ABC

Apsaras

Heavenly beings and deities

Apsaras (Skt. ‘moving through water’) are female aerial divinities in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. For Hindus, they are dancers at the court of Indra, the king of the gods; they are also viewed as the companions of celestial musicians whose task it is to entertain the gods.

In Buddhist mythology, apsaras are mortal beings and thus — like humans and animals — are subject to the eternal cycle of rebirth. As nature spirits, they inhabit the clouds and bodies of water. In Buddhist art, they are typically depicted as dancers or flying musicians.