About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherSTATE University of New York Press

ISBN-100791465659

ISBN-139780791465653

eBay Product ID (ePID)44178859

Product Key Features

Number of Pages252 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameGod of Desire : Tales of Kamadeva in Sanskrit Story Literature

Publication Year2005

SubjectBuddhism / General (See Also Philosophy / Buddhist), Hinduism / General, Folklore & Mythology, Eastern

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaReligion, Social Science

AuthorCatherine Benton

SeriesSuny Series in Hindu Studies

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height1 in

Item Weight16.7 Oz

Item Length9 in

Item Width6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional

LCCN2004-028953

Dewey Edition22

Grade FromCollege Graduate Student

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal294.5/2113

Table Of ContentAcknowledgments Introduction Stories externalize internal complexities Kamadeva teaches: Sexual desire (kama) as paradigm for generic desire (kama) Stories mold worldview Tale of Yayati : Telling stories about desire A flow of stories with no reliable dates Visual representations of Kamadeva Structure of this study of Kama and kama 1. Stories of Beginnings: Kamadeva and his wives The birth of Kamadeva Kamadeva's wife: Rati Kamadeva's companions: Vasanta and the Maras Kamadeva's other wife: Priti / Karnotpala Who is Kamadeva? Translation: The tale of Karnotpala 2. Kamadeva, Skilled Marksman Siva wins: Kama turned to ash Kama wins: Kama's power within Siva Devi wins: Kama as devotee of the goddess 3. Kamadeva as Pradyumna, son of Krsna The story of Pradyumna Variant Pradyumnas and Sambaras Kama marries Mayavati: Desire embedded in and wedded to Illusion The story of Pradyumna 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 Translation: The tale of Khandasila 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 of Devotion to Kamadeva Translation: The Damanaka Festival (damanakotsava) 6. Recognizing Kama: Perspectives of early texts -- anger, pursartha, invincible power, tentric 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. Kama as the Buddhist 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 Bibliographies: Sanskrit Texts Sanskrit Translations General Sources

SynopsisPresents Kamadeva, the Hindu god of desire, in tales, art, and ritual. Also covers Kamadeva's appearance in Buddhist lore. 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 Ka. 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 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., Presents Kamadeva, the Hindu god of desire, in tales, art, and ritual. Also covers Kamadeva's appearance in Buddhist lore.

LC Classification NumberBL1225.K36B46 2005