Mohini

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Mohini is one of the 25 avatars of Vishnu found in the Puranas. The main story, or lila, concerning Mohini is the Sagar or Samudra manthan, a lila that includes: Indra, Lakshmi, Kurma, Dhanvantari, and numerous other Hindu divinities. This lila details the conflict between the Daitya (demons) and the Adityas (gods), as well as their quest for amrita. In this lila, there is a time when the demons overpowered the gods and take possession of the amrita. In order to rescue the gods, Vishnu takes the form of a beautiful woman, Mohini, and approached the demons. When the demons saw the enchanting beauty of Mohini, they lost all composure. While the demons were enchanted by Her beauty, Mohini seized the nectar and distributed it amongst the gods, who drank it immediately. During this lila, Mohini also decapitates the demon Rahu.

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[edit] Mohini-lila

Mohini-lila plays an important role on the periphery of Vaishnavism. There are two popular lilas of Mohini which can be found in Canto Eight (chapters 9 [1] and 12 [2]) of the Bhagavata Purana. Mohini also plays a prominent role in the popular Hindu myth known as The churning of the ocean of milk, and her role in this story is mentioned in numerous Hindu text such as the two Epics, most of the Puranas and numerous vernacular literature.

[edit] The Mysterious Pastimes of Mohini-murti

The Mysterious Pastimes of Mohini-murti are a series of lectures concerning Mohini-lila given by Tamala Krishna Gosvami during the Fall of 1993 [3]. These lectures cover two chapters of Prabhupada's translation and commentary on the Eight Canto of the Bhagavata Purana. Chapter 9 is (The Lord Incarnates as Mohini-murti) [4] and chapter 12 is (The Mohini-murti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Shiva) [5]. During these lectures, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's discussions of Mohini-lila [6] especially as they relate to gender roles in verse 8.9.9 [7] are analyzed and considered. This includes the notable passage from Prabhupada's commentary;

  • "Thus the Supreme God, who was pretending to be a woman, warned the demons against putting so much faith in Her, for She had appeared as an attractive woman ultimately to cheat them. Indirectly disclosing the purpose for which She had appeared before them, She said to the sons of Kashyapa, "How is this? You were all born of a great rishi, yet you are putting your faith in a woman who is loitering here and there like a prostitute, unprotected by father or husband. Women in general should not be trusted, and what to speak of a woman loitering like a prostitute?" The word kamini is significant in this connection. Women, especially beautiful young women, invoke the dormant lusty desires of a man. Therefore, according to Manu - samhita every woman should be protected, either by her husband, by her father or by her grown sons. Without such protection, a woman will be exploited." [8]

[edit] Further reading

  • Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions (ISBN 81-208-0379-5) by David Kinsley

[edit] External links


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