Hindu Mythology

"Together they [Devas and Asuras] set up a giant churn, using Meru, king of the mountains, as the spindle and Vasuki, king of the serpents, as the churning rope. Garuda, king of the birds and Vishnu's mount carried the churn to the ocean. It would have sunk but at the crucial moment, Akupara, king of the turtles and an incarnation of Vishnu, came to the rescue. He held the churn on his mighty back. The Daityas then caught the head end of the serpent king while the Adityas caught the neck end of the serpent king and began churning."

"The churning went on for eons. Finally, the milky ocean coagulated .and revealed its secrets...at long lost emerged a pot containing the elixir of immortality – Amrita. The Daityas grabbed the pot and ran away. The Adityas appealed to Vishnu, who took the form of the celestial enchantress."

"Mohini is the family deity of Gauda Saraswat Brahmins, who refer to her as “Shri Mahalasa Narayani”. Though the deity is viewed as female and is worshipped as a manifestation of the mother goddess, the devotee is constantly reminded that the goddess is in essence a form of Vishnu."

"Mohini and approached the Daityas, titillating them with her sensuous walk. “May I serve the divine liquid,” she asked flirtatiously. The Asuras, bewitched by beauty, could not refuse. They gave her the pot. So besotted were they by her sultry smile and her voluptuous figure that they failed to notice she was distributing the Amrita amongst the Adityas. The Daitya Rahu suspected the intentions of this damsel and sat amongst the Adityas as one of them. Just as he was about to take a sip of the elixir, the sun and the moon recognized him and alerted Mohini."

"My Lord, you look tired. Take a little rest before you start chasing Shiva again. Sit her in the cool shade. I shall fan you. Then you will feel better."

"Bhasmasura rose up and touched his head with his right hand."

"Did you see Shiva running this way? He was just in front of me. But then he somehow suddenly disappeared Where did he go?"

"The moment Bhasmasura touched his head, he was reduced to ashes. Bhasmasura was no more. Shiva came out of his hiding place and looked at Mohini. He was grateful to her and embraced her. In a flash, Mohini vanished, smiling at Shiva, and in her place stood Lord Vishnu."

"You just hide here for some time. I shall deal with Bhasmasura."

"At no point do Devas forget that Mohini is Vishnu. The word Mohini, meaning delusion personified, comes from the root ‘moha'—“enchantment”. A weak and unenlightened mind, embodied in the Daitya, fails to discover the truth of Vishnu and is seduced by Mohini. Thus another attribute of Hindu demons in their inability to recognize the divine. This the scriptures, state. Their subterranean abode is even farther away- when compared to the world of humans – from the celestial realms of knowledge and truth."

"In a second Vishnu changed his form. He became Mohini, the most beautiful of woman."

"Then, my Lord, let me have the power that I ask for. By that power, anybody whose head I touch with my right hand should be reduced to ashes."

"I hereby grant you that power. Anybody whose head you touch with your right hand will die and be reduced to ashes."

"You have my blessings. You would surely like to receive something from me as a gift. It is yours for the asking."

"Bhasmasura laughed. He was happy with the magic power he had received from Shiva."

"Bhasmasura was a wicked and greedy person. He wanted to be a powerful king. But he was neither strong nor brave. He knew he could not wage wars or defeat other kings. Bhasmasura, therefore, wished to obtain some magic powers. He decided to worship Lord Shiva and ask for such powers. Bhasmasura went to a dense jungle. There, he selected a quiet place under a huge tree and settled down to worship Shiva. His prayer lasted a long time. At last, Lord Shiva appeared before Bhasmasura."

"I am greatly pleased with you. What can I do for you?"

"My Lord, you must now allow me to test the power you have given me."

"O Lord I only want your blessings. There is no other purpose behind my devotion to you."

"At first glance, this story of how Mohini tricks the Asuras and gives the Amrita to the Devas seems like a trickster story. The demons are duped by a damsel. Since the Asuras are villains, one is told, they deserve being cheated so. But this is a simplistic and incorrect understanding of the tale. One must remember that the Devas and Asuras are half brothers, children of Brahma who, like Vishnu, is a form of God."

"Devas are afraid losing what they have. Asuras are afraid of not having what Devas possess. Mohini chooses to give Amrita [nectar] only to the distracted Devas not because they are more worthy but to show how even taking away the fear of death of losing what they have does not take away fear of losing material things."

"Vishnu takes the form of Mohini and appears before the Devas and the Asuras. She is so beautiful that everyone is overwhelmed with desire. It is said that Shiva, having consumed Halahal, was about to retreat to his mountains abode when he sees Mohini. From that union of Shiva and Mohini is born Hari-Hara Suta, the son of Vishnu and Shiva, a child who possesses the ascetic qualities of Shiva , hence refuses to marry, as well as the warrior qualities of Vishnu, hence is ever willing to defend the society. In Tamil Nadu this warrior is called Aiyanar."

