Mohini- Hindu GodDeity"The Enchantress"
Also known as: Mohinimurti, मोहिनी, and Mohinī
Description
So beautiful that the asuras who had fought to possess the nectar of immortality simply handed it to her. Mohini served every drop to their enemies the devas while the demons sat transfixed, too enchanted to notice until the pot was empty and their chance at immortality was gone.
Mythology & Lore
The Distribution of Amrita
After the churning of the ocean produced the pot of amrita, the nectar of immortality, a violent dispute erupted between the devas and asuras. The asuras seized the pot and began quarreling among themselves. Vishnu assumed the form of Mohini, a woman so beautiful that the asuras, upon seeing her, agreed to let her distribute the amrita. She seated the devas and asuras in two separate rows and began serving the nectar, but she poured it only for the devas. The asuras raised no objection until the pot was empty. Only Svarbhanu detected the ruse and slipped into the devas' row. He drank some amrita before Mohini severed his head with Vishnu's discus. His head became Rahu, his body Ketu.
Mohini and Bhasmasura
Shiva had granted the demon Bhasmasura the power to turn anyone to ashes by placing his hand on their head. The demon immediately turned on Shiva to test the boon. As Shiva fled, Vishnu appeared as Mohini and captivated Bhasmasura with her dance. She challenged him to mirror her movements. As the demon imitated each gesture, she placed her own hand upon her head. Bhasmasura, mimicking without thinking, touched his own head and burned to ashes by his own boon.
Mohini and Shiva
The Bhagavata Purana relates that Shiva sought out Vishnu to witness the Mohini form for himself. Vishnu obliged. Shiva was so overwhelmed by Mohini's beauty that he lost his composure and pursued her through the forests. In the Kerala tradition, their union produced Ayyappa, a son of both Vishnu and Shiva.
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