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One of the most fascinating aspects of Hindu mythology is the diversity and complexity of the gods and goddesses who inhabit the vast pantheon. Among them, there is one who stands out as the embodiment of love, desire, and pleasure: Lord Kamadeva.
He is the god of erotic love, who is responsible for inspiring passion and attraction in humans and other beings. He is often depicted as a handsome young man with a bow and arrows made of sugarcane and flowers. He rides a parrot as his vehicle and is accompanied by his consort Rati, the goddess of love.
Some of his names are Kama, Madana, Manmatha, Kandarpa, Ratikanta, Abhipura, Pradyumna, Mara, Ananga, Kushumeshara. Some of his attributes are his divine bow, his floral arrows, his five effects: Lambini, Tapini, Dravini, Marini, Bodhini, his five flowers: white lotus, blue lotus, jasmine, Ashoka tree flowers, mango tree flowers, his parrot mount Vakratunda, and his wife Rati.
Lord Kamadeva plays an important role in Hindu mythology as he is involved in many stories that illustrate his power and influence over life. One such story is how he was born from Lord Brahma’s mind. Another story is how he was burned to ashes by Lord Shiva’s third eye while he was shooting arrows at him while Shiva was meditating. A third story is how he was reborn as Pradyumna, the eldest son of Lord Krishna and Rukmini.
Lord Kamadeva is not only a god but also a symbol of human emotions and desires. He represents the joy and ecstasy that come from experiencing love in all its forms. He also teaches us to appreciate beauty and art in all their manifestations. He inspires us to pursue our passions and dreams with courage and confidence. He reminds us that love is not only a feeling but also a force that can create or destroy anything.
His origin story varies across different Hindu scriptures. Some of the prominent ones are these:
- In the Taittiriya Brahmana, Kamadeva is mentioned as a son of Dharma, the god of righteousness, and his wife Shraddha.
- The Mahabharata presents another version where Kamadeva is born from Prajapati’s heart.
- Kalika Purana adds that Kamadeva arises from the mind of Lord Brahma. After creating ten Prajapatis, Brahma brings forth Kamadeva, the deity of love and desire.
Kamadeva’s primary role is to arouse feelings of love and desire. In some myths, he is regarded as instrumental in the creation of the universe, tasked with inducing a sense of longing and attraction among beings to ensure procreation and the continuation of life.
Lord Kamadeva is richly steeped in symbolism, each element associated with him conveying profound meanings in Hindu iconography, art, and literature.
Kamadeva’s bow symbolizes his ability to arouse desire and emotions. The bow is often depicted as crafted from sugarcane, reflecting the delicate and sweet nature of love. It signifies his power to pierce the heart with love’s influence.
His arrows, adorned with fragrant flowers, represent different emotions and feelings associated with love. These arrows have the capacity to captivate the hearts of beings, kindling romantic feelings and desires.
The parrot is often seen as a chariot of Kamadeva. It symbolizes courtship, communication, and the articulation of feelings associated with love and desire. In Hindu mythology, the parrot’s melodious voice is linked to expressions of love and poetic sentiments. Parrots are known for their affectionate nature towards one another and their ability to speak like humans. Moreover, they are monogamous. All these qualities make them a perfect companion for the God of Love as parrots are wise when it comes to matters of the heart.
The lotus holds immense significance in Hinduism and is associated with purity, beauty, and fertility. In relation to Kamadeva, the lotus symbolizes the unfolding of love and desire, signifying the blooming of emotions akin to the blossoming of a lotus flower.
In art, Kamadeva is portrayed as a youthful and handsome deity, often dressed in vibrant clothing and adorned with flowers, symbolizing the captivating nature of love and desire. He exudes an aura of charm and attractiveness, representing the allure and magnetism associated with romantic feelings. Kamadeva possesses the unique power to arouse emotions and desires in both gods and mortals. His arrows can incite love, attraction, and passion, creating intense feelings within individuals.
One day, Lord Brahma was pondering over the creation of universe. he realized that something essential was missing. The world needed love and desire to thrive. From this thought, a radiant being emerged, formed entirely of Brahma’s mental energy. This being was Kamadeva, the embodiment of love, desire, and passion.
Lord Brahma, recognizing the vital role of love in his creation, bestowed upon Kamadeva the power to evoke passion and desire in all living beings. He also gifted him a magical bow made of sugarcane and arrows tipped with five flowers:
- Mango blossom — Represents attraction
- Ashoka flower — Represents desire
- Jasmine flower — Represents affection
- Lotus flower — Represents passion
- Blue lotus flower — Represents infatuation
The story of Kamadeva getting incinerated by Lord Shiva is a significant legend that showcases both love’s power and the divine wrath of Shiva.
The story begins with a powerful demon named Tarakasura who had obtained a boon from Lord Brahma, making him nearly invincible. Due to this boon, Tarakasura had become a menace to the gods, and it was prophesied that only Shiva’s son could defeat him. However, Shiva was deep in meditation after the loss of his wife, Sati, and was not inclined towards marriage or fatherhood.
The gods realized that the only way to break Shiva’s meditation and prompt him to father a child who could defeat Tarakasura was by awakening his feelings of love. They sought the help of Kamadeva to aim his love arrow at Shiva and arouse romantic feelings within him for Parvati, who was performing rigorous penance to win Shiva’s heart.
Kamadeva accepted the challenge and, with his bow made of sugarcane and arrows adorned with flowers, went to Mount Kailash, Shiva’s abode. In the midst of Shiva’s meditation, Kamadeva shot his love arrow at him. The impact of the arrow incited feelings of desire and disrupted Shiva’s meditation, but instead of feeling affection for Parvati, Shiva was initially filled with anger for being disturbed.
In a burst of fury, Shiva opened his third eye, emitting a fierce flame that turned Kamadeva into ashes instantaneously. This act was a display of Shiva’s intense power and the repercussions of disturbing his meditation.
Despite Kamadeva’s incineration, his sacrifice was not in vain. Shiva, affected by the surge of emotions provoked by the love arrow, eventually married Parvati. They had two sons — Lord Kartikeya, who later defeated Tarakasura, and Lord Ganesha.
The story symbolizes the supremacy of Shiva’s divine power and the significance of love in the cosmic cycle. Kamadeva’s sacrifice played a crucial role in uniting Shiva and Parvati, ultimately contributing to the restoration of balance and order in the universe.
After the incident where Kamadeva was incinerated by Lord Shiva’s third eye due to his attempt to disrupt Shiva’s meditation, his wife, Rati, was devastated by his demise. She pleaded with Shiva to restore Kamadeva, to which Shiva, known for his compassion, agreed, reviving Kamadeva in a non-physical, ethereal form, rather than restoring his mortal body.
Following this, Kamadeva continued to exist in a subtle, intangible form as a presence rather than a physical being. It’s said that this spiritual form of Kamadeva entered the essence of Krishna and Rukmini’s unborn child.
Rukmini, the beloved wife of Lord Krishna, was an embodiment of beauty, virtue, and devotion. She ardently wished for a son as charming as the god of love, Kamadeva. Her sincere prayers and devotion invoked the presence of Kamadeva’s essence in her womb during her pregnancy.
When Rukmini gave birth to her child, he embodied the divine qualities of Kamadeva. This child, known as Pradyumna, possessed exceptional beauty, grace, and magnetism akin to the god of love himself. Pradyumna grew up to be a valiant warrior and possessed extraordinary abilities, reminiscent of Kamadeva’s attributes.
