Mohini

Mohini (Sanskrit: “enchantress”) is an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, who took on the form of an irresistibly beautiful woman to defeat asuras (demons), and afterwards seduced the god Shiva into having sex with her in order to fend off a future catastrophe. Mohini is also the god Krishna, who transformed himself into a woman so he could marry and have sex with the tragic hero, Aravan. As a Hindu god/dess who changes sex and gender, Mohini is a notable figure in Hindu LGBTQ folklife and the global study of Gay-related religious folklife.

Mohini, Belur, India. Photo: Gopal Venkatesan (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mohini_Belur.jpg, May 2012) Top image: Lila Mohini by paramak

Mohini plays an important part in the mythology behind the annual Kundhavar-Aravan Festival for India’s Hijras (a folk made up of intersex people and males who traditionally emasculate themselves in honor of the goddess Bahuchara Mata). During the festival, Hijras re-enact Mohini’s one-day marriage to Aravan.

The Myths

Vishnu, who represents justice, is considered by Vaishnavas (Vishnu’s followers) to be the most excellent representation of Brahman, the Godhead or Universal Principle. Vishnu takes on various incarnations at various times to establish cosmic order when things become too corrupt. Those incarnations are his avatars, which include two principle ones: Rama and Krishna. Vishnu’s incarnations are male except for Mohini.

Mohini with the Nectar of immortality (vedicstoriesofindia.blogspot.com/2010/10/mohini.html,May 2012)