Menaka
Menaka is a famous apsara.
↻ synthesized from 5 sources
When
- First attested
- 1500 BCE
- Attested period
- -1500 – 2020
- Historical notes
- Attested in the Rigveda.
Relationships
- co occurs with
- Tennyo, Tennan, Urnayu, Durvasa, Pramlocha, Kama, Vasanta, Marisha, Brahma, Narayana, Nara, Rati, Vishvamitra, Apsaras, Tennin, Menas, Daksha, Yama, Urvaśī
- parent of
- Shakuntala, Kadaligarbha
- serves
- Indra
- child of
- Vrishanashva, Brahma
- sibling of
- Purvachitti, Sahajanya, Ghritachi, Vishvachi
- consort of
- Visvavasu
Mentioned by
Sources
Source passages
“Famous apsaras include Urvashi, Menaka, Rambha, Tilottama and Ghritachi.”
#5711 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001
“Menaka's appearance in Hindu mythology reflects a broader theme in which celestial women seduce sages or engage with mortal men to produce dynastic heirs. Across both epic and Puranic traditions, her role serves as a test of ascetic discipline. The central motif remains consistent: Vishvamitra's succumbing to Menaka's beauty results”
#8002 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001
“Aware of the prowess of the sage, the apsara is anxious, and requests Indra to choose Menaka, Urvashi, or Rambha instead.”
#8008 · extracted by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5
“The Bala Kanda of the epic Ramayana narrates that Rambha is instructed by Indra to disturb the penance of Vishvamitra, a sage who had been previously seduced by another apsara named Menaka.”
#8033 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001
“he orders the apsaras of his court, including Rambha, Menaka, and Tilottama, to go to Nara-Narayana and distract them through seduction...Her beauty leaves Indra's apsaras matchless, and they become ashamed”
#8130 · extracted by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5