagavata Purana an alternative version of the origin of the Apsaras is given. When the demi-Gods and Demons churned the ocean to bring forth the elixir of life, several treasures and divine beings emerged from the ocean depths. Among them were the Apsaras.

Individual Apsaras play important roles in some narratives in the mythological texts. Collectively, however, very little is said about them. Mr. Subhash Mazumdar in his book Who is Who in the Mahabharata has compiled a list of characters appearing in the epic. Fortunately he has listed all the Apsaras together. This is the most exhaustive listing of the Apsaras I have come across. The list of forty-five Apsaras is reproduced below in alphabetical order.

Adrika, Alamvusha, Ambika, Anavadya, Anuchana, Aruna, Asita, Budbuda, Devi, Ghritachi, Gunamukhya, Gunuvara, Kamya, Karnika, Kesini, Kshema, Lata, Laxmana, Manorama, Marichi, Menaka, Misrasthala, Purvachitti, Rakshita, Rambha, Ritushala, Sahajanya, Samichi, Saurbhedi, Sharadvati, Shuchika, Soma, Suvahu, Sugandha, Supria, Suraja, Surasa, Surata, Tilottama, Umlocha, Urvashi, Vapu, Varga, Vidyutparna & Vishvachi

This is not claimed to be a complete list of all Apsaras. For example the Apsara named Harsha is not mentioned here because she plays no role in the Mahabharata.

My earlier articles include some tales that revolve around Apsaras. I shall briefly recapitulate these narratives before recounting the adventures of some of the other celestial maidens in the next article.

Urvashi (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/9380... Urvashi is referred to in the Riga Veda, the earliest Hindu text. She is famous for her love affair with King Pururava. This liaison was not at the instructions of Indra, but a matter of love at first sight. Pururava's wife was barren and the dynasty continued through the son borne by Urvashi. Generations later Urvashi encountered the Pandava Arjuna, a descendant of Pururava. Arjuna was in heaven at the invitation of Indra, who instructed Urvashi to take good care of the guest. Urvashi was besotted by Arjuna's manliness and invited him to her bedroom one night. Arjuna refused, saying that she is his ancestor and therefore like a mother. He could not imagine any other relationship between them. A scorned Urvashi cursed Arjuna to become a eunuch for one year.