Form · All traditions · Pan-India

Mohini

Also called: Mohini-avatara

The enchantress form Vishnu takes: in the Bhagavata to hand the nectar of the churning to the gods, and later to be gazed at and chased by Shiva. Regional and performance tellings (Yakshagana, Kathakali) make her the dancer who tricks Bhasmasura into touching his own head, and the Kerala Sabarimala tradition makes her the mother, with Shiva, of Ayyappa.

disguise churning boon

Sources: Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhaktivedanta Vedabase), cited by canto.chapter; Mohini — Wikipedia; Bhasmasura — Wikipedia · see Mohini's web

Relations 5

Mohini form of

Vishnu (God) · The churning of the ocean of milk
Taken to serve the nectar; later chased by Shiva (Bhagavata 8.12).
Vishnu (God) · The churning of the ocean of milk
Declared in the interactions file; edge repeated here because the churning asserts it.

Mohini slew

Bhasmasura (Asura) Folk · Mohini and the demon who burned himself
By the dance: the demon copies her hand-on-head pose.
Rahu (Asura) · The churning of the ocean of milk
Beheaded; the head survives as Rahu.

Mohini parent of

Aiyanar (God) Folk · Aiyanar, the horseman at the village edge
Mother in the Shasta identification; Vishnu's female form.

Stories 9

Aiyanar, the horseman at the village edge
Folk tale · as mother in the Sanskritised telling, Vishnu's female form · 2 tellings
Ayyappa and his companion Vavar
Local story · as mother, Vishnu's female form · 2 tellings
The Puranas played till dawn
Folk tale · as Vishnu's enchantress in the same piece · 1 telling
The churning of the ocean of milk
Legend · as disguise · 3 tellings
Mohini and the demon who burned himself
Folk tale · as the dancer · 2 tellings
The birth of Ayyappa
Temple legend · as mother · 4 tellings
The demon who could burn with a touch
Folk tale · as the popular form of the trickster · 2 tellings
The churning of the ocean of milk
Legend · as disguise · 3 tellings
Mohini, the self-burning demon and the birth of Ayyappa
Folk tale · as protagonist · 1 telling

Cited

Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhaktivedanta Vedabase), cited by canto.chapter § 8.12 Primary text (translation)
Mohini — Wikipedia Encyclopedia
Bhasmasura — Wikipedia Encyclopedia