In Hindu mythology, Bhasmasur was an asura who performed great penance to obtain a boon from Lord Shiva that would allow him to turn anyone whose head he touched into ashes. Bhasmasur then proceeded to touch Shiva, after he saw the Lord’s consort, Parvati, and wanted to possess her. Lord Shiva fled to seek help from Lord Vishnu, who then took the form of enchantress Mohini and tricked Bhasmasur into dancing with her and mimicking her moves. Once the asura’s guard was down, Mohini touched her own head in a dance move that Bhasmasur immediately copied, and was promptly reduced to ashes.

The modern day adaptation of this mythological tale was originally conceived by Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, which The UnReal Times presents here with a few embellishments: