A rishi flanked by apsaras
A rishi flanked by apsaras
The image shows a bas-relief carved on walls of one of the temples in Prambanan located 11 miles northeast of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Seated at the center on a pedestal with his eyes closed is a rishi, a sage in Hinduism. This pose indicates that he is performing tapasu, a religious practice in Hinduism that includes meditation and penance. Flanking him are two beautiful apsaras trying to distract him. Apsaras distracting rishis is a common thread in many stories narrated in ancient Indian texts called Puranas.
Related Pages
– Prambanan, Borobudur, Bali, Indonesia
– Angkor Wat, Angkor Wat Bas-Reliefs, Banteay Srei, Cambodia
Copyright © 2017 – 2020 by Lawrence Rodrigues. All rights reserved.