For individuals in heaven, Ishwar has arranged hundreds and thousands of Apsaras, commonly referred to as Harlots/Prostitutes, in the context used by some Hindus on this matter. Some Hindu fanatics may attempt to ridicule Muslims on this issue, but have they themselves read what their scriptures say about it? Interestingly, they may view the concept of having wives in heaven as lustful, yet they appear to be accepting of worshipping Krishna, who is said to have had 16108 wives and numerous concubines. For more detailed information on the topic of Krishna and his marriages, visit link
1. Apsaras In Swarg (Heaven)
Mahabharata 13.79.27
That man who habitually makes gifts of kine comes to be regarded as the foremost of his species. When thus proceeding to Heaven he is received by a thousand celestial damsels of beautiful hips and adorned with handsome robes and ornaments. These girls wait upon him there and minister to his delight. He sleeps there in peace and is awakened by the musical laughter of those gazelle-eyed damsels, the sweet notes of their Vinas, the soft strains of their Vallakis, and the melodious tinkle of their Nupuras.” (source)
Mahabharata 3.42.23
It is through thy grace, O mountain, that Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas attain heaven, and their anxieties gone, sport with the celestials…” (source)
Mahabharata 13.106.53-55
That man who, unafflicted by disease and free from every malady, observes a fast, verily acquires, at every step the merits that attach to Sacrifices. Such a man ascends to Heaven on a car drawn by swans. Ended with puissance, he enjoys every kind of happiness in heaven for a hundred years. A hundred Apsaras of the most beautiful features wait upon and sport with him…” (source)
Agni Purana 211.39
One who gives a maid servant to an excellent brahmin would reach the world of nymphs.” (source)
Padma Purana 7.9.142-149
Heaven was full of noise with the sounds of kettle-drums, tabors, melodious small drums, and large drums, so also with the sounds of bracelets and clappings, and the shouts of victory given by gods. He, fanned with the breezes produced from white chowries in the charming hands of the divine ladies, and seated in a chariot with his wife, went to heaven.” (source)
Mahabharata 3.42.23
It is through thy grace, O mountain, that Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas attain heaven, and their anxieties gone, sport with the celestials…” (source)
Linga Purana 1.48.9-14
In the eastern side of this mountain is Amaravati (the city of Indra). It is full of mansions of different kinds. It is thronged by different groups of Devas. It is surrounded by clusters of jewels. It has many ornamental gateways of different shapes bedecked in gold and jewels. The arches at the gateways are rendered wonderful with gold, with jewels set in. Thousands of women throng the roadways. They are clever in conversation and elocution. They are bedecked in all ornaments. They stoop down due to the weight of their heavy breasts and their eyes roll to and fro due to intoxication. The Apsaras (water nymphs) move about all round…” (source)
Mahabharata 13.106.53-55
O king, in six years. There is no doubt in this. Such a man earns the merit that attaches to the performance of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. Endued with merit and freed from every kind of stain, he attains to the region of the Apsaras that echo with the sound of songs and dance, and passes his days in the company of a thousand damsels of great beauty.” (source)
Shiva Purana 1.24.68-70
He will enjoy the pleasures of Vidyadharas, powerful Gandharvas, in the worlds of Indra and other guardians of the quarters and those of Prajapatis and finally reach Brahma’s region where he will sport with a hundred virgins.” (source)
Skanda Purana 5.3.198.115-117
The man who has become pure (by taking bath) and who has observed fast shall keep awake in the night on the fourteenth lunar day in the dark half. He shall then worship Siva. Dispelling the delusion caused by sins, he goes to Rudraloka. He will acquire the form of Rudra with three eyes and four arms. He will sport about with celestial girls as long as the moon, sun and stars shine.” (source)
Skanda Purana 6.232.26
If any one always makes arrangement for dance and music programmes in the abode (shrine) of Visnu, the celestial damsels will dance before him when he goes to heaven. (source)
Matsya Purana 107.4-5
One who resides on the banks of the Ganges, with or without any object in view, and dies there, goes to heaven and remains far away out of the sight of hell. Such a man sits in a viniana, adorned by decent birds, like swans and flamingoes, where celestial nymphs sing lovely songs. Thus he enjoys long life in heaven.” (source)
Brahma Purana 65.18-22
