Apsaras (Sanskrit: अप्सरस्, IAST: Apsaras) are a class of celestial beings in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Originally conceived as female spirits associated with clouds and water, they later came to be regarded as nymphs or fairies, and they figure prominently in the sculpture, dance, literature and paintings of many South Asian and Southeast Asian cultures.
In traditional descriptions, apsaras are beautiful, youthful and elegant, and are said to be able to change their shape at will. Texts distinguish two broad categories: laukika (worldly) and daivika (divine). They are renowned for their skill in dancing and are often described as the wives of the gandharvas, the court musicians of Indra. The apsaras are said to reside in the palaces of the gods and to entertain them by dancing to the music of the gandharvas.
The twenty-six apsaras of Indra's court are each said to symbolise a different facet of the performing arts, a feature that has drawn comparisons with the Muses of Ancient Greece. Apsaras also appear in narratives in which they are sent to seduce rishis, in order to prevent the sages from attaining divine powers through their austerities. Among the most well-known apsaras in Hindu literature are Urvashi, Menaka, Rambha, Tilottama and Ghritachi.
The figure of the apsara has travelled widely across Asia along with Hindu and Buddhist cultural influence. They are referred to as Accharā in Pali, អប្សរា in Khmer and อัปสร in Thai. In Japan, related celestial beings are known as Tennin (天人), with Tennyo (天女) used for female Tennin and Tennan (天男) for male Tennin.
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Apsara.