Mohini Ekadashi: Why Did Mohini, a Female Incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Burn Bhasmasur? 

We all have heard the stories of Dashavatar, the ten divine incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha (half man, half lion), Vamana, Lord Parshuram, Lord Rama, Krishna (the most lovable one), Buddha, and Kalki (the most awaited one). You might have heard about Mohini, a female incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Mohini, but don’t know the story behind taking the form. 

Let’s learn why Mohini Ekadashi is celebrated and the reason behind her origin. 

Why Lord Vishnu Took a Female Incarnation and What Does Mohini Signify in Hindu Mythology? 

• Mohini, the charmer.
• Mohini, personified grace.
• Mohini, a beauty with delusion.

Mohini is a female incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the protector, the preserver, and the sustainer. He took the form to save the earth from the demon Bhasmasur. However, before we get into the story, let’s learn about Mohini‌. 

A Story About Mohini, a Female Incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and Why We Celebrate Mohini Ekadashi? 

Mohini is the only female incarnation we know that Lord Vishnu took, but the behind story may surprise you. However, let’s get to know when Lord Vishnu’s Mohini avatar appeared for the first time in Indian mythology and sacred scriptures. 

Shrimad Bhagavatam, the book of Krishna’s Leela, narrates how Mohini, the divine enchantress, appeared for the first time. She is the illusion (Maya) or manifestation of Lord Vishnu, the charmer who looted the hearts of the gods, demons, and other divine beings. 

What is the Meaning of Mohini in Sanskrit?

Mohini, the beautiful dame with elegant limbs and a pearly appearance, possessed the power of captivation. In Sanskrit, Mohini personifies delusion. She can captivate, confuse, and delude any being, whether gods, demons, Gandharvas, etc., with her charm. 

If a being is deluded by beauty, they must beware of the risks awaiting them. 

Why Did Mohini Burn Bhasmasur, the Demon? 

Bhasmasur, a foolish but evil demon, wanted power so he could get the respect of demons, gods, and other beings. He decided there was only one way to gain respect: penance. 

He began his penance to make Lord Shiva happy so that he could seek his blessing and a boon he desired. 

Bhasmasur spent an unbelievably long time performing penance. Gods began to worry a lot because Bhasmasur gained the opportunity to be blessed with a boon of his desire. 

Lord Shiva appeared before him and asked for the boon he wanted. 

Bhasmasur asked for the boon of immortality. When Lord Shiva denied, he requested another boon with a twist.

Being cunning and foolish, Bhasmasur requested Lord Shiva to give him the power to turn someone’s head into ash whenever he touched it. 

“Tathastu,” meaning, As you wish,” the boon was granted. 

Mahadev right away knew he had made a huge mistake when Bhasmasur wanted to test his boon, whether it worked or Lord Shiva had made him foolish. He tried his boon on Brahmins and innocent people, and even animals. They all burned. 

After returning, Bhasmasur expressed his satisfaction with the boon. And now he wanted to test if the boon worked on gods. Lord Shiva was present there, and Bhasmasur wanted to use his boon on him.

Mahadev, to save himself, had to run away while Bhasmasur was chasing him. 

Mohini, a female incarnation of Lord Vishnu, became a damsel to save Lord Shiva from the ill intentions of Bhasmasur. Therefore, he took the form of the enchantress on Mohini Ekadashi and killed Bhasmasur. Her charm, beauty, grace, and delicate limbs captivated him. Bhasmasur wanted to marry Mohini, the Maya or illusion.

Mohini accepted the proposal of Bhasmasur and asked him to join in a dance competition.

During the dance, she put her hand on her gracious head adorned with jewels as a dance move. Bhasmasur copied her move and turned into ashes because of the boon.

Never-Heard Stories of Mohini: Mohini Leela

• Vedic Story 1: Mohini Tricked Virochana with Love

Once Mohini helped the gods kill Virochana. He had a crown that safeguarded his life from any harm, and even from the gods. He was doing adharma continuously and hurting innocent people. The gods decided to punish him and ultimately kill him to stop the havoc. 

Gods prayed to Lord Vishnu to take the Mohini form and trick Virochana. Mohini made Virochana believe she loved him and stole the crown. 

Thereafter, Lord Vishnu killed the demon and restored dharma on the earth. 

• Vedic Story 2: Mohini Married Araka to Kill

As per one story, Araka, an Asura, had taken a vow of chastity but was continuously making the earth unbearable with his havoc and crimes. This problem grew because of his chastity of never looking at a woman. His power grew and turned into a strong beast. 

Krishna, the beloved son of Nandlal and Yashoda and the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, took the form of Mohini and made him fall in love with her. Mohini married Araka to break his chastity. And she succeeded after the three days of their wedding. 

Thereafter, when he completely became a married man, he lost his power and chastity and was killed.

Mohini — The Divine Strategist and Her Symbolism

Mohini, a female incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is the strategist. She plays with smartness and has a strategy. 

Mohini bedazzles people and symbolizes staying focused and alert. 

Here are the lessons: 

• Power and Responsibility: With every power you get responsibility; the bigger the power is, the bigger the responsibility is. 
• Wisdom and Deception: To kill Bhasmasur and to save Lord Shiva, Vishnu had to make a clever strategy; Mohini was the result. Mohini, the enchantress’s strategy, teaches us the importance of wisdom and making a strategy to face the challenges. 
• Divine Show to Teach Strategy Making: Lord Vishnu not only made a strategy, but Mohini also played a beautiful role in killing the demon and saving Lord Shiva.

Conclusion

Mohini Ekadashi is the day when people on earth worship her for bestowing us with her strategy-making and solution-centric planning in a complex but entertaining way. I, a writer of Vedic Story, am grateful to learn the purpose behind Mohini, the female incarnation of Lord Vishnu. And, I hope, you too have learned through this article on the enchantress.