| Urvashi | |
|---|---|
 Urvashi leaving her husband Pururavas, a chromolithograph by Raja Ravi Varma | |
| Devanagari | उर्वशी |
| Affiliation | Apsara |
| Abode | Svarga |
| Gender | Female |
| Genealogy | |
| Spouse | Pururavas |
| Children | |
| Dynasty | Chandravamsha (by marriage) |
Urvashi (Sanskrit: उर्वशी, IAST: Urvaśī) is the most prominent apsara mentioned in the Hindu scriptures like the Vedas, the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as the Puranas. She is regarded as the most beautiful of all the apsaras, and an expert dancer.
Urvashi has been featured in many mythological events. She emerged out of the thigh of sage Narayana and occupies a special place in the court of Indra, the king of the gods and ruler of svarga. She is famous for her marriage with Pururavas, the first king of the legendary Chandravamsha, whom she later abandoned. She also plays a significant part in the birth of Vashishtha and Agastya, two of the most revered sages in Hinduism. Urvashi's story has been an inspiration for various arts, performances and literature. The poet Kalidasa (fl. 4th -5th century CE) has adapted Urvashi and Pururavas as the main characters in his play Vikramorvashiyam.[1][2]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Eck, Diana L. (27 March 2012). India: A Sacred Geography. Harmony/Rodale. p. 337. ISBN 978-0-385-53191-7.
- ^ Gupta, Shakti M. (2002). Indian Mythology: Myths and Legends. B.R. Publishing Corporation. p. 133. ISBN 978-81-7646-276-1.