Apsaras

Stories from Hindu Puranas and Epics about celestial beings and nymphs.

apsara, in Indian religion and mythology, one of the celestial singers and dancers who, together with the gandharvas, or celestial musicians, inhabit the heaven of the god Indra, the lord of the heavens. Originally water nymphs, the apsaras provide sensual pleasure for both gods and men.

"In trans illustrator Bishakh Som's debut work of fiction, questions of gender, the body, and existential conformity are explored over the course of eight speculative and graphic short stories"--

Puranas are ancient stories of Hinduism. Here is a collection of five short stories from various Puranas. 1. Naabhaaka and Rudra 2. Narada as a Woman 3. The Other Lives of Narada 4. Sudhyumna and Ila 5. Ruru and Pramadvara

As a Deva readies to undergo her last ascension tribulation trial in this lifetime, she faces her obsession and the obstacles from an old and long-running love triangle standing in the way of her cultivation. Her former lover of many past lives is once more reincarnated as a helpless human, and her crush is a powerful, twisted Asura King who is bent on killing his love rival. As her affinity guides, she encounters two young Fairy and Apsara reincarnates in Singapore, and a Yaksha in China. Caught between the conflict between fully concentrating on her upcoming tribulation trial and thwarting the destructive ambitions of her Asura King crush and a ruthless Raksha, the Deva gets embroiled in another generation’s conflict and risks derailment and endangering her ascension in this ensemble of Eastern mythology characters.

Nataraja, the dancing Siva sculpture, is perhaps the most well-known among all Hindu sculptures, and rightly so. It has evoked highly advanced discussions among scientists, philosophers, performing artists, art critics, art collectors, historians, archaeologists and mythologists. The Nataraja sculpture also occupies a pride of a place at CERN, the European Centre for Research in Particle Physics in Geneva. Siva, according to Hindu Mythology, was the very first dancer in the world. All dramaturgy and dance traditions emerge from Siva’s cosmic dance. Tandu, Siva’s disciple narrated the description of Siva’s dance to Bharata Muni and he is believed to have compiled the Natyasastra, the world’s first treatise on dramaturgy, dance and other performing arts. Scholars believe that the Natyasastra was written over a long period of time between the 2nd century BCE and 2nd century CE with contributions from various sages, with its foundation having been laid by Bharata Muni. Convergence between Hindu mythology, Natyasastra and Silpasastra was the natural outcome. Karnataka, and its temple architecture tradition, played a pioneering role in giving an artistic form to this convergence in its temple sculptures. Though this trend may have started earlier during 2nd and 3rd century CE, it started to take the center stage from the times of the Badami Chalukyas. Passing through various refinements between 5th and 10th centuries, it reached its peak with the Hoysala art. This book traces the history of temple sculpture evolution and development through the centuries by referring to the existing sculptural forms and the canonical literature that developed over time.

This monograph presents scholarly exposition of the Apsara myth and its evolutionthrough centuries. Mentioned for the first time in the Rig Veda Apsaras find mention inIndian scriptures, epics, Puranas, dramas, poetry and numerous literary works. As a creationof ancient water cosmology she is described as a exceedingly beautiful and charmingperson adept in dancing, singing as well as art of seduction and amorous sports. Themonograph speaks of her profound influence on Indian art which is particularly visibleon the magnifient medieval temples in the form of female sculptures of immense beautyfamous all over the world. Written in lucid style the book reveals the story of Indian waternymph, the Apsara, in its infinite variety.

This book will take you to the journey of a young girl Apsara who had always led an obscure life due to her dark skin and the subsequent lack of confidence that arose from it. She deals with the mental agony a person faces due to their skin colour discrimination. But when her sister’s boyfriend, a successful pharmacologist offers her a chance to change her appearance and seek glory by becoming a volunteer for a yet untested beauty enhancing tablets, little did she realise that it would take her on a path of fame and self-destruction.