The work is inspired by Mohini, the fascinating female avatar form of Vishnu, one of the Trinity in Hinduism. She appears in several Hindu and Buddhist texts at different points in time. She denotes the very essence of female beauty and allurement and has an active history in the destruction of demons throughout Hindu texts.
Mohini appears in the Samudra Manthan episode in Hindu mythology where the Amrita, or nectar of immortality, is produced by the churning of the Ocean of Milk by the Gods(Deva) and the Demons(Asura). Vishnu assumes the form of the enchantress Mohini, and uses her allure to trick the Asuras into giving her the Amrita, and then distributes it amongst the Devas, in the process also discovering the Asura, Rahu disguised as a God, severing his head and thus creating Rahu from the immortalised head and Ketu from the body. In vedic astrology, Rahu and Ketu denote the two points of intersection of the paths of the Sun and the Moon.
In the Vishnu Purana, Mohini tricks Bhasmasura , the "ash-demon" into self immolation who betrays Shiva after being granted a boon by him. Another mythological episode narrates Shiva being smitten by Mohini, and the creation of the God Ayyappa from Shiva's energy, discharged upon embracing Mohini.
Acrylic on canvas 36 X 36
Status: Not available
Series: Miscellaneous works
