Apsara Menka is one of the most beautiful celestial dancers in the court of Indra. Story of Menaka Apsara is found in the Mahabharata and Puranas. She helps Indra, the king of demigods, by distracting Rishis (Saints) who undertake severe penance. Indra felt threatened by the Rishis because his position among as the king of demigods (devas) might be threatened if the sages acquired spiritual powers by virtue of their penance. Menaka is referred to in the drama Vikramorvasiyam as a “tender weapon of Indra”. Several instances of Menka distracting sages from their spiritual goal have been recounted in Hindu scriptures especially the Puranas. One such instance refers to the birth of Shakuntala, heroine of poet Kalidasa’s drama Abhijnana Shakuntalam. The original story is traced back to the Mahabharata Adi Parva 71 – 72. When Indra found the royal sage Vishwamitra performing severe penance, he sent Apsara Menaka to distract the sage from his penance, which she effectively d