Bhasmasura was born of the Bhasma dust (ashes) on the body of Siva. Pleased at the gret devotion of the demon towards him, Siva asked him to name any boon he wanted. Bhasmasura said that he wanted the power to burn to ashes anybody on whose head he placed his hand. Bhasmasura became arrogant with the boon and he became a nightmare to the whole world. Then Mahavishnu appeared before him in the form of Mohini, an attractive dancer. Alluring him by her charm, she started on a dance called Muktanritya. During the course of this dance Bhasmasura was forced to place his hand on his own head and the moment his hand touched his head he was burned to ashes.
This deity commemorates that lila, as Mohini Murti is about to touch her head in the Muktanritya dance.
Mohini-murti was also present at the churning of the Milk Ocean. When the demons got the nectar of immortality from the ocean, Mohini-murti took the jug away and gave it to the demigods. The only demon who got to taste the nectar was Rahu, but she cut his head off before the nectar went into his body. Thus, Rahu's head became a planet (node of the moon).
This deity comes from South India. I inherited her from my father.
