Apsara

Apsaras (Sanskrit अप्सराः Apsarāḥ, f, Pali, Accharā, Chinese Feitian or天 女, Tiānnǚ, Japanese Tennyo ) are half-human, half-divine women who live in the palace of the god Indra in Hindu and Buddhist mythology parts. Apsaras are also considered as "ghosts" of the clouds and waters and in this respect are the nymphs of the Greek and Roman mythology comparable.

Apsaras in Hinduism

In the Rigveda, which from about 1200 BC incurred and thus the oldest Veda, an Apsara named as companion of the Gandharva, who is a personification of the light of the sun and the Soma, the drink of the gods prepared.

In later writings, the number of Apsaras increases. Created from Brahma they are " ladies " in the heavenly palace of the god Indra. As celestial dancers they are the companions of the now also mentioned in greater numbers Gandharvas, who are described as heavenly musicians. The main task of the Apsaras and Gandharvas is to entertain the gods and goddesses. Some myths also tell them that Apsaras after death especially meritorious heroes or kings to their companions were.

Among all the Apsaras - according to tradition inhabit a total of 26 the Heavenly Palace - take Rambha, Urvashi, Menaka and Tilottama a special position. These four are sent by Indra repeatedly to the people on the earth manner which threatens to become supremacy a threat to Indra and other gods with their abstinence and their quest for spiritual perfection, to deceive and dissuade them from their path. For example, the story is told in the Ramayana, like Indra Apsara Menaka Viswamitra sends a Brahman to distract it from his meditation, which she manages well.

The names of many well-known from the great Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana Apsaras in India are popular female names; including, for example, Urvashi ( the most beautiful of Apsaras ), Menaka, Rambha, Parnika, Parnita, Subhuja, Vishala, Vasumati ( Apsara " of incomparable splendor " ) and Surotama.

Apsaras in Angkor

Of particular importance were Apsaras in the mythology of the Khmer at the time of the historical Konigreiches Kambuja, with the capital now known as Angkor ( 9th to 15th century, Cambodia). A legend tells that King Jayavarman II, who was the founder of the kingdom Kambuja, the kingdom of Indra, king of the gods, was assigned. At the same time the people of Apsaras Kambuja presented the art of dance.

In many temple walls in Angkor Relief depictions of apsaras find, usually with knees outward on lotus flowers dancing, sometimes flying; the upright, often bearing flowers, however, are Goddesses Devata.

The tradition of courtly dance in Cambodia, sometimes called Apsara Dance, goes back to the royal court in Angkor. This artful dance also had great influence on the development of the better known in the West Thai dance.

Apsaras in Buddhism

Gods and celestial beings play in Buddhism in general only a subordinate and less important role. They are regarded as beings on other planes of existence as a people, but are, like the inhabitants of the earth, the cycle of life, death and reincarnation (see also samsara and of Life ) subject.

Apsaras are found for example in a story the Jatakas ( "Birth Stories " ), in which tells of the deeds of the Buddha in his previous lives. The Catudvara - Jataka tells of the greedy and worldly pleasures appended Mittavinda contains, among other also encountered some Apsaras on his travels. In the end, it is of Buddha - in one of his previous incarnations as Bodhisattva - taught that all worldly pleasures are transient.

Especially in East and Southeast Asia Apsaras were taken in the course of syncretism in Buddhist iconography. Thus, representations can also be found in Buddhist temples, among other things in today's People's Republic of China, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Pictures

Cambodian Apsaratänzerin