*** Our Devi of the Week *** Mohini Devi

[Guest guest]

Mohini Devi : the Enchantress, the Personification of Romance and

The Goddess who destroys the infatuation of a devotee.

 

Mohini in the Puranas, Epics and Vedas: (See message 2659 ) On the

Churning of the Ocean.

 

"But Vishnu, assuming an exquisite and ravishing woman-

form, deluded and fascinated them, and while they disagree amongst

themselves, he stole away the draught and brought it to the gods, who

drank deep from the cup of life"

 

The Saundaryalahari (Flood of Beauty), traditionally ascribed to

Shankaracarya, is one of the principal texts of Shakta Tantrism,

known all over India. In sloka 5, reference made to the incarnation

of Vishnu as Mohini.

 

haristvAmArAdhya praNatajanasaubhAgyajananiiM

purA nArii bhUtvA puraripumapi kShobhamanayat |

smaro'pi tvAM natvA ratinayanalehyena vapuShA

muniinAmapyantaH prabhavati hi mohAya mahatAm ||

 

Hari, after propitiating you, who are the mother of welfare for folk

bowed in worship,once became a female and agitated him (Shiva) who is

the enemy of the cities; Smara (Kama) himself, after bowing to you

with his body that is worthy of being caressed by the eyes of Rati,

has the power to produce illusion within even mighty sages.

 

(The Saundaryalahari; or, Flood of Beauty — Edited and translated

by

W. Norman Brown (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1958).

[Guest guest]

, "Nora

<ashwini_puralasamy>" <ashwini_puralasamy> wrote:

> Mohini Devi : the Enchantress, the Personification of Romance and

> The Goddess who destroys the infatuation of a devotee.

>

> Mohini in the Puranas, Epics and Vedas: (See message 2659 ) On the

> Churning of the Ocean.

>

> "But Vishnu, assuming an exquisite and ravishing woman-

> form, deluded and fascinated them, and while they disagree amongst

> themselves, he stole away the draught and brought it to the gods,

who

> drank deep from the cup of life"

 

Shri Gurudev Mahehendranath wrote a few words about Mohini in his

Aingimatikos. It's funny - laugh!

 

http://www.mahendranath.org/ainigmatikos.mhtml

 

For more information about Shri Gurudev, see:

 

http://www.mahendranath.org/

 

Regards,

 

Adityanath

[Guest guest]

Greetings to all,

 

 

This is something which i read about Mother

Mohini...Decided to share it with all...

 

 

The Erotic Illusion of Crossdressing

 

Crossdressing is highly erotic. It draws attention to the "real"

gender of the crossdresser, while at the same time creates a hyper-

sexual illusion. When the average heterosexual male (in our homo-

negative culture) encounters a highly passable male-to-female

crossdresser, who to his eyes is an attractive female, he is

presented at once with a dilemma. What he sees appears to be a

potential sex partner -- but his society says this is a no-no. The

resulting tension is reminiscent of the allure of the "exotic"

female. The straight male who is not repulsed by the dilemma may

find himself drawn irresistibly towards crossdressers, particularly

if he harbors any bisexual tendencies at all.

 

As a crossdresser I have seen the effects of this allure quite

often. One such "admirer" described to me his first chance meeting

with a crossdresser on a subway. She had very long legs and wore a

short red dress. He wasn't sure what made him realize that the woman

he saw was a crossdresser, but after realizing it, he felt an intense

desire that transformed his life. She smiled as he left the subway,

and his heart leapt. Thereafter he found himself fantasizing about

crossdressers, eventually even seeking them out -- at least to talk.

For him, and for numerous other admirers I have conversed with,

crossdressers exert a magically sexual pull.

 

In a way, the illusion of crossdressing is magic. The crossdresser,

upon dressing in "drag," becomes more than he or she was before, and

often feels more attractive in the guise of the opposite sex. The

very sensation of silks and nylon stockings for the male, or slacks

and tie for the female, creates an erotic high that never diminishes.

 

How this relates to Mohini will become immediately clear. The most

well-known story involving Mohini is the role she played in keeping

the asuras (demons) from getting a share of the amrit, the medicine

that provides strength and immortality.

 

 

Mohini in Hindu Mythology

 

Brahma tells the devas (gods) that they can obtain the amrit by

churning the ocean. To do this they decide to stir it with a

mountain -- but to do so, they have to enlist the help of the

asuras. The asuras, hoping to get all of it so they can pursue their

evil agendas, agree to help churn the ocean. After great difficulty

(and several adventures) the ocean finally surrenders the amrit they

seek.

