Panchāpsaras

Panchāpsaras (Sanskrit: pañcāpsaras) is a lake mentioned in Book III (Aranya Kanda) of the ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana. Its name means [the lake of] Five Apsaras, female spirits of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, which can be translated into English as "nymphs", "celestial nymphs" and "celestial virgins". The lake is visited by Rama, considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, during his journey through the Dandaka forest. The lake is said to had been created by sage and hermit Māṇḍakarṇi through the power of his penance.[1][2][3]

Identity of the five Apsaras

Ramayana mentions the Urvashi, Rambha, Menaka and Tilottama among Panchāpsaras.[4]

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References
  1. Valmiki Ramayana translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1870–1874). Commentaries to Book III, Canto XI.
  2. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/william-crooke/the-popular-religion-and-folk-lore-of-northern-india-volume-1-oor/page-5-the-popular-religion-and-folk-lore-of-northern-india-volume-1-oor.shtml William Crooke. The popular religion and folk-lore of northern India (Volume 1)
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Lonar Crater Lake (Special Volume No.1) Proceedings: Symposium on Multi Disciplinary Approach to Understand the Lonar Lake (12–14 December 2008)
  4. Ananda W. P. Guruge, 1991, The Society of the Ramayana, Page 180-200.


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