Apsara - The Celestial Nymph

Apsara have been variously described as fairies, angels, nymphs and sirens. Actually they are celestial maidens of exquisite beauty and alluring charm, and have the power and will to use both. Like other divine creatures they are able to change their form as and when desired. Hierarchically, the Apsaras were under the control of Indra, the king of the Demi-Gods. Under his directions they seduced mortals, kings and sages, who were becoming powerful enough to threaten Indra. They also danced at his court and entertained his guests. The male counterparts of the Apsaras were the Gandharvas. The Gandharvas were the custodians of music and the arts.

The sage Kashyap, through his many wives, fathered many races of celestial beings. The demi-Gods were born from Aditi, while a race of demons from Diti. The Bhagavata Purana states that the Apsaras were born from Kashyap and Muni. In the Mahabharata the mother is stated as Pradha. This kind of inconsistency between the texts is common in Hindu mythology. In a later canto in the Bhagavata Purana an alternative version of the origin of the Apsaras is given. When the demi-Gods and Demons churned the ocean to bring forth the elixir of life, several treasures and divine beings emerged from the ocean depths. Among them were the Apsaras.

Personally through my long Research and going through various Spiritual and Tantric Texts I have come across this list of 51 Apsara's which is reproduced below in alphabetical order.

Adrika, Alamvusha, Ambika, Anavadya, Anuchana, Aruna, Asita, Budbuda, Chandrajyotsna, Devi, Ghritachi, Gunamukhya, Gunuvara, Harsha, Indralaxmi, Kamya, Karnika, Kesini, Kshema, Lata, Laxmana, Manorama, Marichi, Menaka, Misrasthala, Mrugashi, Nabhidarshana, Purvachitti, Pushpadeha, Rakshita, Rambha, Ritushala, Sahajanya, Samichi, Saurbhedi, Sharadvati, Shuchika, Some, Suvahu, Sugandha, Supriya, Suraja, Surasa, Surata, Tilottama, Umlocha, Urvashi, Vapu, Varga, Vidyutparna, Vishvachi.

This is the most exhaustive listing of Apsara as per majority groups of Tantric & Sanskrit Scholars, however it is not claimed to be a complete list.