Buddhist Antiques, Asian and Indian Artifacts, Stone Apsara

Divine Celestial Being Playing the Veena

Pink Sandstone Apsara

Apsaras are divine celestials who exist in a world of pleasure and refined sensual beauty. Typically they are shown langorously playing musical instruments or engaged in other forms of sporting play and dance. Here a beautiful maiden delightedly plays the veena, resting against lush foliage. Such divinities were carved on the columns of Jain, Buddhist and Hindu temples. They are part of the iconographic programme that sets the mood or scene for the major Divinities such as Shiva or even historical enlightened sages like Mahavira or Buddha. In short, they are auspicious beings that indicate the presence of higher Gods or Goddesses. They are always full-breasted and lightly clothed, they are not crowned and their hair style is more sensual than regal.