 

At once the scene becomes chaotic. Vishnu, the preserver of order,

assumes the guise of Mohini. Mohini is described as an enchantress,

the most alluring female imaginable. It takes her little effort to

grab the hearts and libidos of the asuras. They agree to let her

distribute the amrit, and promise to abide by her decision. Mohini

promptly distributes the amrit among the devas and keeps the asuras

from getting any. Finally a battle erupts, but the asuras cannot

hope to match the newly-invigorated devas.

 

Modern readers will detect in this story a hint of sexism -- in the

suggestion that it takes a man to be a really alluring woman.

However, the real focus of this story seems to be the irresistable

erotic pull created by the transgender illusion. It is reasonable to

assume that the asuras know Mohini is really Vishnu in disguise.

After all, Shiva, who also succumbs to Mohini's charms, knows who

Mohini "really" is. However, the illusion is powerful enough that

they surrender to it.

 

The Mohini-Attam is a traditional dance form that celebrates the

story of how Mohini uses her charm to save Shiva from Bhasmasura, a

terrible demon. Bhasmasura, by performing admirable ascetic

sacrifices, wins the favor of Shiva, who is the god of ascetism.

Shiva grants him a boon, and Bhasmasura asks for the ability to turn

anyone he touches on the head into ash. Shiva agrees, whereupon the

demon attacks him and attempts to reduce him to ash! Shiva convinces

Vishnu to intervene, and Vishnu assumes the form of Mohini.

Bhasmasura is taken with Mohini, who convinces him to mimic every

move she makes during an alluring dance. Bhasmasura is so distracted

by her beauty and grace that she tricks him into patting himself on

the head -- thus saving Shiva.

 

There is a long-standing connection between theatrical dance and

crossdressing. Crossdressing and dance were used in the worship of

Dionysos in ancient Greece, and a popular interpretation of the

Salome myth holds that Salome was male. (Salome is the "daughter of

Herodias" in the Bible who dances so alluringly for Herod, Herodias

is able to convince him to have John the Baptist executed.) In

modern culture this translates into, among other manifestations, the

drag show. This is also indicative of another current long connected

with crossdressing -- that of the trickster. Tricksters from all

ages and times, from Loki to Bugs Bunny, are often shown using

crossdressing as a way of getting what they want.

 

The final tale about Mohini involves her coupling with Shiva. Shiva

sees Mohini frolicing in a garden, and despite himself, is drawn to

her. By succumbing to her charms and allowing her to seduce him,

Shiva admits the power of Vishnu's magic. Mohini bears Shiva a child,

known as Ayyappan (or Hariharaputra, a name derived from the titles

of Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara)). Ayyappan is a dual-gendered god

who brings serenity to those who honor him. (Homo-negative critics,

of course, use the myth of Ayyappan to attack the pagan tradition

that birthed him.)

 

 

OM SHAKTHI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, "Nora

<ashwini_puralasamy>" <ashwini_puralasamy> wrote:

> Mohini Devi : the Enchantress, the Personification of Romance and

> The Goddess who destroys the infatuation of a devotee.

>

> Mohini in the Puranas, Epics and Vedas: (See message 2659 ) On the

> Churning of the Ocean.

>

> "But Vishnu, assuming an exquisite and ravishing woman-

> form, deluded and fascinated them, and while they disagree amongst

> themselves, he stole away the draught and brought it to the gods,

who

> drank deep from the cup of life"

>

> The Saundaryalahari (Flood of Beauty), traditionally ascribed to

> Shankaracarya, is one of the principal texts of Shakta Tantrism,

> known all over India. In sloka 5, reference made to the incarnation

> of Vishnu as Mohini.

>

> haristvAmArAdhya praNatajanasaubhAgyajananiiM

> purA nArii bhUtvA puraripumapi kShobhamanayat |

> smaro'pi tvAM natvA ratinayanalehyena vapuShA

> muniinAmapyantaH prabhavati hi mohAya mahatAm ||

>

> Hari, after propitiating you, who are the mother of welfare for

folk

> bowed in worship,once became a female and agitated him (Shiva) who

is

> the enemy of the cities; Smara (Kama) himself, after bowing to you

> with his body that is worthy of being caressed by the eyes of

Rati,

> has the power to produce illusion within even mighty sages.

