Mohini Avatar is the 13th incarnation of Lord Vishnu per the Bhagavat Purana. She was so beautiful that even Lord Shiva, known for his self-restraint, fell for her. It is the only female incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He took this avatar multiple times and saved gods, including Lord Shiva. She is the most beautiful woman in the whole universe and is unparalleled in her beauty. She is trained in many arts.
Meaning of the Word Mohini:
The meaning of Mohini in Sanskrit is “the one who is infatuating”. It is derived from the root verb “moha” which means “captivate, confuse, or delude”.
Origin:
Per Wikipedia, her reference is first found in the Mahabharata in the Samudra Manthana episode when she tricked the asuras with her beauty and gave nectar to the gods only.
She is also mentioned in Agni Purana, Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Bhagavat Purana, and Ganesh Purana.
धान्वन्तरं द्वादशमं त्रयोदशममेव च । अपाययत्सुरानन्यान्मोहिन्या मोहयन् स्त्रिया ॥ १७ ॥
Translation:
In the twelfth incarnation, God appeared in the form of Lord Dhanvantari. In the thirteenth incarnation, He captivated the atheists with the enchanting beauty of a woman and provided nectar (amrit) to the gods for drinking.
Iconography:
She is mainly depicted as a fair and beautiful woman carrying the nectar pot, surrounded by gods and demons looking at her lustfully and waiting for her to serve them nectar. She is wearing a beautiful pink saree and many golden ornaments.
Sometimes, she is depicted dancing with Bhasmasura, a demon threatening to kill Lord Shiva.
Stories Related to Mohini Avatar:
Samudra Manthan:
When Lord Dhanvantari came out of the ocean with a pot of nectar, the demons immediately snatched it and ran away, but soon started fighting among themselves over who would drink it first.
Lord Vishnu solaced worried gods and appeared as a miraculously beautiful woman named Mohini. When demons saw her, they were mesmerized and forgot about the nectar. Their hearts were filled with lust, and everybody desired to possess her. Mohini smiled at them and took the nectar pot from them. She told them that she would distribute it equally among them. They all agreed with this plan.
She arranged separate lines of sitting places and seated gods and demons according to their positions.
She started serving the nectar to the gods first. Asuras were unhappy with that, but as they had accepted that her decision would be final and feared spoiling their relationship with her, they remained silent.
After feeding the nectar to the gods, Lord Vishnu assumed his original form and flew away on Garuda. Demons understood that they had been tricked and would not get the nectar. Therefore, they attacked the gods, and a fierce battle began. But they defeated the demons because they were stronger after drinking the nectar.
The Birth of Ayyappa/Hanuman:
Sage Narada told Lord Shiva how Lord Vishnu’s Mohini avatar deceived the asuras and distributed nectar among the gods only. Lord Vishnu did not believe this story. So, he went to Lord Vishnu along with Goddess Parvati.
He expressed his desire to see Mohini before Lord Vishnu, who accepted his request and assumed the form of Mohini. Seeing her, Lord Shiva lost control over his senses and grabbed her hand, but Mohini freed herself and ran away. Lord Shiva also ran after her.
Per a story in the Brahmanda Purana, their union gave birth to Ayyappa. According to the Shiva Purana, by the mere glimpse of Mohini, Lord Shiva spurted out his seed, which fell on Earth. The seed was collected and poured into the ear of Anjani, who gave birth to Lord Hanuman.
Mohini Avatar Saved Lord Shiva from Bhasmasura:
Bhasmasura was a demon who practiced strict penance and pleased Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva told him to ask for a boon, he asked for the power to turn anyone into ashes on whose head he placed his hand.
Bhasmasura became arrogant and killed many innocent people. His arrogance increased so much that he wanted to put his hand over Lord Shiva’s head and turn him into ashes.
At that time, Lord Vishnu appeared there in the form of Mohini Avatara and started dancing. Upon seeing her, Bhasmasura was mesmerized and started dancing with her.
Bhasmasura was following the same dance steps as Mohini. At one moment, Mohini put her hand over her head. Bhasmasura also did the same thing and was turned into ashes.
Mohini Avatar Tricks Asura King Virochana:
Per a story in the Ganesha Purana, Virochana was an Asura king who got a magical crown from the Sun God. The crown shielded him from all harm and made him invincible. Lord Vishnu enchanted him in the form of the Mohini avatar and stole his crown. Afterward, Lord Vishnu killed him.
Mhalsa:
Per a legend, when Lord Shiva ran after Mohini and wanted to unify with her, she promised him that she would be his wife when he incarnates as Khandoba on Earth. When Lord Shiva incarnated as Khandoba to kill demons Mani and Malla, Mohini was born as Mhalsa and became his first wife.