Brahma said:- In that city of Viṣṇu, worshipped by all, people walk about in divine aerial chariots. They are decorated with various jewels beset with pure gold; they can move about at their will. They are resonant with the divine music of Gandharvas. They are as refulgent as the midday sun. They are adorned by the celestial maidens. The beds and seats therein are made of gold. They are rich in means of pleasures of various kinds. Flags and pearl necklaces are suspended from them. They move about in the sky in groups. They are of diverse colours.” (source)
Brahma Purana 59.3-8
O brahmins, by taking the holy dip perfectly in the ocean thus, in that excellent holy centre, by duly worshipping Narayana… He goes to the world of Visnu on an aerial chariot with the lustre and colour of the sun… For the period of a hundred Manvantaras or more he will enjoy excellent pleasures and carry on dalliance with the celestial damsels. He will be devoid of old age and death.” (source)
Devi Bhagavatam Purana 4.6.56-58
The Apsaras said – Of the five senses; sound, etc., the pleasures attained through the sensation of touch are excellent, and are reckoned as the source of Bliss; no other pleasures stand equal to it…If you like to go to Heaven, be pleased to know that there is no Superior Heaven to Gandhamadan (the mountain like intoxicating happiness of the senses). Dost thou enjoy the highest bliss, the pleasant sexual intercourse with us, the heavenly damsels in this very beautiful and lovely place.” (source)
Skanda Purana 3.1.1.77
If one takes the holy bath for the sake of sexual pleasure with celestial damsels in heaven, he attains the same.” (source)
Agni Purana 292.13b-14a
One who mutters the gomati vidya (a sacred formula) would reach the excellent world of cows. Therein he will enjoy music, dance and the company of nymphs in the celestial car.” (source)
Matsya Purana 78.10
He also goes to the all the seven lokas, in each kalpa, where he enjoys in the company of the nymphs and get bliss.” (source)
Brahma Vaivarta Purana Krishna Janma Khanda 59.85-103
Virtuous men, after having performed sacred deeds in India, go to heaven and there attended by celestial damsels enjoy celestial bliss for a long time…Fair one, this Heaven is not a field of action; it is a place of enjoyment. And of all enjoyments, association with an excellent woman is the best.” (source)
Varaha Purana 149.24-25
In Dvaraka which gives delight to the Vaisnavas, there is the great place called Pancasara which is a little within the shore. He who bathes there foregoing siz meals, delights himself with the Apsaras in heaven.” (source)
Narada Purana 62.43
It was resorted to by Devas moving about in aerial chariots. It was surrounded by the (river) Viraji, O Narada, as this world shines so too the other worlds (by its reflection). The tanks there, are bedecked in diverse ways by means of gold and jewels; the steps are studded with corals: They (tanks) are fully covered with blue lotuses; they are agitated by the sports of celestial women.” (source)
Narada Purana 31.21-22a
Thanks to the gift of a cow, a man goes there Endowed with all means of happiness on the way; a giver of plots or houses goes riding in an aerial chariot filled with all riches and luxuries. He sports about in the aerial chariot filled with groups of celestial damsels and goes to the abode of Dharma (god of Death).” (source)
Narada Purana 45.52
If liberation means dissociation with pleasure-giving persons or objects like celestial damsels, or association with objects of destructible nature like life in heaven, what is the motivation for men to perform religious action or why after beginning the performance of an action, should men continue for attaining the desired goal?” (source)
Narada Purana Uttarabhaga 63.153b-156a
Willingly or unwillingly he who dies in Ganga, attains the abode of Sakra. He never goes to hell. He rides in an aerial chariot to which swans and Sarasa birds arc yoked. He sleeps in the midst of Apsaras and is wakened by them. O daughter of Brahma when the karmans are exhausted, he comes here from heaven. He chooses his birth in the family of Yogins and prosperous peoples.” (source)
Shiva Purana 5.7.45-46
Yama tells them – You are noble souls duly blessed, since you have performed what is ordained in the Vedas. Good deeds that are conducive to divine happiness have been performed by you. Ascend the celestial aerial chariot and go to heaven to enjoy the pleasures in the company of celestial damsels and fulfil your cherished desires.” (source)
Shrimad Bhagavatam 8.8.7
Next there appeared the Apsaras [who are used as prostitutes on the heavenly planets]. They were fully decorated with golden ornaments and lockets and were dressed in fine and attractive clothing. The Apsaras move very slowly in an attractive style that bewilders the inhabitants of the heavenly planets.” (source)
Brahma Purana 107.7-8
Those who offer with great devotion to the brahmins well consecrated cooked rice, particularly to the brahmins well versed in the Vedas, go to the city of Dharmaraja by means of well adorned aerial chariots. They are assiduously served by excellent young women.” (source)
Brahma Purana 107.14-15
