WOODEN SCULPTURES OF APSARA

Apsara, in Hindu religion and folklore, one of the divine dancers and singers who, along with the Gandharvas, or heavenly musicians, inhabit the paradise of the god Indra, the ruler of the sky. The apsaras give exotic delight to both divine beings and men. They have been wonderfully portrayed in statues and paintings in India and all through areas of South and Southeast Asia influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism. Prominent examples are the fifth-sixth century frescoes at Ajanta in India and Sigiriya in Sri Lanka and the statues and bas-reliefs decorating the temples of Angkor, Cambodia. In the Vedas, the apsaras are water fairies, often married to the Gandharvas. When the Puranas and the epics were written, the apsaras and Gandharvas had become dancers in the court of divine beings; the apsaras are dancers, singers, and concubines, while the Gandharvas are musicians. They are to some degree semi-divine; however, they are proficient in sorcery and educated in all of the 64 performing arts.  Apsara sadhana is an exuberant sadhana with the goal that enthusiasts experience beautiful apsaras in their dreams and satisfy their sexual fantasies. Apsaras create tricky deceptions for their pleasure in dreams. It is a strong spell by them to relax an aficionado's longings. Apsaras are great instructors and healers. They also train devotees to stay independent and free. They are the goddesses of chance. Deha sudhi(pure body),bichar sudhi(clarity), and baba sudhi(positive sentiments) are the 3 huge parts of a devotee's life. 

The Purānas speak about different ganas or classes of them the Vāyu Purāna specifies fourteen, the Hari Vansa-seven. They are again divided, as daivika, 'divine,' and laukika, 'common.' The former is supposed to be ten in number, and the last 34, and these are the glorious charmers who captured the minds of heroes as Urvasi, woke up grim sages from their prayers (Tapasya) and penances as Menekā and Rembhā and Tilotama. The mind-boggling excellence and elegance of the Apsaras were the cause of the ruin of both men and divine beings. They lived in the temples and would perform elaborate ceremonies and rituals at night. Apsara sculptures represent excellence, strength, effortlessness, and power and have been related to fertility and strength.

FAQS

Q1. What is the significance of statues of Apsaras?

The sculptures of Apsaras are believed to bring extraordinary luck to holy monuments. These erotic, wooden statues of the Apsaras stand relaxed in a tribhanga pose, a delicate, bending S-curve stance established by three curves in the body at the neck, midriff, and knee. This stance is viewed as one of the most agile and erotic of the positions in the Odissi, a significant Indian style of dance that began in the Hindu temples of the state of Odisha. Her expressive bends inspire the lilting mood of music and dance. 

Q2. Which Apsara in Hinduism is considered to be the most beautiful?

Urvashi is an apsara (divine fairy) in Hinduism. She is viewed as the most beautiful of all the apsaras and an excellent dancer. Urvashi is spoken about in numerous Vedic and Puranic sacred texts of Hinduism.