One very striking form that is carved over and over in all the temples in the region are the Apsaras. Beautiful, supernatural, elegant, women shown in a variety of dancing poses. I was delighted to find out that the complexity of the graphic art in the carvings made it possible to revive the lost ancient dances when it was decided to re-create them in a modern cultural dance form.
Apsaras are depicted in many Asian cultures as caretakers of fallen heroes and have been variously described as fairies, angels, nymphs and sirens. Most commonly they are celestial maidens of exquisite beauty and alluring charm, and have the power and will to use both. The male counterparts of the Apsaras were the Gandharvas. The Gandharvas were the custodians of music and the arts. So we can all thank Gandharvas for it is through the beauty and arts that we remember a civilization and a culture.
No comments:
Post a Comment