The female form of महाविष्णु . Devas and Asuras quarrelled with each other over the right of partaking the अमृत ( नेच्तर् ) obtained from the sea of Milk. At that time महाविष्णु appeared before them in the guise of a beautiful maiden of maddening charm and the asuras were guilefully made to turn their attention on her for some time during which time the nectar was carried away by the Devas. The female form of महाविष्णु was called मोहिनी .

शिव fell in love with मोहिनी and by the union of the two was born शास्ता . (See under Amṛtam) . (8th Skandha, Bhāgavata) .