Iravan and Mohini Avatar:
Even after the seven days of the Kurukshetra War, no side seemed to be winning. Therefore, Lord Krishna decided that a human sacrifice of a person bearing 36 auspicious signs must be made to please the war goddess Kali. At that time, only three warriors on the Pandavas’ side possessed those signs. Those were Arjuna, Krishna, and Iravan.
Among them, only Aravan was expendable. Therefore, Lord Krishna convinced him to sacrifice himself for a more significant cause. Iravan was a great warrior and had no problem with that, but he was unmarried and did not want to die a bachelor. Hence, he put forth his wish before Lord Krishna, which was to marry before his death.
But Pandavas could not find a woman who would be his wife for a night and spend the rest of her life as a widow. Therefore, Lord Krishna took the form of Mohini and married Iravan. They spent a night together. The next day, Iravan sacrificed himself before the goddess Kali, thus ensuring the victory of the Pandavas.
Worship:
The worship of Goddess Mohini is not as prevalent as other incarnations of Lord Vishnu. She is mainly worshipped in the western and southern parts of India. In Maharashtra and Goa, she is worshipped in the form of Mhalsa.
Mohini Ekadashi:
The 11th day of the waxing moon in the Hindu month of Vaisakha is celebrated as Mohini Ekadashi. Devotees observe a fast on this day and worship Lord Vishnu. It is advised to donate food and other essential items to the poor on this day.
Temples:
Jagan Mohan Kesava Temple is in Ryali, Andhra Pradesh.
There are some temples dedicated to Mhalsa in Maharashtra and Goa.
Mohini Vashikaran Mantra:
जय मोहिनी: कामाख्या: मनो: वाचा कर्मणा: मोहिनी वश्य: वश्य: करिहं स्वाहा अमीखु |
Jai Mohiniha, Kamakhyaha Manoha Vaachaa Karmanaaha Mohini Vashyaha Vashyaha Kariham Swahaa Amiikhu |
Mohinikrit Krishna Stotra:
श्री गणेशाय नमः ।
मोहिन्युवाच ।
सर्वेन्द्रियाणां प्रवरं विष्णोरंशं च मानसम् ।
तदेव कर्मणां बीजं तदुद्भव नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ १॥
स्वयमात्मा हि भगवान् ज्ञानरूपो महेश्वरः ।
नमो ब्रह्मन् जगत्स्रष्टस्तदुद्भव नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ २॥
सर्वाजित जगज्जेतर्जीवजीव मनोहर ।
रतिबीज रतिस्वामिन् रतिप्रिय नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ३॥
शश्वद्योषिदधिष्ठान योषित्प्राणाधिकप्रिय ।
योषिद्वाहन योषास्त्र योषिद्बन्धो नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ४॥
पतिसाध्यकराशेषरूपाधार गुणाश्रय ।
सुगन्धिवातसचिव मधुमित्र नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ५॥
शश्वद्योनिकृताधार स्त्रीसन्दर्शनवर्धन ।
विदग्धानां विरहिणां प्राणान्तक नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ६॥
अकृपा येषु तेऽनर्थं तेषां ज्ञानं विनाशनम् ।
अनूहरूपभक्तेषु कृपासिन्धो नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ७॥
तपस्विनां च तपसां विघ्नबीजाय लीलया ।
मनः सकामं मुक्तानां कर्तुं शक्तं नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ८॥
तपःसाध्यस्तथाऽऽराध्यः सदैवं पाञ्चभौतिकः ।
पञ्चेन्द्रियकृताधार पञ्चबाण नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ९॥
मोहिनीत्येवमुक्त्वा तु मनसा सा विधेः पुरः ।
विरराम नम्रवक्त्रा बभूव ध्यानतत्परा ॥ १०॥
उक्तं माध्यन्दिने कान्ते स्तोत्रमेतन्मनोहरम् ।
पुरा दुर्वाससा दत्तं मोहिन्यै गन्धमादने ॥ ११॥
स्तोत्रमेतन्महापुण्यं कामी भक्त्या यदा पठेत् ।
अभीष्टं लभते नूनं निष्कलङ्को भवेद् ध्रुवम् ॥ १२॥
चेष्टां न कुरुते कामः कदाचिदपि तं प्रियम् ।
भवेदरोगी श्रीयुक्तः कामदेवसमप्रभः ।
वनितां लभते साध्वीं पत्नीं त्रैलोक्यमोहिनीम् ॥ १३॥
॥ इति श्रीमोहिनीकृतं कृष्णस्तोत्रं समाप्तम् ॥