| God of Desire: Tales of Kāmadeva in Sanskrit Story Literature Contributor(s): Benton, Catherine (Author) |
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ISBN: 0791465667 ISBN-13: 9780791465660 Publisher: State University of New York Press OUR PRICE: $33.20 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: June 2006 Annotation: Presents Kamadeva, the Hindu god of desire, in tales, art, and ritual. Also covers Kamadeva's appearance in Buddhist lore. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Hinduism - General - Religion | Eastern - Literary Criticism | Asian - Indic |
| Dewey: 294.521 |
| Series: SUNY Series in Hindu Studies |
| Physical Information: 0.62" H x 6.06" W x 9" (0.77 lbs) 252 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Indian - Religious Orientation - Hindu |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: 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. |