Apsara dancers at Bayon. The walls of the temples are graced with over 1,700 reliefs featuring the Apsaras; celestial nymphs who
Apsara dancers at Bayon. The walls of the temples are graced with over 1,700 reliefs featuring the Apsaras; celestial nymphs who inhabit Indra’s heaven and dance to honor the gods. The Apsara’s adornments are as varied as the reliefs are numerous, each featuring an elaborate headdress and other fineries. These buxom nymphs emerged from the foam produced by the Churning of The Sea of Milk, the central act of the Hindu creation myth. The dance posture featured in this relief consists of a bent knee and pointed toe stance, as well as traditional hand mudras which are staples of classical Khmer dance. The continuity in style to present day dance technique is used as a main argument for the persistence of Khmer culture in Southeast Asia. An Apsara (also spelled as Apsarasa) is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Apsaras are beautiful, supernatural female beings. They are youthful and elegant, and superb in the art of dancing. They are often the wives of the Gandharvas, the court musicians of Indra. They dance to the music made by the Gandharvas, usually in the palaces of the gods, entertain and sometimes seduce gods and men. As ethereal beings who inhabit the skies, and are often depicted taking flight, or at service of a god, they may be compared to angels. Apsaras are said to be able to change their shape at will, and rule over the fortunes of gaming and gambling. Urvasi, Menaka, Rambha and Tilottama are the most famous among them. Apsaras are sometimes compared to the muses of ancient Greece, with each of the 26 Apsaras at Indra's court representing a distinct aspect of the performing arts. They are associated with fertility rites. There are two types of Apsaras; Laukika (worldly), of whom thirty-four are specified, and Daivika (divine), of which there are ten.
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Photo credit: © Sergi Reboredo / Alamy / Afripics
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