Please kill ‘ifs’ & ‘buts’. An ancient tale tells the importance of fast on Ekadesi that Kingmangada and his people observed. With the blessings of lord Vishnu, everyone became immortal and so all went to the sacred abode of the great God. It disturbed the lord of Death. How? It has contemporary relevance.

Creation of a divine woman and her failure

If Supreme Brahma dispatched Mohini to King Rukmangada, he wanted to serve a divine cause. The Gods of heaven prevailed upon Supreme Brahma, and thus, out of the body, he created the most beautiful woman to captivate the king and distract him from the path of dharma. Yama was in trouble and the great system of balance the great Brahma had created suffered because of certain flaws as men started everlasting journey to Vaikuntha because of devotion to lord Vishnu strengthened the observance of fast on Ekadesi. Though she tried to violate meditation and devotion of Rukmangada towards lord Vishnu, yet she failed.

Queen Sandhyavali and prince Dharmangada were a great source of strength to the king and they stood behind so that none is able to disturb the king. Mohini’s failure caused natural anxieties among gods and when lord Vishnu took Rukmangada, Sandhyavali and Dharmangada to Vaikuntha, Mohini was bewildered and shocked. She fell unconscious on the ground. On the other hand, Yama felt disillusioned as the very objective stood defeated and even Supreme Brahma was unable to help. Brahma and various gods arrived at the site where Mohini was lying unconscious.

Gods encourage Mohini but royal priest stops and reduces her to ashes

Gods inspired and encouraged Mohini not to feel disheartened. They were extremely satisfied with the efforts she put. If she failed, it was immaterial. She wholeheartedly tried to speak of the futility of observance of fast. She knew if the king discontinued to observe fast, people of the empire would follow, and thus, the crowding of the Vaikuntha would stop, and as a result, human beings will die and go to the land of Yama, who would begin to perform assigned duties as the Supreme lord had destined and desired. Gods spoke highly of Mohini but she held firm reasons and appeared quite changed. She knew the divine powers of the Supreme Lord. She spoke of the glory, splendeur and magnificence of lord Vishnu.

Gods were indebted to Mohini in right earnestness, and therefore, wanted to bless. However, before they could confer a boon on Mohini, a royal priest appeared and angrily spoke of sins and treachery of Mohini and told the gathering of gods that she was not a devoted wife and was a stigma on the tribe of women. Later on, he warned even gods that if they tried to protect an aberrant and impish woman, he would not hesitate to chastise. Afterward, the brahmin in anger uncontrollable, burnt the unholy woman with the fire of tapa, and thus, reduced the daughter of Brahma to ashes. The royal priest condemned the celestial beauty because of sinful karmas while the gods wanted to help.

Mohini goes to heaven but none accepts an aberrant woman and so she suffers

The royal priest harshly criticized and condemned Mohini, who left mortal frame and went to the land of gods. When she arrived, the lord of Air Maruta reprimanded.

He was angry at her conduct and said rather unpleasantly, “O sinner, your nature is sinful. Your intellect is shallow and vile. O Mohini, you were engaged in destroying the will, an earnest wish and religious faith of the people so that they do not observe fast on the holy day of Ekadesi. Therefore, it is not possible for you to live in heaven.”

After uttering harsh and reproachful words, lord Maruta thrashed Mohini with a stick and after beating severely, he drove her to hell to suffer for many ages. All knew that lord Maruta admonished and hit and so, Mohini had to go to hell. All servants and attendants of lord of death Yama again whipped her grievously without showing mercy and threw her into a number of hells to suffer for a long time.

After brutal beatings and reprimands, the messengers of the lord of death, said, “O wicked woman, you prevailed upon the king to assassinate son Dharmangada. Therefore, you must suffer for the despicable and sinful karmas you committed on earth.”

The soldiers of Yama disgraced, humiliated, thrashed and reproached Mohini with the consent and command of lord Yama and therefore, she continued to suffer in various hells. She was tortured and hit as prescribed in the slate of destiny. It was apparent that Mohini died because of the curse of Brahmin, and therefore, the entire conscious vile powers of hell began to scorch and burn each limb of Mohini. Even the gods of heavens were ineffective to put up with the gravity of crimes she had committed. Tortures and sufferings of hell were immense and unforgivable. The gods and goddesses of hell, who nursed ego, pride and self-image while dealing with the sinners, were scared of the Mohini’s intensity of sin.

Gods hold a few meetings and appear before Yama

Gods held consultations and thereafter, went to the lord of Dharma, Yama and stood before with folded hands. They were nervous and full of fears.

After exercising control over anxieties and worries, one of the gods said, “O lord, O lord of the world, O lord of dharma, please have mercy and segregate Mohini from the tortures and injuries so that we get some relief. O lord, the mere touch of her body shall burn and reduce us to ashes. Therefore, she should be thrown out.”

