Apsara
Apsara (अप्सराः) in Indian mythology, are the celestial singers and dancers who along with the gandharvas or celestial musicians reside in heaven, which is ruled by god Indra.
Apsara (“अप्सराः”) is a Sanskrit word derived from apsaras (अप्सरस् ) formed using अप् + सृ (dhatu) + असुन् (suffix)
apsaras (अप्सरस्) – means born/move out of water (अद्भ्यः समुद्रजलेभ्यः सरन्ति उद्यान्ति)
अप्सरस् – when used in singular form is called as अप्सराः, when used with plural form is called as अप्सरसः
How are the Apsaras were born ?
When Rishi Vishwamitra (विश्वामित्र) was telling Lord Rama the details of Samudra Manthan (समुद्रमन्थन), he said that during the churning of ocean the Apsaras (अप्सरसः) were born out of Samudra.
अप्सु निर्मथनादेव रसास्तस्माद्वरस्त्रिय:।
उत्पेतुर्मनुजश्रेष्ठ तस्मादप्सरसोऽभवन्।। Ramayana, Balakanda 45.33
O Rama, excellent women emerged out of the essence produced by churning of waters. Therefore they are known as Apsarasas (अप्सरस:)
What are the names of lesser known Apsaras?
There are two references from Mahabharata 3.43.29 and Ramayana 2.91.17
घृताची मेनका रम्भा पूर्वचित्तिः स्वयंप्रभा।
उर्वशी मिश्रकेशी च दण्डगौरी वरूथीनि ।।
गोपाली सहजन्या च कुम्भयोनिः प्रजागरा।
चित्रसेना चित्रलेखा सहा च मधुरस्वरा ।। – Mahabharata 3.43.29
Grutachi (घृताची ), Maneka (मेनका), Rambha (रम्भा), Purvachitti (पूर्वचित्तिः), Swayamprabha (स्वयंप्रभा), Urvashi (उर्वशी), Misrakesi (मिश्रकेशी ), Dandagauri (दण्डगौरी) , Varuthini (वरूथीनि), Gopali (गोपाली), Sahajanya (सहजन्या), Kumbhyoni (कुम्भयोनिः), Prajagara (प्रजागरा), Chitrasena (चित्रसेना), Chitralekha (चित्रलेखा), Saha(सहा), Madhursawara (मधुरस्वरा)
घृताचीमथ विश्वाचीं मिश्रकेशीमलंबुसाम्।
नागदन्तां च हेमां च हिमामद्रिकृतस्थलाम्।। Ramayana 2.91.17
I summon also Grutachi (घृताची ), Visvachi (विश्वाची), Misrakesi (मिश्रकेशी ), Alambusa (अलंबुसा), Nagadantha (नागदन्ता), Hema (हेमा) and Hima (हिमा) whose abode is on the mountain.
