Kamadeva
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other meanings, see kama.
Kâmadeva is the Hindu god of love. His other names include Ananga (incorporeal), Kandarpa ("God of amour"), Manmatha (churner of hearts), Madana (intoxicating), Ratikânta (lord of the seasons), Pushpavân or just Kâma ("desire").
Kâmadeva is represented as a young and handsome winged man who wields a bow and arrows. His bow is made of sugarcane with honeybees on it and his arrows are decorated with five kinds of fragrant flowers. His companions are a cuckoo, a parrot, hummingbees, the season of spring and the gentle breeze. All of these are symbols of spring season.
According to the Shiva purânam, Kâmadeva is a son (actually a creation) of Brahma, creator of the universe. According to other sources including the Skanda purânam, Kâmadeva is a brother of Prasuti; they are both the children of Shatarupa, a creation of Brahmâ. All sources concur on the fact that Kâmadeva is wed to Ratî, a daughter of Prasuti and Daksha (another son/creation of Brahmâ). According to some beliefs, Kâmadeva was also once reincarnated as Pradyumna, the son of Krishna and Rukminî.
Legends
Perhaps the best-known legend concerning Kâmadeva pertains to his annihilation and subsequent resurrection at the hands of Shiva. As related in the Kumârasâmbhavam, Kandarpa (Kâmadeva) resolved to aid the maiden Pârvatî in gaining the favour of Shiva. Kandarpa shot his arrows-of-desire at Shiva in order to disrupt the latter's meditation and help Pârvati gain the attention of the lord. The ploy backfired badly; Shiva was momentarily distracted but immediately realised what had happened. He was enraged, opened his dreadful third eye, and annihilated Kandarpa with a single fiery glance. Kandarpa's body was instantly reduced to ashes. The calamity was more than merely personal, since with the annihilation of Kâma (desire), the world became barren and unregenerative. Eventually, the marriage of Shiva and Pârvatî nevertheless came to be held. Later, at the behest of the gods and upon the intercession made by Parvati in favour of Kâmadeva's lamenting wife Rati, Shiva resurrected him to life, thus ensuring the procreative continuity of the world. Shiva resurrected Kandarpa, but only as a mental image, representing the true emotional and mental state of love rather than physical lust. Holi, the Indian festival of colours, and especially the bonfire traditionally lit on that day, are believed by some to commeration this legend.
