Kamadeva: The God Of Love

Kamdeva or Kama is known as God of Love in Hinduism often portrayed as a handsome man in wielding a bow and arrow. Kama has some distinct features which separates him from his counterparts like euros in Greek pantheon. The bow of Kama is made out of sugarcane and string of his bow is made from honey bees. Kama has arrows scented in five different fragarances. They are mentioned as follows:

1. Ashoka

2. Blue Lily

3. Lotus

4. Jasmine

5. Mango flowers.

These fragrances have their own purposes too. They were used to invite and invigorate the target.

The Ashoka tree representing fertility, the lotus representing purity, the blue Lily representing tranquility. The Jasmine meanwhile said to have the effect of an aphrodisiac while mango flowers represent prosperity and fulfillment.

Kama's role in Hindu stories is minimal, but the impact is nonetheless quite essential. Kama is known to enter the mind and this become an entity of distraction earning him the name the one who distracts. Additionally given the way that love can blind sight and furthermore leaves someone wounded, he can be known as the one who wounds.

Kama is said to be the son of preserver God Vishnu and the goddess of Fortune Lakshmi. Some may also believe that he is the son of Bramha or he is being reincarnated as the son of the hero Krishna.

In terms of service, he appears to be in service of Indra from whom he takes orders from without question. When Indra asked him to shoot shiva with one of the love arrows while the task seems dangerous and was no benefit for Kama, he does so anyway under the request of Indra. Kams is closely associated with his consort Rati the goddess of love. But what Kama is usually associated with the infatuations of mind, Rati is closer associated with arousal and sexual appetite. This is quite fitting given that Rati is described and often portrayed as a beautiful woman that has no rival in the looks department.

Kama maintains a companions including green parrot, that serves as his vehicle and humming bees that serve as the string of his bow. The springtime breeze is also associated with Kama.

The story continues as, Shiva was mourning for the death of his wife Sati who had thrown herself into the fire to spite her father who had not approved her union with Shiva. Unable to cope with the grief, he went into meditation. During this time, Sati was reborn as the goddess Parvati. Indra the king of heaven was made aware of the Sati's reincarnation and knew it would be shame if she was not reunited with her love Shiva. Indra told Sati's father that she is destined to marry Shiva. Parvati came to shive to please him as to serve him. But he rejected and continued in meditation. Indra called upon Kama and Rati with the hopes that they could make Shiva fall in love with Parvati.

Sneaking into shiva's grounds, Kama was able to find the destructive God and took aim with his love arrow.

When karma hit Shiva with love arrow, Shiva woke up from his meditation and search for Parvati. Immediately coming back in senses he found arrow sticking out of him. He saw Kama hiding behind the tree. Shiva opened his third eye from which flames were produced and he burned Kama to ash. With Kama dead, the world will become the barren place because nothing new was produced out of love. Rati begged Shiva to restore Kama to life. Shiva would marry Parvati after eventually falling in love with her and this he said that he bought Kama back to life.

Kama was back to life as an image so that he represented the more emotional and mental state of love as opposed to the physical side. This reincarnation of karma is considered as a formless entity which lives in mind.