>

> (The Saundaryalahari; or, Flood of Beauty — Edited and translated

> by

> W. Norman Brown (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1958).

[Guest guest]

Greetings Adityanath

 

Shri Gurudev Mahehendranath wrote a few words about Mohini in his

Aingimatikos. It's funny - laugh!

http://www.mahendranath.org/ainigmatikos.mhtml

 

Thank you for the link. Make an interesting reading and Yes! I had a

good laugh.

[Guest guest]

The Bible says men are not to wear womens clothes and women are not to wear mens

clothes. This is God's will, therefore anything else is a punishable offense.

[Guest guest]

The Bible says men are not to wear womens clothes and women are not

to wear mens clothes. This is God's will, therefore anything else is

a punishable offense.

 

There are women who wears Jeans, is that okay for the bible?

 

That is why I think Hinduism is more flexible and applicable. The

GODDESS and GOD can turn themselves into Male and Female and vice

versa.

[Guest guest]

Dear Jack:

 

May I respectfully remind you that this is a Hinduism club, not a

Christian Evangelical forum for sharing "biblically sanctioned"

expressions of social conservatism and not a hideaway for

indulging "Goddess"-oriented sexual fetishes.

 

*** The Bible says men are not to wear womens clothes and women are

not to wear mens clothes. This is God's will, therefore anything else

is a punishable offense. ***

 

It seems rather disrespectful to toss around such Bible Belt

platitudes without including the slightest reference to (or showing

the merest familiarity with) the Hindu side ofthe issue. I am not a

Vaishnava, and I do not understand the subtleties of these

crossdressing rituals, and so I do not judge. There are certainly

knowledgeable Hindus who disagree with ritual crossdressing, yes.

There are also advanced Hindus (Ramakrishna among them) who advocate

the technique under prescribed circumstances. But whatever the case,

there is no need to act like a bull in a china shop, using social

directives from the Old Testament to attack traditions that you do

not understand.

 

*** Maybe what Hindu's really need is Eternal Life. ... You Hindu's

have forgotten about someone called Satan, so you get taken for a

ride by him. ***

 

This quote from another of your posts, written a few days ago,

contains a similarly hamfisted assault on an ancient and complex

system of customs and beliefs of which you appear to have not even

the most rudimentary understanding. Furthermore, when three Hindu

members answered your concerns (with considerably more respect than

you displayed toward them), you did not offer the courtesy of a reply

or even an acknowledgement to any of them. Instead, you returned to

pick-up mode:

 

*** Please, I want a goddess so I can enjoy with her. Where have they

been? Why not with me? Jack S. ***

 

Jack, may I respectfully request that you show a greater measure of

respect for this forum, its members, and the belief systems under

discussion here? If not, there are plenty of Christian Evangelist and

Sexual Fetish groups which would provide a more appropriate home for

your interests.

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe

 

DB

[Guest guest]

Good one, Noraji.;-))

"Nora <ashwini_puralasamy" <ashwini_puralasamy wrote:The

Bible says men are not to wear womens clothes and women are not

to wear mens clothes. This is God's will, therefore anything else is

a punishable offense.

 

There are women who wears Jeans, is that okay for the bible?

 

That is why I think Hinduism is more flexible and applicable. The

GODDESS and GOD can turn themselves into Male and Female and vice

versa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Mail you can get a bigger mailbox -- choose a size that fits your

needs

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Geez! Devi Bhakta now you have frighten him. You are too serious

sometimes! Jack just told me that its okay for women to wear jeans

provided she bought it in a women shop and made by women.

 

I wanted to ask weather it is okay for me to use cloths made by Men.

As most of my clothings especially my Sari blouse, dresses and even

my pants are tailored made sewn by Male Tailor. Its not to say that I

don't like Female Tailor, but this Male Tailor, he is nice,

friendly , reasonable and he lives near my place. Even his

workmanship I would say is superb.

 

Jack ! you're still there Jack !

[Guest guest]

Jack Styger wrote The Bible says men are not to wear womens clothes and women

are not to wear mens clothes. This is God's will, therefore anything else is a

punishable offense.

 

 

Whaaaa? I'm sorry, I think I've missed something - are you making a general,

stand-alone statement or are you referring to a previous post?

