अप्सरस्

{ apsaras }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

APSARAS   An Apsaras is a nymph (devastrī). These apsarā women were born at the churning of the ocean of Milk. [Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, Chapter 45, Verse 32] ; [Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Part I, Chapter 9] ; [Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 3] . There are thousands of Apsaras. (Details given against the names of Apsaras).

Note: *) Ariṣṭhā, a wife of Kaśyapa, delivered thirteen Apsaras. They were: Alambuṣā, Miśrakeśī, Vidyutparṇā, Tilottamā, Rakṣitā, Rambhā, Manoramā, Keśinī, Subāhu, Surajā, Suratā and Supriyā. Ariṣṭhā gave birth also to four Gandharvas, Hāhā, Hūhū, Atibāhu and Tumburu as mentioned in the following verse. Ariṣṭāsūta Subhagādevī devarṣitaḥ purā Alambuṣā miśrakeśī Vidyutparṇā Tilottamā Aruṇā rakṣitā caiva rambhā tadvat manoramā Keśinī ca subāhuśca vikhyatau ca hahāhuhū Tumburuśceti catvāraḥ smṛtāḥ gandharvasattamāḥ.]

A Sanskrit English Dictionary

अप्-सरस्    a See s.v.

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अप् सरस्

अप्-सरस्  f.  b आस् ([ [RV.]; [AV.] &c.]), or अप्-सरा॑ ([AV. &c.]), f. ( fr. 2. अ॑प् + √ सृ), ‘going in the waters or between the waters of the clouds’, a class of female divinities (sometimes called ‘nymphs’; they inhabit the sky, but often visit the earth; they are the wives of the गन्धर्वs ( q.v.) and have the faculty of changing their shapes at will; they are fond of the water; one of their number, रम्भा, is said to have been produced at the churning of the ocean).

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अप् सरस्

The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary

अप्सरस् [apsaras]  f. f. (-राः, रा). [अद्भ्यः सरन्ति उद्गच्छन्ति, सृ-असुन् [Uṇ.4.236;] cf. Rām. अप्सु निर्मथनादेव रसात्तस्माद्वर- स्त्रियः । उत्पेतुर्मनुजश्रेष्ठ तस्मादप्सरसोऽभवन् ॥ A class of female divinities or celestial damsels who reside in the sky and are regarded as the wives of the Gandharvas. They are very fond of bathing, can change their shapes, and are endowed with superhuman power (प्रभाव). They are called स्वर्वेश्याः and are usually described as the servants of Indra, who, when alarmed by the rigorous austerities of some mighty sage, sends down one of them to disturb his penance, and her mission is generally successful; मेनकाऽप्सरसां श्रेष्ठा महर्षिणां पिता च ते [Mb.1.74.75.] cf. या तपोविशेषपरिशङ्कितस्य सुकुमारं प्रहरणं महेन्द्रस्य [V.]
   They are also said to covet heroes who die gloriously on the battle-field; cf. परस्परेण क्षतयोः प्रहर्त्रोरुत्क्रान्तवाय्वोः समकालमेव । अमर्त्यभावेऽपि कयोश्चिदासीदेकाप्सरः प्रार्थितयोर्विवादः ॥ [R.7.53] . Bāṇa [mentions 14] different families of these nymphs (see [K.136] ) The word is usually said to be in pl. (स्त्रियां बहुष्वप्सरसः) but the singular, as also the form अप्सराः, sometimes occurs; नियमविघ्नकारिणी मेनका नाम अप्सराः प्रेषिता [Ś.1;] एकाप्सरः &c. [R.7.53] and see Malli. thereon; अनप्सरेव प्रतिभासि [V.1.]
   Direction or the intermediate point of the compass (दिक् च उपदिक् च). -Comp.
-तीर्थम्  N. N. of a sacred pool in which the Apsarasas bathe; probably it is the name of a place, see [Ś.6.]
-पतिः   lord of the Apsarasas, epithet of Indra. N. of the Gandharva शिखण्डिन्; [Av.4.37.7.]

Shabda-Sagara

अप्सरस्  f.  plur. always ( -राः) The nymphs of Swerga, attendants on INDRA.
    E. अप् water, सृ to go, and असि Unādi affix: or अप्स in the waters, and रस flavour: from their foudness for bathing, or from their being produced at the churning of the ocean.

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अप् सृ असि अप्स रस