Mohini - Kerala Mural Archive

Detail Photos

Deity: Vishnu Location: Chemmanthatta Mahadeva Temple Theme: Non-narrative Visual Feature: Background pattern Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

Golden-skinned Mohini stands on a pedestal in a stance resembling a dance. She is playing with a ball and haslong flowing hair decorated with flowers that look like they are chembakam flowers (magnolia champaca). She is bare-brested and wearing a lower garment decorated with ornamental motifs. There is a dense forest scene behind her with trees, flowers and birds.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Vishnu
Secondary Figures: None
Iconographic Form: Mohini (Vishnu’s incarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: Golden-skinned; long flowy hair decorated with flowers; bare-chested; atop a pedestal; Wears jwellery studded with stones; right hand holds the loose end of her garment; left hand holds a ball; shrubs, trees and flowers in the background; a bird is also visible; a deer-like animal is seen to be mating in the background.
Rasa: Shringara

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 4
Adjacent Panels: Vishnu, Sreekrishnaleela

Narrative

Textual Source: Non-narrative
Mythological Tale: Mohini is considered to be an incarnation of Vishnu. As the Devas and asuras were churning the ocean using the mandhara mountain, many treasures came up, including the coveted nectar of immortality, amrith. As a fight ensured between Devas and Asuras as to who should consume the amrith, Vishnu took the form of the beautiful Mohini and actedas the mediator between the two groups. The asuras were mesmerised by her beauty and using that as a distraction, Mohini served all the amrit to the Devas. In Kerala murals, thereis a depiction of Mohini and Shiva together, with Godess Parvathy looking away at their union. Ayyappa or Shasthav was born of their union and went on to kill the demoness Mahishi.
Episode: Non-narrative

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Fair
Deterioration Type: Plaster loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Combined permission
Date of Documentation: 12/08/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: CMT_P004
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.