The legend of Mohini

The legend of Mohini is a fascinating and complex story that has captivated the imaginations of people for centuries. It is a tale of love, betrayal, and the cosmic battle between good and evil.

According to Hindu mythology, the legend of Mohini begins during the churning of the ocean of milk. The gods and demons had come together to churn the ocean in order to obtain the nectar of immortality, which was believed to be hidden at the bottom of the sea.

During the churning, many wondrous things emerged from the ocean, including a divine horse, a powerful weapon, and a tree that granted wishes. However, the most remarkable thing to emerge was Mohini, a beautiful and enchanting woman.

Mohini was the incarnation of Vishnu, the preserver god of Hinduism. Vishnu had taken on this form in order to deceive the demons and ensure that the nectar of immortality would be given to the gods.

As soon as the demons saw Mohini, they were entranced by her beauty and fell under her spell. Mohini used her charm and her wits to trick the demons into giving up the nectar of immortality to the gods.

However, one demon named Rahu had managed to sneak into the company of the gods during the distribution of the nectar. He disguised himself as a god and drank the nectar, hoping to become immortal. However, the sun and moon gods, who had recognized Rahu as a demon, revealed his identity to the other gods, and Vishnu decapitated him with his discus.

Even though Rahu had already drunk the nectar, his head and body were now separate entities, and he became known as the head of Rahu and the body of Ketu. In Hindu astrology, Rahu and Ketu are considered to be malefic planets that can cause trouble and chaos in a person's life.

The legend of Mohini is also associated with the story of Shiva and his consort Parvati. According to the legend, Shiva had once performed a great penance in order to obtain a son. However, when the son was born, he was cursed to die as soon as he reached the age of sixteen.

Shiva was heartbroken by the curse, and he retreated to a cave to mourn his son's fate. Parvati, who had also been grieving, decided to take on the form of Mohini in order to comfort Shiva and distract him from his sorrow.

When Shiva saw Mohini, he was immediately smitten by her beauty and fell in love with her. However, Mohini was only an illusion, and when she disappeared, Shiva realized that he had been tricked by his own consort.

Despite the deception, Shiva forgave Parvati and was grateful for the distraction that she had provided him. The legend of Mohini is often interpreted as a symbol of the power of illusion and the dangers of being seduced by beauty and desire.

In some versions of the legend, Mohini is also associated with the goddess Kali. Kali is a fearsome and powerful deity who is often depicted with multiple arms and a fierce demeanor. According to the legend, Kali was once defeated by a demon named Bhasmasura, who had obtained a boon from the god Shiva that allowed him to turn anyone to ash by simply touching their head.

In order to defeat Bhasmasura, Vishnu took on the form of Mohini and seduced the demon with her beauty. She convinced Bhasmasura to touch his own head with his hand, thereby destroying himself and lifting the curse from the world.

The legend of Mohini is a rich and complex story that has been interpreted in many different ways over the centuries. It is a tale of