Apsara Statue 4′

Apsara Statue

Height: 4′

Materials: White Sand Stone is used in this statue of Apsara (Pujarini). It is a famous stone variety of Odisha.

The lady in this statue replicates a female artist who was devoted to worship and serve a god or a temple for the rest of her life. The commitment took place in a Pottukattu tradition that was somewhat related to a marriage function. In extension to taking care of the temple and performing customs, these women also studied and trained classical Indian artistic practices such as Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi. Their social status was high as dance and music were an important part of temple prayer.

After becoming Devadasis, the women would sacrifice their time learning sacred rites, rituals, and dances. Angel Statue was supposed to live a life of celibacy, however, there have been situations of exceptions. In the eastern state of Odisha Devadasis were known colloquially as Maharis of the Jagannath temple complex.

The term Devadasi associated with the women who danced inside the temple. Devadasi, or Mahari, means “those great women who can control natural human impulses, their five senses and can submit themselves completely to God.” Mahari means Mahan Nari that is, the woman relating to God. Sri Chaitanayadev had defined Devadasis as Sebayatas who served God through dance and music.

The 1956 Odisha Gazette references Devadasis dances. They had two daily rituals. The Bahara Gaaunis would dance at the Sakala Dhupa. After breakfast Lord Jagannatha would give Darshana to the bhaktas (the devotees). In the main hall, a Devadasi, accompanied by musicians and the Rajaguru (the court guru), would dance standing near the Garuda stambha (pillar). They would perform only pure dance and could be observed by the audience.

The Bhitara Gaunis would sing at the Badashinghara, the main celebration for ornamenting and dressing God. At night, Lord Jagannatha would first be accepted by male Sebayatas, who would fan him and decorate him with blossoms. After they left, a Bhitara Gaauni would then enter the room, stand near the door (Jaya Vijaya), sing Gita Govinda songs, and perhaps perform a ceremonial dance. Later she would come out and declare that the Lord has gone to sleep and the guard would close the main gate.

The 1956 Orissa Gazette lists nine Devadasis and eleven temple musicians. By 1980, only four Devadasis were left – Harapriya, Kokilaprabha, Parashmani, and Shashimani. By 1998, only Shashimani and Parashmani were still alive.

The daily ritualistic dance had stopped, although Shashimani and Parashmani served in a few of the yearly temple rituals such as Nabakalebara, Nanda Utsava, and Duara Paka during Bahuda Jatra.

In India, Apsara Statue is a female artist who is committed to worship and serve a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. These impressive statues are popular all around the world for improving the beauty of any landscape.

• The sheer greatness of this Apsara statue is mesmerizing.
• This  Angel Sculpture will bring elegance to any landscape.
• In this figure, a dancing lady is standing in a devotional pose.
• The graceful look of this apsara represents beauty and devotion towards God.
• Our artisan carves this sculpture with a single block of white sandstone, which increases its durability of this angel sculpture in many folds.
• It is completely one of a kind masterpiece. Any changes are possible on a customized piece of Apsara Statue, as per our Art Lover customer’s choice.