God As Mohinī-mūrti - The Supreme Lord's Enchanting Female Incarnation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is celebrated as all-attractive, possessing every opulence in full—including beauty. While we generally conceive of God in His original, supreme male form (puruṣa), Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that the Lord's absolute nature allows Him to manifest as the most beautiful woman in existence to execute His divine will. This extraordinary female incarnation is known as Mohinī-mūrti.
The Appearance of Supreme Beauty
Following the churning of the milk ocean, a great conflict arose between the demons and the demigods over the nectar of immortality. To resolve this, Lord Viṣṇu assumed the form of Mohinī-mūrti. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes Her beauty as absolutely unprecedented; Her complexion resembled a newly grown blackish lotus, and Her features challenged even the goddess of fortune.
- While the fighting was going on among the demons, the Lord Himself (Lord Visnu) appeared as the incarnation Mohini, the most beautiful woman in the universe.
- This (Mohini-murti) form assumed by the Personality of Godhead challenged the goddess of fortune. The goddess of fortune is beautiful, but if the Lord accepts the form of a woman, He surpasses the goddess of fortune in beauty.
- This incarnation as a woman, Mohini-murti, was most pleasing to the mind. Her complexion resembled in color a newly grown blackish lotus, and every part of Her body was beautifully situated.
- The incarnations of Rama and Dhanvantari displayed His fame, and Balarama, Mohini and Vamana exhibited the Lord's beauty. Dattatreya, Matsya, Kumara and Kapila exhibited His transcendental knowledge.
Captivating and Tricking the Demons
The demons were entirely materialistic, driven by lust and the desire to exploit. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord, as Mohinī-mūrti, utilized this flaw against them. Utterly captivated by Her large breasts, thin waist, and sweet, joking words, the demons blindly trusted Her and handed over the jug of nectar, allowing Her to distribute it solely to the demigods.
- Lord Visnu appeared as the incarnation Mohini, the most beautiful woman in the world, just to captivate the demons and save the nectar for the demigods.
- When the Supreme Personality of Godhead assumed the form of the beautiful woman Mohini-murti, the demons were certainly captivated, but the demigods present were not.
- The demons, however, being captivated by Mohini-murti's bodily features, took Her words as a joke and confidently delivered the container of nectar into Her hands.
- Mohini-murti's large breasts made Her waist seem very thin. Attracted by the aroma of Her face and body, bumblebees hummed around Her, and thus Her eyes were restless. Her hair, which was extremely beautiful, was garlanded with mallika flowers.
Testing the Greatest Yogi, Lord Śiva
The most fascinating pastime of Mohinī-mūrti involves Lord Śiva, who is renowned as the most tolerant and unshakeable of all yogīs. Śrīla Prabhupāda narrates that Lord Śiva, confident in his detachment, specifically requested Lord Viṣṇu to show him this female form. Lord Viṣṇu gravely agreed, warning Śiva not to blame Him for the consequences.
- Lord Siva, who is carried by a bull, went to the place where Madhusudana, the Lord, resides. Accompanied by his wife, Uma, and surrounded by his companions, the ghosts, Lord Siva went there to see the Lord's form as a woman.
- Lord Siva's desiring to see Lord Visnu reveal the most attractive and beautiful form of a woman (Mohini-murti) was certainly a joking affair. Lord Siva knew that he could not be agitated by any so-called beautiful woman.
- Lord Siva wanted to see the Mohini-murti, which was captivating the entire world, and Lord Visnu was gravely thinking of how to captivate Lord Siva also. Therefore the word bhava-gambhiram is used here - in Srimad Bhagavatam 8.12.14.
- Lord Visnu told Lord Siva, "I will show you My form as a woman (Mohini-murti), and if you become agitated by lusty desires, do not blame Me."
Lord Śiva Acknowledges Defeat
Despite his immense ascetic power, Lord Śiva was no match for the internal potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda vividly describes how Lord Śiva became completely mad with lust upon seeing Mohinī-mūrti. Forgetting his exalted position and the presence of his wife Bhavānī, he chased after Her, ultimately acknowledging that no one can overcome the enchanting energy of the Supreme Lord.
- Because Lord Siva wanted to see Lord Visnu's form as a woman (Mohini-murti), Lord Visnu decided to impersonate a woman and show him a form that would immediately put him in an ocean of lusty desires.
- By the supreme desire of the Personality of Godhead, everything can be done. This was to be a test (Lord Visnu's form as a woman - Mohini-murti) of whether Lord Siva could remain unagitated.
- Lord Siva, who is considered to be most tolerant, was also struck by Cupid's arrow because he also became mad after the Mohini incarnation of the Lord and acknowledged himself to be defeated.
- After following Her (Mohini-murti) with great speed, Lord Siva caught Her by the braid of Her hair and dragged Her near him. Although She was unwilling, he embraced Her with his arms.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while God is ultimately the supreme puruṣa (the male enjoyer), He is absolute and therefore contains both male and female natures. The pastimes of Mohinī-mūrti perfectly demonstrate that the Supreme Lord's beauty is unrivaled in any form, and that His internal energy is so powerful it can bewilder the minds of the worst demons and the greatest of liberated yogīs alike.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God As Mohini-murti. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.