Who Are the Nymphs? Mystery of Nymphs

We have been hearing stories of Nymphs and Fairies since childhood, but as we grow older our intelligence starts questioning our fantasies. We started to feel as if all these beings do not exist, but despite this fact, we still find mention of these creatures in our mythological texts and various sacred texts around the world. Today we will try to know whether nymphs actually exist or not and whether they can be contacted even today. In Hindu and Buddhist culture, the nymph is also known as Apsara. English translations of the word "Apsara" also include "fairy", "celestial nymph", and "celestial maiden". In ancient Greek folklore, a nymph is considered a minor female nature deity, who is usually depicted as a beautiful maiden, tied to a specific place or landform, inhabiting rivers, woods, or other locations. One prevailing belief about them is that they were certainly not immortal, but lived much longer than humans before they died. In Greek Mythology, nymphs are often divided into various groups such as the Oreads (mountain nymphs), the Naiads (freshwater nymphs), the Nereids (sea nymphs), and the Meliae (ash-tree nymphs). Nymphs are sometimes also associated with fairies.

Now let's talk about the narration of nymphs or apsaras in Hindu culture. In Hindu culture, apsaras are actually considered to be the female spirits of the clouds and waters, which have different origins by different stories. Sometimes during the Samudra Manthan, the story of the emergence of many apsaras is found, and sometimes there is talk of Lord Vishnu bringing them into existence. There are mainly two types of apsaras, laukika (worldly) and daivika (divine). 34 names appear in laukika apsaras and 10 in daivika apsaras, although the number of apsaras has been stated up to 1008, but mainly Urvasi, Menaka, Rambha, Tilottama, and Ghritachi are considered superior. Apsaras are considered very beautiful, who have immense attraction power. They are often wives of the Gandharvas in Swarga or Svarga Loka who entertain the gods in their palaces by dancing to the music made by the Gandharvas. But they also have contact with the earth and if they are kind to someone, they have the ability to make them rich.

These supernatural female beings always remain young and elegant and are brilliant in the art of dancing. They also have the ability to change their shape at will and are able to take any form. The existence of Apsaras has been told by different names in different texts around the world. There are many places on Earth that are actually said to be the abode of the Apsaras and mainly among them is the Khait Parvat in the Himalayas. Situated in the Tehri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, the Khait Parvat gives you a tour of paradise, which is at an altitude of 10000 feet above sea level and is not less than paradise. Here, traveling on foot some distance, a mysterious world comes out which is called fairyland. There is also a temple here where fairies are worshiped as Goddess and it is believed that even today fairies inhabited this place and they also protect all the nearby villages. This temple named 'khaitkhal' holds a fair in the month of June every year. Many people living nearby claimed to see fairies here and some believe that sometimes even the fairies dance here at night and the sound of their ghungroos is heard far and wide.

It has also been said that the nymphs take the person with them to the fairies world whom they like the most. The story of one such person is famous in that area. There was a person named Jeetu who was fond of playing the flute, and he often played there. One day the nymphs heard his music and were attracted to the sound of his flute. They came in front of him and took him with them to the fairy world. After this incident, Jeetu disappeared from this world forever. There are also some things that fairies do not like, such as bright colors, loud noise, and loud music. Therefore, the villagers also forbid people coming here to do all this. There is also a cave near Khait Parvat, whose original end has not been ascertained to date. It is said that Mahadev killed Andhakasura and Mata Parvati killed Shumbha and Nishumbha in this cave. There are many people who have claimed to see nymphs but trusting their words is a matter of faith.

Nymphs are practiced even today on the tantric path and Tantric seekers claim to prove them "Sidh". After performing worship and rituals in a particular way, the nymphs are proved to be "Sidh" by chanting various kinds of mantras. Once a seeker proved them "Sidh", they come to that seeker forever, and helps him in knowing many secrets of this cosmic world. But these practices are also considered very dangerous because sometimes several negative powers, taking the form of apsaras, comes to the seekers and disturb their mental balance. Indra's most favorite Apsara Menaka is believed to have been sent by Indra to the earth to lure Vishwamitra and break his meditation. Vishwamitra was greatly fascinated by Menaka's beauty and his meditation was completely distracted. However, Menaka fell in genuine love with him and a baby was born to them, who came to be called Shakuntala. Shakuntala grew up and married King Dushyanta and gives birth to a child called Bharata after whom India was first named.