"The conflict within material reality, presided over by Vishnu, also manifests as the conflict between the Nagas and Garuda, the serpents and the king of the hawks."

"Conflict between two forces [Devas and Asuras] is a recurring theme in Hindu mythology. One conflict is that between material and spiritual reality, between the hermit and the nymph between Shiva and Mohini. The other is within material reality, between the Devas and the Asuras."

"So Shiva ran for his life. Bhasmasura ran after Shiva. Shiva ran over hills and mountains, crossed rivers and passed through thick jungles. But Bhasmasura was close behind him, with his right hand raised ready to touch Shiva and reduce him to ashes. Shiva needed help....Shiva prayed to Lord Vishnu to save his life. Vishnu appeared before him."

"Shiva needs to open his eyes to material reality. He needs to be seduced And so, Vishnu takes the form of an enchantress. He becomes Mohini and dances before Shiva. Shiva is compelled to open his eyes and look at Mohini. He recognises Mohini is Vishnu. She is spiritual reality cloaked in material reality. She is Vishnu playing with Prakriti and Maya. She is Vishnu in full control of time and space and subjective realities. Immersed in Brahman, she is inviting spiritual reality to enter her playground, rangabhoomi, and join the game of material reality, theleela."

"Oh, My Lord! I am freed today from the sin that Sagara committed. The taint of incarcerating you unjustly for eighteen years is erased with the holy mercy of Nageshaswami."

"The wish of Rukmangada and his elder sister wasn't fulfilled. Their dream was to unite Ahichchatra and Panchala to found the larger Kurupanchala Empire. That this shouldn't happen was the decision of the neighbouring kings. In this war of attrition, the Panchala king died. His grandson Tilanjala was crowned the king. Rukmangada was the prince of Panchala did not have any such wish. Nor did he feel disappointed that he did not become the king. He said that it was enough for him if a few people gave their consent."

"He somehow managed to finish the well-wishing invocation amidst sobs that day. The assemblage grew grim. One doesn't know whether it was premeditated or Rukmangada was inspired by Simha Bhatta's behaviour, King Rukmangada got up and headed over up to the door, shored King Purukutsa holding him by the other arm, and walking the king slowly and steadily, had the emperor of Hastinapura garland him."

"She will remember till her dying day this help of yours. She will keep a flame forever glowing in your name in the Vasanthikadevi temple. Rukmangada's face grew serious. With an evil thought striking, a smile played on his face."

"King Rukmangada arrived exactly at the appointed auspicious hour, performed a pooje for Nageshaswami before throwing the last offering into the sacrificial fire. Then he began to take out the playing-tokens from the golden jar that had been placed in front."

"Whatever be the people of Ayodhye, it is gratifying to note that even among them there are people who know Sanskrit. We have a scholarly meeting this evening.The human gods should come."

"Rukmangada has assumed command of Ahichchatra with the consent of the citizens it seems, I have heard he is a virtuous man. He even conducts religious discourses."

"Rukmangada, who had ascended the throne after Bhadrayu's death, was admittedly a religious man. The news that Ayodhye had vanquished both Kashi and Shravasthi at the same time was a bitter one for him...Just then Rukmangada was engaged to be married. His bride was king Panchala’s elder daughter. Queen Keshini hoped that through this liaison her younger brother would become the king of Ahichchatra and the prince of Panchala and would go on to found the Kurupanchala empire."

"Since Rukmangada loved learned disputations, he went with his brother to the ghoul and engaged him in argument. He was however defeated in the debate and so the ghoul caught hold of him to devour him. Seeing it, Hemangada [came to his rescue] said to the ghoul, 'O Brahmarakshas, do not eat him yet! I am his brother..."

"He [Ratnagada] who was ruling in the city of Amrita] had two sons Rukmangada and Hemangada — both wise and good and dearly loved of their father. Of them Rukmangada was well versed in the Sastras and Hemangada was a jnani of the highest order. On one occasion both of them went out on a hunting into a dense forest, followed by their retinue. They accounted for many a deer, tigers, hares, bisons etc., and being thoroughly exhausted rested beside a spring."

"Rukmangada was informed by some persons that there was a Brahmarakshas (a species of ghoulish spirit of a learned but degenerate Brahmin) close by, who was very learned, accustomed to challenge pandits for discussion, vanquish them and then eat them."

"He then uttered in Sanskrit the salutations that the queen of Ayodhye had sent Rukmangada. Rukmangada was proficient in Sanskrit."

