Madhava Madhura Charitam

Mohini

The sound of the flute was enchanting. It paused the devas cutting off the worry in their thoughts while the asuras went completely blank.

There was something about the flute. Enticing yet at the same time it gave off the aura of danger. Asuras did like the danger sometimes. Adventure was interesting, wasn't it.

The fight for Amrita stopped in mid-way. Everyone just wanted to know who was playing the flute.

The foam from Ksheera Samudra melted away and first thing they saw was two beautiful feet.

Dark feet with bright red alta. Henna designs decorating them. The anklets were clinging to the feet as if the feet were life source for them.

The leg was crossed over the other. The bright yellow skirt with green borders. Her thin waist had a thin waist belt and her wide hips clutched a mekhala. A red translucent dupatta over her shoulder. Another red chunari set in place with a chudamani. The ears had long hangings that reached the shoulders.

The dark skinned woman who sat over a stone in the wide Ksheera Samudra. The arms held serpent bajuband, wrists had bracelets with pearl hanging, and fingers held rings. The shoulders had pearl decoration.

Her long black serpentine hair were lazily tied in a braid. 

Her eyes were wide as lotuses. The ends being just as red as the flowers. Kohl decorating them well. A crescent moon and bindi decorating the invisible third eye. The bindi was bright red as if reminding everyone of the Agni netra. Her perfect thin nose had a nose ring. The lips tinted red.

The wind from the lips flowed through the flute, the tune just as enchanting as her.

She stopped playing the flute and looked at all the people gathered there.

Getting off the stone, she started walking towards the group. It was as if Ksheera Samudra herself felt bliss when her feet touched the waters.

Her walk was like that of an intoxicated elephant, careless and unbothered by the glances she received.

"How come??" Narada wondered silently. The damsel before seemed like a woman he knew so well yet unknown. The pearls decoration and the anklets resembled Mahalakshmi herself. The evasive nature of seeming she was impossible to catch was also the nature Vishnumaya, Lakshmi.

Yet, she seemed so similar to Parvati, the divine mother. The dark skin, eyes, and the mekhala as if she wore Sagara itself for a mekhala. Her smile as enchanting and dangerous as that of Kalika. Narada could bet that if Shiva was to see her, he could assume her to be Parvati and fall to the charms.

Narada saw her feet and it reminded him of Parvati's divine feet where a Yogi would find everything. It reminded him of Mahalakshmi's feet that he touched and bowed his head to everyday. It seemed like his Narayana's feet where he found ultimate bliss.

Yet, something seemed unnatural about it. Narada thought for a moment and he put all the appearance together. Peacock feathers, yellow clothing, flute, enchanting nature, a teasing and mischievous smile.

This was his Vishnu. Knowing that this form was surely for the sake of Amrita, Narada joined his hands in respect but within his mind, he laid down on the ground, offering the Goddess a shashtanga Namaskara.

Acting coy, she smiled at them and started to walk away not bothering to get between the fight.

"Sundari, all of us think that you should distribute this amrita. Would you be kind enough to do so?" The rakshasas insisted.

Mohini chuckled and looked at them curiously, "Me? I'm as much as a stranger to you as a relative is to a newborn. Shastras say that you shouldn't make promises and decisions in a fit of passion. What looks like beautiful face could be your doom. If I were to disappear with this amrita kalasha then what will happen to you?"