God of Desire: Tales of Kāmadeva in Sanskrit Story LiteratureGod 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 |
211 | |
219 | |
231 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Ahalya Ananga anger apsarases ascetic asceticism ashes Atharva Veda beautiful become bodhisattva body Brahma Brāhmaṇa Brahmin Buddha Buddhist Cathy Benton chapter charming Chinnamastā crocodile cursed damanaka death deity demon described desire kāma devotion dharma discipline Doniger O'Flaherty edited Ellora epic episode evoke flower arrows gandharvas gharials goddess gods Hārīta Hindu human husband illusion illusory Indian Indra Kāma Kāma and Rati Kāma's Kama's arrows Kamadeva Khaṇḍaśilā kill Krodha Kṛṣṇa leprosy linga literature lover Mahabharata makara Mañjuśrī Māra Matsya māyā Māyāvatī mind Nanda narrative offers Padma Pāli parrot passion penance performed Photo by Cathy pleasure practice Pradyumna prajñā Press Prīti pūjā Purāṇa purāņas Pūrṇakalā Rati religious rituals river dolphins sages Samba Śambara Sambara's Sanskrit sexual Śiva Śiva's Skanda Smara stone story storyteller tale Tantric teaching texts tradition translated University Upagupta Upanisad variants Vasudeva Vedic Vimalakīrti Viṣṇu vratas Wendy Doniger wife wives woman women worship Yayati