The lord of death was extremely surprised to hear the pleadings of the lords of hell and spoke to the messengers, “Throw Mohini out of the loka. Whether he is a man, a woman, a thief, a god or goddess suffering tortures and scorches of hell, and who endures the curse of a brahmin, it is fine if one does not touch him or her. Therefore, banish the wicked woman, who tried to destroy the word and vow of a noble husband and attempted to get a virtuous son killed. She must be thrown out of hell, for she is slayer of dharma and hence, a brahmin cursed and condemned.”

On getting the commands, the fully armoured envoys of the lord of dharma, began assaulting Mohini with astras and sastras and threw her out of the land of Yamaloka. Then, Mohini, obsessed with material life, love and passion went to Patalaloka (the subterranean world) to undergo suffering of intense pain and agony. However, the citizens of Patalaloka, stopped entry.

Deeply hurt, Mohini returns to Brahma

Mohini was immensely aggrieved and sad at the treatment, and therefore, greatly humiliated and humbled, she returned to Supreme Brahma and said courteously, “O dear father, I have no place in the three worlds to live including the world of animate and inanimate created beings. No one is ready to offer shelter to an ill-fated woman. Wherever I go people speak against me and appear rude and impertinent.”

She stopped for a moment and then, resumed, “O lord, people attacked with various weapons and thus, threw me out of the land. O father, I went to King Rukmangada after you asked me to carry out the mission of destroying king’s tapa, observance of fast and devotion to lord Vishnu. I tried and adopted different methods and means to disrupt and violate the path of dharma King Rukmanagada pursued but now, the karmas invite ignominy and denunciation from the three worlds. I drove a noble husband to sufferings and desired him to cut off the head of a son with a sharp sword. Thereafter, I pushed queen Sandhyavali to anguish and distress.”

She tried to recount each event vividly.

After some moments, She added, “Because of sins and offenses, I attained a miserable condition. O lord, I find no shelter for a sinner. I am a sinner. I suffered greatly because of the curse of a brahmin. O father, people who are dead or burnt up because of the curse of a brahmin or whom a chandala killed or became food of the beasts of jungle, would live a good life and get salvation if holy Ganges blesses such sinners. I say malefactors or offenders, whom a strike of lightning destroys, get deliverance from sins and attain moksa if holy Ganges sanctifies. If you go and please the Brahmin who cursed me, only then, I shall get salvation.”

She appeared disheartened and disenchanted with life. When she tried to live in sufferings, and thereafter, even when the various lords of hell refused entry, she appeared before Brahma and sought guidance. It was the last resort where she could get a solution to sufferings and redemption from a life of continual miseries.

Supreme Brahma and gods of heavens appear before the brahmin

Supreme Brahma could not afford to see sufferings of a divine daughter. Therefore, Brahma requested Shiva, Indra, Dharma, Surya, Agni, gods and lord of gods, sages and seers to accompany him. They asked Mohini to walk ahead and soon after, they arrived at the cottage of the learned brahmin, the royal priest of King Rukmangada, who had issued the curse. All the gods surrounded supreme Brahma and after a moment, folded hands and saluted the brahmin with all the humility and sense of pride. No doubt, Rudra and various gods and lord of gods revere Supreme Brahma even the celestial beings also worshipped and respected him. Still for the love and affection of daughter Mohini, he saluted a great brahmin of tapa.

When the most arduous and thorny task of three worlds appears possible and then accomplished, at that time, it is not bad or impure as a principle of life to greet even a younger. The elder and the most revered person, gets the admiration and glory of all, even while saluting and greeting a younger person. Therefore, Brahma the lord did not commit any impropriety. The learned brahmin was a profound scholar of Vedas and Vedanga. He was a man of tapa and meditation. When the learned brahmin saw Lord Brahma along with the gods of heavens accompanying him, he got up, saluted and greeted Lord Brahma, various gods and monks reverentially and requested all to take seats after religiously and devotionally, worshipping, praising and singing hymns of glory extolling virtues and divinity of the gods of heavens.

After the brahmin was free from reverential karmas and ceremonies, Lord Brahma, the creator and preserver of entire universe, for the sake of Mohini, spoke to the royal priest beseechingly, “O holy brahmin, you are a learned pundit. You are a man of virtuous conduct and capable of doing favour to the various worlds also. O sea of clemency and kindness, show pity and empathy and bless Mohini with the boon of salvation. O holy brahmin, Mohini is my daughter. O learned brahmin, after finding Yamaloka empty and deserted, I dispatched Mohini to captivate and distract King Rukmangada, and the act of tapa and austerity, in due course of time, was to glorify the great devotee of lord Vishnu. I found nothing wrong. It was a divine wish. O brahmin, the movement of dharma is mysterious and subtle. A divine design works in the direction of the comfort and magnificence of all the worlds.” Lord Brahma said and looked penetratingly into the eyes of holy brahmin, a man of tapa and devotion.

