KAMA, or KZMADEVA, the Hindu god of love, and one of the most pleasing creations of Hindu fiction. In Sanskrit poetry. especially that of a later period, he is the favorite theme of descriptions and allusions, and mythology exalts his power so much it allows even the god Brahma to succumb to it. Acecordiug to some Puranas he was originally a son of Brahma; accordipg to others, a son of Dharma (the genius of virtue;, by S raddled (the genius of faith), herself a daughter of Daksha, who was one of the mind born sons of Brahma. The god Siva being on one occasion greatly incensed at Kama, reduced him to ashes; but ultimately, moved by the affliction of Rati (voluptuousness), wife of Kann', he promised her that her husband should be reborn as a son of lir' &Tina.. Le god Krishna, accordingly, having married Rukmini, she bore him Pradyumna, who was the god of love. But when the infant was six days old it was stolen from the lying-in chamber by the terrible demon S'ainbara; for the latter foreknew that Pradyumna, if he lived, would be his destroyer. The boy was thrown into the ocean and swallowed by a large fish. Yet he did not die, for that fish Was caught by fishermen and deliv ered to Afrigeirati, the mistress of S'ambara's household; and was cut open the child was taken from it. Whilst Mayavati wondered who this could be, the divine sage, Narada, satisfied her curiosity, and counseled her to rear tenderly this offspring of Krishna. She acted as lie advised her; and when Pradyumna grew up. and•learned
his own history, he slew the demon S'ambara. Mayavatl, however, was later apprised by Krishna that she was not the wife of Sambara, as she had fancied herself to be, but that Pradyumna—in fact, another form of Rati, who was the wife of Kama in his prior existence.—Kama is described or represented as holding in his hands a bow made of sugar-cane and strung with bees, besides five arrows, each tipped with the blossom of a flower which is supposed to conquer one of the senses. His standard is, agreeably to the legend above mentioned, a fabulous fish, called Makara ; and he rides on a parrot or sparrow—the symbol of voluptuousness. his epithets are numerous, but easily accounted for from the circumstances named, and from the effects of love on the mind and senses. Thus, he is called Makaradhuaja, one who has Makara in his banner;" " the maddener," etc. His wife, as before stated, is Rati; she is also called ..E4makahl. "a portion of Kama," or Priti, " affection." His daughter is Trislici. "thirst or desire;" and his son is Aniruddha, unrestrained."