Those who with devotion and pure mind, give the worthy brahmins water, sweetened with treacle as well as cooked rice, go to the abode of Yama, on golden vehicles of various kinds. In accordance with their desire they are again and again served by excellent women.” (source)
Brahma Purana 107.28-29
Those men who grow wonderful parks with flowers and fruits thereby helping men go (along that great path) (after duly resting) in beautiful and cool shades of trees. They are well bedecked and attended upon by excellent women to the accompaniment of songs and instrumental music.” (source)
Brahma Purana 107.32
Those who give an embellished virgin as gift, as worthy of being given to a brahmin, go to the abode of Yama in aerial chariots and surrounded by celestial virgins.” (source)
Brahma Purana 107.56
He who meets death in a battle ensuing upon his at¬ tempt to resist the abduction of a woman or capture of cows goes along shining like the sun and attended upon by celestial girls.” (source)
Brahma Purana 38.132-137
After death he will go to heaven where he will be surrounded by thousands of beautiful women.” (source)
Brahma Purana 67.1-11
He goes to the great abode where Visnu the lord of Yogins is ever present. Accompanied by celestial women he enjoys pleasures of various sorts.” (source)
Brahma Purana 67.70-74
The man redeems twenty-one generations of his family. He then goes to the city of Visnu seated in a highly refulgent aerial chariot that has the lustre and colour of the sun, that is richly furnished with all desirable things, that can go as one desires it to go and that has a row of tinkling bells. He shall be surrounded by the celestial ladies. Gandharvas will be singing in praise of him. He will enjoy excellent pleasures there. He will be rid of old age and death. Assuming a divine form the glorious devotee will enjoy pleasures until the dissolution of all living beings.” (source)
Swami Prabhupada wrote
“People in general are not very intelligent, and due to their ignorance they are most attached to the fruitive activities recommended in the karma-kāṇḍa portions of the Vedas. They do not want anything more than sense gratificatory proposals for enjoying life in heaven, where wine and women are available and material opulence is very common…They are generally sensual, and they do not want anything other than the heavenly pleasures of life. It is understood that there are gardens called nandana-kānana in which there is good opportunity for association with angelic, beautiful women and having a profuse supply of somarasa wine. Such bodily happiness is certainly sensual; therefore there are those who are purely attached to material, temporary happiness, as lords of the material world.” Swami Prabhupada on Gita 2.42-43 (source)
2. Apsaras for Martyrs
In Hinduism, it is believed that those who attain martyrdom in a holy war may be rewarded with multiple Apsaras in heaven to enjoy their company,
Parashar Smriti 3.31
If victorious, wealth is won; if death results, beautiful women fall to his share; since this corporeal frame is liable to perish in an instant’s time, why should we be shy of meeting death on a field of battle?” (source)
Parashar Smriti 3.34-35
Celestial damsels seize for themselves, and take delight with the hero, whose body is wounded or cut by arrows, clubs, or maces. Thousands of celestial damsels, rush forward in a hurry towards a hero killed in battle, each proclaiming, ‘He is my lord, he is mine.” (source)
Mahabharata 12.98.46-51
Foremost of Apsaras, numbering by thousands, go out with great speed (for receiving the spirit of the slain hero) coveting him for their lord.” (source)
Devi Bhagavatam Purana 3.15.10-13
Some warriors on being slain in the battle instantly arose in a celestial car to the heavens and was seen addressing the celestial nymph, who came already within his embrace, thus “O one of beautiful thighs. Behold! how my beautiful body is lying on the earth below!” Another warrior thus slain got up in the heavens on a celestial car, came in possession of a celestial nymph and when he was sitting with her in the car, his former wife in the earth made herself a sati and burnt herself up in the funeral pyre, thus got a celestial body, came up to the heavens; and that chaste virtuous woman drew away perforce her own husband away from that celestial nymph. Two warriors, went up, slew each other and lay down dead at the same time. They went up in the heavens at the same time and there began quarrel with each other and fight with their weapons for one and the same celestial nymph. Some hero got in the heavens a nymph more lovely and beautiful than himself and he thus became very much attached and devoted her. He began to describe his own heroic qualities and also to copy dotedly the qualities of his lover so that she might remain faithfully attached to him.” (source)
Vamana Purana 9.52
One this occasion the musical instruments of gods and demons began to play, groups of saints and Siddhas stationed in the sky began to witness the brave warriors who were killed in the open battle, fighting each other and whom the best of the Apsaras were conveying to heaven.” (source)
