Mohini - Kerala Mural Archive

Kadavil Thrikkovil, KTK_P012 — Mohini: full panel view

Detail Photos

Deity: Mohini Location: Kadavil Thrikkovil Sreekrishna Swamy Temple Theme: Local tradition Visual Feature: Background pattern Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

This heavily faded image depicts Mohini playing with a ball. She is trying to seduce Shiva. Her right hand is holding a white ball up above her head, and her left hand is holding on to the end of her sari, preventing it from slipping away. She is beautifully depicted, with long black hair decorated with flowers. She is standing under a tree.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Mohini
Iconographic Form: Mohini (Vishnu's incarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: Yellow skinned, long-haired, Mohini with a white sari. Her right hand is holding up a ball, and her left hand is holding on to the sari she is draped in. The background consists of a tree. The image is very unclear.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 12
Adjacent Panels: Shivamohini and Mahalakshmi

Narrative

Textual Source: Local tradition
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 shivan 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: Ayyappacharitham
Position within Narrative Sequence: 1 out of 3

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Poor
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Temple priest
Date of Documentation: 10/05/2025
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: KTK_P012
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.