Dancing Apsara
Khajaraho School, 11th Century AD, Metropolitan Museum, New York
Used to carving in soft materials like wood and ivory, the Indian sculptors took some time to understand the hardness of stone. But soon they could do wonders with the material as this sculpture testifies.
Apsaras are the dancers at the court of Lord Indra. Here the sculptor has caught the agile movement of the dancer, with her arms flying in one direction, her torso turned in another direction. She looks down as though looking down at the world from the height of Indralok.
Apsara is an enchantress as in Urvashi and Rambha. But they are enlightened souls who reside in heaven. Along with the Gandharvas, the celestial muscians, they entertain the gods.
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