| Apsara | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Naming | |||
| Original | अप्सरा | ||
| Romanization | Apsara | ||
| Morphology | |||
| Body type | Humanoid | ||
| Intelligence | |||
| Sentience | Sentient | ||
| Sapience | Sapient | ||
| Language | Hindi and many other languages of India and Southeast Asia. | ||
| Ecology | |||
| Place of origin | India and Southeast Asia | ||
| Habitat | Clouds and freshwater | ||
| Related species | Nymph, Tennin | ||
| Behind the Scenes | |||
| Universe | Real | ||
In Hindu and Buddhist mythology, Apsaras are female nature spirits which inhabit clouds and water bodies.
Similar to the Greek Nymphs, they're presented as beautiful, exceptionally skilled dancers, and are typically featured as companions and servants of gods. Their male counterparts are the Gandharvas - singing spirits who make music for the gods. Both Apsaras and Gandharvas are present in the court of Indra. Their abilities include shapeshifting, seduction and flight.
Some of the most well-known individual Apsaras include Menaka, Rambha and Urvasi.