Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

In Hindu mythology, Mohini is an enchantress and an avatar of the god Vishnu. She is most famously known for her role in the Samudra Manthana, or the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. During this event, Vishnu took the form of Mohini to distract the asuras (demons) while the devas (gods) obtained amrita, the elixir of immortality, thus saving the universe. The myth of Mohini is central to the Mohiniyattam dance form from Kerala, India, which is performed by women in honor of Vishnu's Mohini incarnation and often depicts divine love.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.