God Of Desire: Tales Of Kamadeva In Sanskrit Story Literature (S U N Y Series in Hindu Studies)

God of Desire presents Sanskrit tales of the Indian deity Kamadeva as he battles the ascetic god Siva, assists the powerful goddess Devi, and incarnates as the charming son of K???a. Exploring the imagery and symbolism of the god of desire in art and ritual, Catherine Benton reflects on the connection of Kamadeva 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 Mara, who tries to persuade the Buddha to trade enlightenment for the delights of a woman, and the ever-youthful Mañjusri, who cuts through ignorance with the bodhisattva sword of wisdom. Tales of Kamadeva 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. GOD OF DESIRE ILLUSTRATIONS Acknowledgments Introduction Stories Externalize the Internal Complexities of Desire Sexual Desire (KĀMA) as Paradigm for Generic Desire (KĀMA) Stories mold Worldview Tale of Yayāti:Telling stories about desire A flow of Stories with no Reliable Dates Visual Representations of Kāmadeva Structure of this Study 1. Stories of Beginnings: KĀMADEVA AND HIS WIVES The Birth of Kāmadeva Kamadeva's wife: Rati Kamadeva's companions: Vasanta and the Maras Kamadeva's other wife: Priti Karnotpala (Skanda Purana) Who is Kamadeva? The Tale of Karnotpala and the Karnotpala Tirtha 2. Kamadeva, Skilled Marksman Siva wins: Kama turned to ash (Matsya, Padma, and Siva Puranas) Kama wins: Kama's power withing Siva (Vamana Purana) Devi wins: Kama as devotee of the goddess (Brahmanda Purana) 3. Kamadeva Reborn as Pradyumna, Son of Krsna The Story of Pradyumna Variant Pradyumnas and Sambaras Kama marries Mayavati: Desire embedded in Illusion The Pradyumna story as allegory 4. Kamadeva and Khandasila: Rituals and Metaphors The Story of Khandasila The parallel tale of Indra and Ahalya Why Women become Stones Reflecting on Khandasila: Siva in the Pine Forest Devotion to Kamadeva What Kama and Khandasila say about desire The Tale of Khandasila and the Well of Good Fortune; translation 5. Worshipping Kamadeva Kamadeva's festivals and pujas: The Damanakotsava Kamadeva as fertility god, and vratas for prostitutes Rituals for beauty and husbands: Tirthas for couples Why rituals to Kamadeva The Damanaka Festival (Damanakotsava); translation 6. Recognizing Kama: Perspectives of Early Texts-Anger, Purusartha, Invincible Power, Tantric Energy Kama in the Rg Veda and Atharva Veda Kama in the Brahmanas Kama in the Upanisads Kama as a human goal, a purusartha (Mahabharata) Kama and Krodha: Desire and Anger (Mahabharata) Kama: Upholder of the earth and cosmic will (Mahabharata) Song of Kama (Kamagita); The power of desire (Mahabharata) Kama in service to a Tantric goddess: Chinnamasta Historical progression of Kama and his Greek cousin, Eros 7. Kamadeva's Assistants: Celestial Beings, Birds, and Crocodiles Apsarases Gandharvas Parrot: Kamadeva's vehicle Makara: Emblem of the god of desire 8. Buddhist Kamadevas: Mara and Manjusri Attitudes toward kama in early Buddhist Literature Kama and Mara: Desire and Death Upagupta and Mara: Mara as the Buddha Vimalakirti and Mara: Enlightened Maras Manjusri and Kamadeva: Desire as a path to wisdom 9. Conclusions: Kamadeva and the Meaning of Desire What does Kamadeva teach about desire? Attitudes toward desire in Sanskrit story literature Notes Bibliography:Sanskrit Texts Bibliography: Sanskrit Translations Bibliography: General Sources Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y God of Desire presents Sanskrit tales of the Indian deity Kamadeva as he battles the ascetic god Siva, assists the powerful goddess Devi, and incarnates as the charming son of Krsna. Exploring the imagery and symbolism of the god of desire in art and ritual, Catherine Benton reflects on the connection of Kamadeva 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 Mara, who tries to persuade the Buddha to trade enlightenment for the delights of a woman, and the ever-youthful Manjusri, who cuts through ignorance with the bodhisattva sword of wisdom. Tales of Kamadeva 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. "God of Desire presents Sanskrit tales of the Indian deity Kamadeva as he battles the ascetic god Siva, assists the powerful goddess Devi, and incarnates as the charming son of Krsna. Exploring the imagery and symbolism of the god of desire in art and ritual, Catherine Benton reflects on the connection of Kamadeva 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 Mara, who tries to persuade the Buddha to trade enlightenment for the delights of a woman, and the ever-youthful Manjusri, who cuts through ignorance with the bodhisattva sword of wisdom."--Jacket Catherine Benton. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Includes Translations From Sanskrit.