Beeecaauussee...think ya may be posting to the wrong group, there, young

man...Personally "God" only says what has been spoken to your own spirit or to

what has been written by another that you agree to accept, therefore, if this is

what you believe, then you and only you will be punished because this is your

reality, not mine. Not to mention the fact that this statement you've made is

completely out of context...

Charmed

[Guest guest]

Thank you! **both hands thrown up in exasperated gratitude**

Charmed

 

 

"Devi Bhakta <devi_bhakta" <devi_bhakta wrote:Dear Jack:

 

May I respectfully remind you that this is a Hinduism club, not a

Christian Evangelical forum for sharing "biblically sanctioned"

expressions of social conservatism and not a hideaway for

indulging "Goddess"-oriented sexual fetishes.

 

*** The Bible says men are not to wear womens clothes and women are

not to wear mens clothes. This is God's will, therefore anything else

is a punishable offense. ***

 

It seems rather disrespectful to toss around such Bible Belt

platitudes without including the slightest reference to (or showing

the merest familiarity with) the Hindu side ofthe issue. I am not a

Vaishnava, and I do not understand the subtleties of these

crossdressing rituals, and so I do not judge. There are certainly

knowledgeable Hindus who disagree with ritual crossdressing, yes.

There are also advanced Hindus (Ramakrishna among them) who advocate

the technique under prescribed circumstances. But whatever the case,

there is no need to act like a bull in a china shop, using social

directives from the Old Testament to attack traditions that you do

not understand.

 

*** Maybe what Hindu's really need is Eternal Life. ... You Hindu's

have forgotten about someone called Satan, so you get taken for a

ride by him. ***

 

This quote from another of your posts, written a few days ago,

contains a similarly hamfisted assault on an ancient and complex

system of customs and beliefs of which you appear to have not even

the most rudimentary understanding. Furthermore, when three Hindu

members answered your concerns (with considerably more respect than

you displayed toward them), you did not offer the courtesy of a reply

or even an acknowledgement to any of them. Instead, you returned to

pick-up mode:

 

*** Please, I want a goddess so I can enjoy with her. Where have they

been? Why not with me? Jack S. ***

 

Jack, may I respectfully request that you show a greater measure of

respect for this forum, its members, and the belief systems under

discussion here? If not, there are plenty of Christian Evangelist and

Sexual Fetish groups which would provide a more appropriate home for

your interests.

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe

 

DB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blessed Be,

Charmed

 

 

 

 

Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, and more

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Nora, you misunderstood. If the garment is for a woman it does not matter

who makes it a man or a woman O.K. dear

[Guest guest]

Well this is what you told me " women can wear blue jeans; it's

ok

girls but you buy yours in a womens store and made for women. And now

you said : If the garment is for a woman it does not matter who makes

it a man or a woman.

 

But how about if the garment is for women but sold in a Men's

store.

You know now too they have T-shirts and Shorts that both Men and

Women can wear. Now with unemployment, rising cost etc I think this

makes more sense, don't you think. We can save money. My husband

can

wear my T-shirt because it look cool with his long pants, and I can

use his T-shirt because it match with my skirts.

[Guest guest]

Another interesting story about Mohini:

 

Siva saved the world by destroying TripurAsura. The other Asuras

feared that Shiva will continue to destroy their entire community,

prayed to Vishnu. Vishnu promised and at the advise of Sage Narada,

worship Shri Devi in a form of Sri Cakra. He meditate on Shri Devi by

repeating the Devi Mahamantra. Devi ParaShakti appeared before Vishnu

and taught him the Mantra and the mode of worshipping the Shri Cakra.

Result of this worshipping : Vishnu became a great devi upasakas and

is able to transform himself into any form he wished for. Once Shiva

glanced at Mohini, his mind got agitated and he lost control of his

senses.

[Guest guest]

Hi Nora, You can do what you want but 'cross dressing' is not right. I am

familiar with many indian gurus for decades. I had met Krishnamurti personally

in Ojai, Ca.and heard him speak several times.I have also read books by and

about Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Yogananda, and of course Sathya Sai Baba. Some

even call Swami 'the Divine Mother' or Shiva or Krishna. I also am familiar with

Meher Baba to a large degree. And have read Hare Krishna books for 30 years. I

go to the Rathayatra in NYC in June. Oh, yeah another 'guru' I am very familiar

with is Sant Thakur Singh. I took initiation from him in 1994. However I started

eating eggs on my own recently. I prefer being a lacto/ovo vegetarian rather

than a more strict form.

 

Blessings, Jack