Mohini

Namaste all,

I was thinking about Lord Vishnu's incarnation as the woman Mohini and a few questions came to mind. I only know the basic story behind her so forgive my ignorance but here are my questions:

Is Mohini considered an avatar?

If so, why is she traditional excluded from the avatar list?

If so, it is said that Vishnu always incarnates with his Shakti, Lakshmi - in this case, how is that role filled? (Shiva?)

If she is not not an avatar, how is she different?


Thanks in advance for your insights!

Fireside_Hindu said:

Is Mohini considered an avatar?

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No, Mohini is just a form Vishnu took on to fullfil a certain task.
An avatar is an incarnation of Vishnu on earth.

According to this 24 Avataars of Lord Vishnu Mohinī is the 14th avatar of Lord Vishnu's 24 avatars. When you think about it, Maa Lakshmi incarnated only a few times. Here's some people's thoughts on full v. partial avatar Anshavatar and Purnavatar - are there different types of avatars?

In the 108 Names of the Divine Mother (or the 108 which I learnt anyway, other combinations no doubt exist!) Mohini is listed among them.

Didn't Mohini do so to get someone jealous?

The Adept said:

Didn't Mohini do so to get someone jealous?

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No, she appeared in order to trick the asuras into returning the pot of amrita to the devas. Shiva was so taken with her that he ran off after her. From their union Ayyappa was born.

Fireside_Hindu said:

Namaste all,

I was thinking about Lord Vishnu's incarnation as the woman Mohini and a few questions came to mind. I only know the basic story behind her so forgive my ignorance but here are my questions:

Is Mohini considered an avatar?

If so, why is she traditional excluded from the avatar list?

If so, it is said that Vishnu always incarnates with his Shakti, Lakshmi - in this case, how is that role filled? (Shiva?)

If she is not not an avatar, how is she different?


Thanks in advance for your insights!

Click to expand...

Mohini is an avatara, but she is an amsha avatara, meaning just to come to earth, perform the task needed, and go back. Also, she is not pure sattva, she is mixed with rajas, too. Narada, Dattatraya, Yagna avatar, Rishabhdev, Prithu, Dhanvantari, Mohini, Balarama and the Buddha are all amsha avatars. Mohini is a form taken by the Lord Himself, but is not worshipped since its primary purpose was to delude the asuras.

The list of 10 avatars is not the whole story. All the 10 avatars in that list are purnavataras, pure sattva, with a transcendental form, not of flesh. Here is a list of all the avatars 24 Avataars of Lord Vishnu

The Goddess of Fortune always resides in Narayana's chest, and in His purnavatars, at all times

Fireside_Hindu said:

Is Mohini considered an avatar? If so, why is she traditional excluded from the avatar list?

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Male chauvinism, I suppose.
Seriously, there are many more avataras of Lord Vishnu in various strengths (types, for want of better word), it is just that Mohini is not one of the 'Dashavataras'. Like what Shrew said, just a form, did not come to the world like Rama or Krishna.

The Adept said:

Didn't Mohini do so to get someone jealous?

Click to expand...

More correctly to befuddle, to charm and deceive Asuras. Not Mohini's fault that even Lord Shiva was befuddled.