After a pause, the great lord looked around. He observed all the gods standing with folded hands.

He resumed, “The creation of a celestial daughter Mohini was an anvil to test the dharma of King Rukmangada and through the crises ridden moments, King Rukmangada, queen Sandhyavali and prince Dharmangada went to Vaikuntha, for they adhered to the tenets of dharma. It was destined to occur, O brahmin. King Rukmangada with the divine blessings, powers and grace was engaged in tapa with devotion, and observed fast on the holy day of Ekadesi. Not only this, he inspired people of the empire to observe fast. Consequently, people began going to Vaikuntha and thus, the land of Yama was deserted as the influence of fast on Ekedesi wiped out the writings on the Slate of Destiny of the senior most minister Chitragupta of lord Yama.”

Continuing the argument, he said, “O brahmin, the attainment of Vaikuntha is impossible for a learned man of Sankhya. Even the knower of Ashtangayoga fails to attain Vaikuntha through the practice of yoga. It is such a difficult land to attain. However, King Rukmangada, prince Dharmangada and queen Sandhyavali attained the supreme loka of lord Vishnu after gaining strength of bhakti and dedication through a fast on Ekadesi. Mohini acted against the bigheartedness and altruistic nature of the great king and tried to behave negatively. With the terminal influence of sin she suffered very much and therefore, the anger and curse of brahmin reduced her to a miserable condition.”

He continued in gentle words, “O brahmin, scorching heat of curse reduced the divine daughter to a mere heap of ashes. O holy brahmin, please forgive for whatever uncharitable and immoral crimes she committed. Be happy and calm down. Because of the curse, she lives a life of sufferings and tortures. Be generous and happy and bless Mohini with salvation.”

Holy brahmin is impressed

After listening to the sublime and holy words of Lord Brahma, the brahmin of tapa, reflected on all aspects and then, became calm and the great lord noticed no trace of anger.

He looked at Supreme Brahma with reverence and said, “O Supreme Lord, Mohini is an embodiment of sins. I cannot give her a place in any of the three worlds of created beings because of the magnitude and seriousness of sins. O Supreme lord of gods, I think we should act in a way that proves the curse true and at the same time, proves the sanctity of your word. We must ensure that it serves the purpose of gods for which you assigned the job. O Lord Brahma, I wish it should also fulfil the inner desires of Mohini. If it is possible, then I presume you would achieve the great objective. Therefore, Mohini should stay at a place where no created being ever suffered from fear.”

When learned brahmin said words that honoured wishes and demands of Lord Brahma, gods, monks, sages, created beings and the learned brahmin, the Supreme Brahma held consultations with gods and said, “O Mohini, I find no place for you to live.”

After hearing Brahma, Mohini saluted the gods and said, “O lord of gods and gods of heavens, the gods are witness to the three worlds. I salute you a hundred times O gods. I salute the learned brahmin a hundred times, and I also offer again modest salutations to all with folded hands. You should be happy and then, fulfil wish that I so eagerly beg. Please bestow a place and land everyone loves. The place and land should elicit your love, blessing and affection. O holy souls, who give honour, grace and elegance to others, I wish you issue a curse against the day of Ekadesi so that it belongs to me. You should act in that direction and fulfil the desire. I stand here as a beggar. Please bless. I made the demand for the fulfillment of my desires and objectives.”

Thus, Mohini made a last attempt to redeem lost honour and glory.

Mohini gets back old glory and status- Lord Yama is happy

Later on, the gods spoke in detail about the observance of fast on Ekadesi and assured of a respectable place and consequent deliverance. With sincere efforts and devotion, she slowly regained lost glory and status. She got permission to go around the holy places so that she was in a position to destroy sins. Compassion and mercy of gods instilled feelings of gratitude. Now, pleasure and joy made her happy. She saluted the gods and the holy Brahmin, and thereafter, at an appropriate place on a day before Ekedashi i.e. tenth day (purvavarti dashmi), situated in the inner part of Surya, she made efforts to attain salvation. When the lord of death Yama saw the development, he was extremely happy.

The three worlds knew that the tenth day i.e. a day before Ekadesi is the day of the lord of Yama. Counseled to establish in the last part dashmi, Mohini was happy. The gods advised further that after situating in the place she should wander about with the rays of moon and the sun.

