Love is invisible

According to Hindu mythology, Kamadev is the god of love. Among the oldest gods in the pantheon, he is considered to be an indispensable, although not a major god. Kamadev is close to the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara) and is treated with indulgence and affection by the mighty ones.

In some stories he is shown as a harmless and well meaning god. In others, he is a bit of a pest, dropping in on unsuspecting devas, sadhus and tapasvis and breaking their penance with his well-aimed arrows. Although he is liked by all, he is not always a welcome guest because his arrival invariably complicates matters. Every god has had to suffer his pranks some time or the other.

The story goes that Shiva was in the midst of a severe penance. His tapas (austerities and sacrifice that generates heat that can burn down the universe) was so great that Brahma and Vishnu feared it would destroy all creation. Shiva was oblivious to their worries as he was submerged in his grief for his wife, Sati.

Sati, daughter of Daksha, had killed herself because her father had insulted Shiva by not inviting him for a yagn at his palace. Losing Sati meant the end of the world for Shiva. He destroyed Daksha and his kingdom and danced the tandava in his anger and then immersed himself in tapasya. It was a terrible tapasya where Shiva turned his eye away from his own creation and the gods worried that this could destroy the world.

The gods approached Kamdev. They needed his help to get Shiva to find love again. Parvati, who was an incarnation of Sati, had been created for Shiva but he was so engrossed in meditation that he had not even seen her. Kamdev was wary of Shiva’s temper but, he agreed to do the gods’ bidding.

Armed with his bow that had a string of bees and arrows tipped with passion, he made his way to Kailasa, Shiva’s home. He waited until the moment was right and aimed an arrow at Shiva’s heart. The arrow found its mark and Shiva opened his eyes. Angered at the sight of Kamadev who had disturbed his penance; he opened his third eye and instantly burnt him to ashes.

However the arrow had done its work. Shiva fell in love with Parvati and creation was pulled back from the brink of destruction.

Meanwhile, Kamadev’s wife Rati was inconsolable. She appealed to the gods who asked her to approach Parvati who was the only one who could influence her husband into reversing his actions. Shiva, now blissfully wedded to Parvati, forgave Kamadev and agreed to bring him back to life but, in a formless form. He was to be invisible to all except Rati.