Apsara
Sign in to savethumb|A 12th-century sandstone statue of an apsara from Madhya Pradesh, India
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An apsara is a celestial or semi-divine female figure in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, often depicted in ancient Indian art and sculpture like the 12th-century example shown here. These figures are significant in understanding the religious beliefs and artistic traditions of classical India, as they frequently appear in temple carvings and represent idealized beauty and grace in these spiritual traditions.
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14 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Literature
- In arts
- Natya Shastra
- Cambodia
- Java and Bali, Indonesia
- Manipur, India
- Champa
- China
- Gallery
- See also
- Footnotes
- References
- External links
thumb|A 12th-century sandstone statue of an apsara from Madhya Pradesh, India
Apsaras (, , Cambodia-, ,)are a class of celestial beings in Hindu and Buddhist culture. They were originally a type of female spirit associated with clouds and water, but, later came to play the role of a "nymph" or "fairy". They figure prominently in the sculpture, dance, literature and paintings of many South Asian and Southeast Asian cultures.