Mohini
This corner of cyberspace is dedicated to the Enchantress Mohini, a transgendered form of divine manifestation.
Who is
Mohini?
Mohini comes to us from Hindu mythology. Her story is intriguing, mysterious, and erotic, like Mohini herself. Yet she bears new relevance in modern pagan culture, as she appears through modern eyes to be a transgendered deity. It is my hope that Mohini can bring comfort to other pagans, transgendered or otherwise, as she has to me.
Mohini is a female incarnation of the great preserver-god Vishnu. Vishnu's role in the cosmos is as the preserver of form and of balance. To meet his goals he frequently takes on fleshly form, often (but not always) human. While incarnate he retains his divine powers, but cannot be recognized by mortal eyes. His more prominent incarnations include Krishna, a central figure of Hindu belief, featured in India's epic Mahabharata; and Rama, the hero of the Ramayana. Mohini is special, though, in that she is a male god in female flesh. It is clear that the Hindu storytellers meant to portray her as "transgendered" in a very modern way. In Hindu philosophy, divinity is considered above gender; the gods and their female consorts are, beneath the surface, outer reflections of the same divine spark. Thus Vishnu, who is male, and Shri, his female consort, are, beneath it all, reflections of the same deity.
However, Mohini, "male-Visnhu-in-female-flesh," is of a different nature. It is quite clear from the way her stories are told that her alluring female form is an illusion drawn over the masculine form within. This illusion runs quite deep, because Mohini bears a child to the transformation-god Shiva. The interplay of gender within Mohini is of a different nature from that of Ardhanarisvara, the bi-gendered deity that results from the union of Shiva and his consort Parvati, as well as from that of Ayyappan, the hermaphroditic offspring of Mohini and Shiva. This "active" interplay of gender, as well as Mohini's highly erotic nature, allow us to conclude that Mohini is transgendered.
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.)
Suggested References.
The reader may learn more about Mohini or transgenderism by consulting the following sources:
Bullough, Vern L., and Bonnie Bullough. Cross Dressing, Sex, and Gender. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1993.
Cavendish, Richard, ed. Mythology: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 1980.
Epstein, Julia, and Kristina Straub, ed. Body Guards: The Cultural Politics of Gender Ambiguity. New York: Routledge, 1991. (This book contains numerous essays on societal reactions to gender-bending, including an excellent essay on the Oscar Wilde "Salome" interpretation.)
Evans, Arthur. The God of Ecstasy: Sex-Roles and the Madness of Dionysos. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1988. (This book deals with the place of Dionysos in history, in particular as representative of a gender-transcending, erotic, ecstatic current.)
O'Flaherty, Wendy, trans. Hindu Myths. New York, London: Penguin, 1975.
Williams, Walter L. The Spirit and the Flesh: Sexual Diversity in American Indian Culture. Boston: Beacon Press, 1986. (This book deals with the berdache, a Native American transgender tradition.)
Willis, Roy, ed. World Mythology. New York: Henry Holt Books, 1993.
Links.
These links provide more information on Mohini, the Mohini-Attam, Ayyappan, the worship of Vishnu (including oblation to Mohini) and Hindu beliefs.
Indian Mythology in a Nutshell -- contains the story of Mohini giving the amrit to the devas.
Dance -- a page with links to information on traditional Indian dance.
Mohini Attam -- a page with information about the Mohini-Attam dance form.
Another Mohini Attam page.
Brahmotsavams of Tirumala -- describes a festival in honor of Visnhu, the peak of which is the fifth day, when Mohini is honored.
Hindunet -- General information on Hindu deities.
Jvalamuhki -- a tantric Hindu goddess
Shri Ayyappa -- an American group that worships Ayyappan.
Copyright notice.
This is an original work by Callisto Radiant (T. Roberti) that has been placed on the Web for public use. Callisto Radiant may be reached at Sabrin1315@aol.com. You may share it, copy it, print it, etc., so long as this copyright notice is shared, copied, printed, etc., along with it.
Updated August 25, 1998 ev.