"...King Rukmangada visited the great sage Vachaknavi. The king was virtuous and so handsome that the rishi's wife, Mukundaa, was smitten. She told the king of her desire. Rukmangada was horrified and rejected her with anger and disgust. But, Indra, the king of the gods, seized the opportunity. He descended to earth disguised as Rukmangada and lay with Mukundaa, to whom a son was born. The boy grew to manhood, in rectitude and righteousness. And then one day he discovered his illegitimacy. Grutshmada was devastated and grief stricken He prayed to Ganesha at Bhadra kavana, now called Mahad, and begged him to absolve the sins connected with his birth. Moved by his fervent prayers, Ganesha in his manifestation as Varadavinayaka granted his wishes and Grutshmada was liberated from the sin of his parents."

"The practice of Ekadashi [Eleventh day of the lunar calendar] by the king [Rukmangada] and his people throughout his kingdom made the inhabitants healthy and long lived."

"In order to break the pious practice of Ekadashi, Brahma sent an enchantress Mohini, who won Rukmangada's affection. The king forgot his responsibilities as a ruler and spent his time with Mohini. He obeyed her wishes in all respects except one, and that was in breaking the Ekadashi fast. Mohini forced him repeatedly, in desperation the king agreed to grant any wish of hers except the breaking of his fast. Mohini angrily demanded the head of his son. Rukmangada's son readily agreed to keep the word of his father and put his head on the block. In the nick of time Vishnu appeared and saved Rukmangada's son. He blessed the king and all the inhabitants of his kingdom."

"Then the handsome Kunti was united (in intercourse) with the god of justice in his spiritual form and obtained from him a son devoted to the good of all creatures. And she brought his excellent child.... an incorporeal voice (from the skies) said,...And this first child of Pandu shall be known by the name of w:YudhishtiraYudhishthira. Possessed of prowess and honesty of disposition, he shall be a famous king, known throughout the three worlds."

"Kunti summoned the eternal god of justice to obtain offspring from him. And she offered without loss of time, sacrifices unto the god and began to duly repeat the formula that Durvasa had imparted to her some time before. 'O Kunti, what am I to give thee?' And Kunti too smiling in her turn, replied, 'Thou must even give me offspring.'"

"Kunti wins two boons from the encounter: her own virgo intacta and special powers for her son."

"Kunti, like Ahalya with Indra, is curious. She wishes to test whether Durvasa’s boon really works. Significantly, this desire arises in her after she has menstruated. In her account to Vyasa, she frankly states that she had desired (sprihayanti) Surya, again reminding us of Ahalya when approached by Indra. Perceiving a radiant being in the rising sun she invites him, using the mantra. Once summoned, Surya, like Indra, will not return unsatisfied. He cajoles and browbeats the girl, assuring her of unimpaired virginity, and threatening to consume the kingdom and the boon-bestowing sage if denied. A thrilling conflation of desire and fear overpower Kunti’s reluctance, and she stipulates that the son thus born must be like his father."

"Large-eyed and well endowed, as her name Pritha connotes, she is strikingly lovely, and Kuntibhoja exhorts her not to neglect any service out of pride in her beauty. Kunti’s relationship with Durvasa does not appear to have been easy. In the account she gives much later to Vyasa, she tells him that despite Durvasa’s conduct having been such as to provide abundant cause for anger,she had not given way to it . She further states that she was constrained at the sage’s insistence to accept his boon, whereby any god would be compelled to answer her summons, and that she obeyed out of fear of his curse. The interaction that she describes after this between her and the sun god, Surya, is exactly similar – the same insistence and the same fear."

"Kunti, or Pritha, is the daughter of Shoora of the Vrishnis, given away when just a child to her father’s childless friend Kuntibhoja. This rankles deep within her; she voices her resentment pointedly both before and after the Kurukshetra war. Growing up in Kuntibhoja’s apartments, she finds no mother; Kuntibhoja himself hands her over, in adolescence, to the vagaries of the eccentric, w:Irascibleirascible and fiery sage Durvasa. Should she displease the sage, she is warned, it will dishonour her guardian’s clan as well as her own."

"By birth, she is a Yadava and her brother’s son is Krishna, one of the major shapers of epic action."

"Kunti and Draupadi are two women who shape the entire course of dynastic destiny in the Mahabharata. Kunti chooses the scion of Hastinapura, Pandu, to wed, and becomes the mother of the epic’s protagonists: the Pandavas."

"These years of Kunti’s life were comparatively peaceful. Hardly had Kunti heaved a sigh of relief when fresh troubles arose. Though the Pandavas were received as princes, they were not acknowledged as sole heirs to the throne. Dhritarashtra continued to rule though uncrowned and quarrels broke out among the cousins. Kunti’s Bhima, a hefty fellow, delighted in frightening his cousins. Apparently they in their turn tried to poison him. Kunti’s children proved themselves to be quick in learning the art."