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Tilottama (), is an apsara (celestial nymph) described in Hinduism Hindu mythology.
"Tila" is a Sanskrit word for a small particle and "uttama" means the ultimate. Tilottama, therefore, means the being whose smallest particle is the finest or one who is composed of the finest and highest qualities.
In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Tilottama is described to have been created by the divine architect Vishwakarma, at Brahma's request, by taking the best quality of everything as the ingredients. She is responsible for bringing about the mutual destruction of the (a class of malevolent beings), Sunda and Upasunda. Even devas (a class of benevolent beings) like Indra are described to be enamoured of Tilottama.
While a legend talks about a pre-birth as an ugly widow, another narrates how she was cursed to be born as a daitya princess Usha by sage Durvasa.
The devas and seers sought refuge with Brahma. Brahma then ordered the divine architect Vishvakarma to create a beautiful woman. Vishvakarma collected all that was beautiful from the three worlds (Svarga, earth, Patala) and all the gems of the world and created an alluring woman - with unrivalled beauty - from them. As she was created bit by bit from the gems, Brahma named her Tilottama and directed her to seduce the asura brothers to the extent that she would become an issue of contention between them.
As Sunda and Upasunda were enjoying a dalliance with women and engrossed in drinking liquor along a riverbank in the Vindhya mountains, Tilottama appeared there plucking flowers. Bewitched by her voluptuous figure and drunk with power and liquor, Sunda and Upasunda took hold of Tilottama's right and left hands respectively. As both of the brothers argued that Tilottama should be his own wife, they grabbed their clubs and attacked each other, ultimately killing each other. The devas congratulated her and Brahma granted her the right to roam freely in the universe as a boon. Brahma also decreed that no one would be able to look at her for a long time due to her luster.Buitenen, Johannes Adrianus Bernardus (1978). The Mahābhārata. vol 1 University of Chicago Press Adi Parva (Book of Beginnings) Cantos 201-204. pp. 392-8
Another tale in the Mahabharata (Book 13) narrates that Tilottama comes to tempt Shiva. Eager to see her as she circumambulated him, Shiva developed four visible faces, another interpretation states that Shiva revealed himself to Tilottama as the five Brahmans, with his five faces (4 visible, 1 invisible). The east face signifying his sovereignty over the world, the north face to sport with Parvati, the west to ensure the happiness of creatures; the south face, to destroy the universe and the fifth face was invisible as it was beyond the comprehension of Tilottama. Of The Saivism, Volume 1 By Swami P. Anand, Swami Parmeshwaranand p. 116 Another legend from the says Brahma created Tilottama and was aroused by her. He makes five heads in order to see her and then sends her to Mount Kailash, the abode of Shiva, to pay her obeisance to him. Shiva glances at her but avoids carefully looking at her as his consort Parvati was seated beside him. As Tilottama circumambulated Shiva, he develops a head in each direction to see her. The divine sage Narada taunts Parvati, "You can imagine what Shiva is thinking about this woman who is reviled by wise men". Agitated, Parvati covers Shiva's eyes with her hands submerging the universe in darkness. Shiva then develops the third eye to bring light to the universe.
The Brahma Vaivarta Purana narrates that Sahasika, grandson of Mahabali disturbed sage Durvasa's penance in his amours with Tilottama. As the result, the sage turned him into a donkey and cursed Tilottama, to be born as asura Banasura's daughter Usha. Usha would later become the wife of Aniruddha, the grandson of Krishna.
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