God of Desire Tales of Kāmadeva in Sanskrit Story Literature
<em>God of Desire</em> presents Sanskrit tales of the Indian deityKāmadeva as he battles the ascetic god Śiva, assists the powerfulgoddess Devī, and incarnates as the charming son of Kṛṣṇa.Exploring the imagery and symbolism of the god of desire in art andritual, Catherine Benton reflects on the connection of Kāmadeva toparrots, makaras (gharials), and apsarases (celestial nymphs), andto playful devotional rituals designed to win his favor. Inaddition to examining the Hindu literature, Benton also highlightstwo Buddhist forms of Kamadeva, the demonic Māra, who tries topersuade the Buddha to trade enlightenment for the delights of awoman, and the ever-youthful Mañjuśri, who cuts through ignorancewith the bodhisattva sword of wisdom. Tales of Kāmadeva from theHindu and Buddhist traditions present desire as a powerful forcecontinually redefining the boundaries of chaos and order and gentlypulling beyond the ephemeral lure of passionate longings
eBook, 2006
20060601
State University of New York Press, Albany, NY, 2006