3. How do Women Become Apsaras?
Devi Bhagavatam Purana 9.1.96-143
Those women that are sprung from Sattva Guna are all very good natured and chaste; those that are sprung from Rajo Guna are middling and very much attached to worldly enjoyments and do their selfish ends and those that are sprung from Tamo Guna are recognised as worst and belonging to the unknown families. They are very scurrilous, cheats, ruining their families, fond of their own free ways, quarrelsome and no seconds are found equal to them. Such women become prostitutes in this world and Apsaras in the Heavens.” (source)
4. Gods use Apsaras for Their own Sexual Pleasures
Brahma Viavarta Purana, Krishna Janma Khanda 32.55
Some of the ladies becomes the whores and earn their living by selling away their body. I am an apsara of the heaven and am used by the gods in the heaven and am quite respectable.” (source)
5. Gods Sending Apsaras to Seduce Rishis (Sages)
The Gods, filled with perpetual dread, trembled in fear of the sages, for they harbored an inherent potential to ascend beyond the realm of mortals, transcending even the sacred domain of godhood. In their profound devotion and rigorous penances, the sages sought to unlock the heights of divinity or soar even higher. To impede their relentless pursuit, certain deities, notably Indra, dispatched enchanting Apsaras to seduce the sages, strategically interrupting their penitential endeavours.
Vishnu Purana 1.15.11-15
There was formerly (said Soma) a sage named Kaṇḍu, eminent in holy wisdom, who practised pious austerities on the lovely borders of the Gomati river. The king of the gods sent the nymph Pramlocā to disturb his penance, and the sweet-smiling damsel diverted the sage from his devotions. They lived together, in the valley of Mandara, for a hundred and fifty years; during which, the mind of the Muni was wholly given up to enjoyment.” (source)
Varaha Purana 146.29-35
Hearing that music beautiful with the Pancama svara the mind of the sage became perturbed. Kamadeva tirelessly shot his arrows again on him… Hit by the arrows of Kamadeva, the great sage appraoched her with a smile. She too looked at him amorously but with shyness. Attracting the mind of the sage with her irresistible charms, she continued to play the ball unmindful of flowers falling from her dishevelling hair. At that time the Malaya wind blew off her garment freeing it from its knot and the girdle holding it…Then he held that smiling damsel by the right hand. He embraced her and gave her delight. Day and night he enjoyed with her every pleasure helped by the power he had acquired by his penence.” (source)
Mahabharata 1.71.20-26
Viswamitra, of old, having been engaged in the austerest penances alarmed Indra, the chief of the celestials, who thought that the mighty ascetic of blazing energy would, by his penances, hurl him down from his high seat in heaven. Indra, thus alarmed, summoned Menaka and told her, Thou, O Menaka, art the first of celestial Apsaras. Therefore, O amiable one, do me this service. Hear what I say. This great ascetic Viswamitra like unto the Sun in splendour, is engaged in the most severe of penances. My heart is trembling with fear. Indeed, O slender-waisted Menaka, this is thy business. Thou must see that Viswamitra of soul rapt in contemplation and engaged in the austerest penances, who might hurl me down from my seat. Go and tempt him and frustrating his continued austerities accomplish my good. Win him away from his penances, O beautiful one, by tempting him with thy beauty, youth, agreeableness, arts, smiles and speech.” (source)
