Panchāpsaras (Sanskrit: pañcāpsaras) is a lake mentioned in Book III (Aranya Kanda) of the ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana. Its name means [the lake of] Five Apsaras, female spirits of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, which can be translated into English as nymphs, celestial nymphs and celestial virgins. The lake is visited by Rama, considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, during his journey through the Dandaka forest. The lake is said to had been created by sage and hermit Māṇḍakarṇi through the power of his penance.