God of Desire: Tales of Kāmadeva in Sanskrit Story Literature

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SUNY Press, Nov 3, 2005 - Religion - 236 pages
God of Desire presents Sanskrit tales of the Indian deity Kāmadeva as he battles the ascetic god Śiva, assists the powerful goddess Devī, and incarnates as the charming son of Kṛṣṇa. Exploring the imagery and symbolism of the god of desire in art and ritual, Catherine Benton reflects on the connection of Kāmadeva to parrots, makaras (gharials), and apsarases (celestial nymphs), and to playful devotional rituals designed to win his favor. In addition to examining the Hindu literature, Benton also highlights two Buddhist forms of Kamadeva, the demonic Māra, who tries to persuade the Buddha to trade enlightenment for the delights of a woman, and the ever-youthful Mañjuśri, who cuts through ignorance with the bodhisattva sword of wisdom. Tales of Kāmadeva from the Hindu and Buddhist traditions present desire as a powerful force continually redefining the boundaries of chaos and order and gently pulling beyond the ephemeral lure of passionate longings.
 

Contents

A flow of stories with no reliable dates
9
Structure of this study
21
CHAPTER TWO KAMADEVA SKILLED MARKSMAN
39
CHAPTER THREE KAMADEVA Reborn AS PRADYUMNA
65
Desire embedded in Illusion
71
The parallel tale of Indra and Ahalyā
77
Devotion to Kāmadeva
83
37
89
Tirthas for couples
99
Kāma as a human goal a puruṣārtha Mahābhārata
115
The power of desire Mahābhārata
121
Historical progression of Kāma and his Greek cousin Eros
127
NOTES
191
SANSKRIT TEXTS
211
GENERAL SOURCES
219
INDEX
231

CHAPTER FIVE WORSHIPPING KAMADEVA
93

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About the author (2005)

Catherine Benton is Lecturer in the Religion Department at Lake Forest College.

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