Gods advised, “O Mohini, now, you should go on a pilgrimage to all the holy places of the world with the purpose of destroying your sins. You should situate in holy fast at the most propitious moment of morning hours between earlier to four dandas or paharas before the sunrise and the real sunrise, the time of Brahma-muhurata, considered as the most propitious time for beginning anything new and get the reward and beneficial fruit of the fast of Ekadesi. He, who undergoes fast of Ekadesi in a similar way, will definitely benefit you. Here, the time of arunadaya (time before the actual sunrise) is equal to two muhuratas. Fifteen muharatas for each day and night are acceptable. Day and nights are long and short during the year as per the movement of sun and one should try to understand the length of muhurats according to the principle of Trairashika. After the thirteenth muhurata of night, you will situate in the last part of dashmi, and there, you will get reward and people observing fast on that day would bestow punyas. You are blessed with the boon and now, should not worry.”

He said, “O Mohini, you helped me to gain glory and prestige in the world. You stopped drumbeats to remind people about the observance of fast on Ekadesi.”

She explained the difference between the auspicious moment before the sunrise and the observance of fast of dashmi. Relation of dashami with the time of sunrise and before the sunrise, are quite significant. Gods told that if the time of dashmi touches the time of sunrise or extends to the time of sunrise, one would say, it is not favourable. If dashmi does not touch the time of sunrise, even then, it creates infatuation and obsession in the minds of human beings. Human beings, who discard dashami and observe fast, attain pleasures and joys of material things, they yearn so eagerly.”

Yama opened the doors to salvation after he said the above words. He appeared quite cheerful and pleased and after advising the daughter of Brahma Mohini, he saluted and left the place with gods and held the hand of a prominent minister Chitragupta.

Mohini’s prayers before the Supreme Brahma, who requests the royal priest

Mohini said to Brahma, “O dear father, the great and learned purohit reduced the body to ashes in anger, and thus I stand damned, and therefore, suffer anguish and humiliation. O Supreme Brahma, do something so that I retrieve body and beauty.”

After hearing pleadings and remorseful words of Mohini, Supreme Brahma, looked at her with love and compassion and then, the Creator of Universe Brahma spoke to the godlike brahmin, “O father Vasu, please listen. O the most learned man, I shall try to say a few worthy words for your wellbeing, Mohini and the three worlds. O most honourable brahmin, out of extreme anger and fury, you reduced Mohini to mere ashes, just vestiges of dust. Now, she requests for the restitution of body, and so begs before you. Therefore, please allow. O holy brahmin, even though she is my daughter and your patron, yet she suffers in agony. It is our sacred duty that we restore beauty and physique of Mohini. O most learned brahmin, if you permit with a clear and pure conscience and feelings, then, I can manage to recreate Mohini with a new body and beauty. She will take birth and enjoy life O brahmin, if you desire, show mercy and benevolence.”

He paused for a few moments and it appeared he was keen to visit the background of sins she committed.

After a thought, he said, “O brahmin, I understand, she is enemy of Ekadesi and thereby, nurses feelings of jealousy and hostility toward people, who observe fast on Ekadesi and worship lord Vishnu. O brahmin, I know she is a great sinner. However, O learned soul please do something for the deliverance of Mohini so that she is free from a fated life of sins.”

Supreme Brahma was soft, gentle and humble and tried to convince the learned priest of King Rukmangada. No doubt, the lord’s requests were reasonable and relevant yet he followed the path the destiny determined. After hearing reverential words of imploration from the Supreme Lord, the royal priest, consented for the reinstatement of the body, charm and divine beauty of the great queen of his patron. After getting the blissful approval of the wise brahmin, Pitamahah and the Supreme Lord sprinkled water taken out of the bowl of brass (kamandalu) and soaked the ashes of condemned Mohini. The moment, the holy water inundated the ashes, Mohini, the divine beauty, regained earlier physique of charm and magic. She saluted father Brahma the Creator of universe, and with immense show of humility and grace, prostrated at the feet of the wise brahmin Vasu and expressed gratitude.

Royal priest Vasu was happy and delighted. He looked at Mohini, who had lost her son and husband and had been suffering the agonies of sins. He could feel the pains of the woman, and therefore, he said, “O goddess, I left anger and rage as Supreme Brahma desired. Now, I make efforts to work for the most preferred salvation for you, and therefore, I shall arrange visits to tirthas where you will take holy bath, and then, perform punya (virtuous) karmas.”

Vasu said, saluted Supreme Brahma, and thereafter, extended respect, and gave a warm and deferential send-off. Supreme Brahma went to the most illuminated abode. Vasu, the royal priest was not convinced that Mohini was fit for mercy and salvation, and therefore, contemplated as to how best he could assist Mohini to attain freedom from a life of sins and denunciation she had suffered for a long period.