Kama
1434556
225723044
2008-07-15T02:22:42Z
96.246.91.97
{{for|other meanings|kama (disambiguation)}}
'''Kāma''' ([[Sanskrit|Skt.]], [[Pali]]; [[Devanagari]]: काम) means pleasure, sensual gratification, sexual fulfillment, pleasure of the [[senses]], desire, eros, the aesthetic enjoyment of life. In [[Hinduism]], ''kāma'' is regarded as one of the four ends of man ([[purusharthas]]): the others are worldly status ([[artha]]), duty ([[dharma]]) and inner freedom ([[moksha]]). '''Kama-deva''' is the personification of this, a god equivalent to the Greek Eros and the Roman Cupid. '''Kama-rupa''' is a subtle body or aura composed of desire, while '''Kama-loka''' is the realm this inhabits, particularly in the afterlife.
==The Indian god Kama==
{{main|Kamadeva}}
{{IAST|Kāmadeva}} is the [[Hindu]] god of love.<ref>The Book of Hindu Imagery: Gods, Manifestations and Their Meaning By Eva Rudy Jansen p. 93 </ref> He is represented as young and handsome man, sometimes with wings, who wields a [[Bow (weapon)|bow]] and arrows. His bow is made of [[sugar cane|sug, the season of spring, and the gentle breeze. His epithets include '''Ragavrinta''' (''Stalk of Passion''), '''Ananga''' (''incorporeal''), '''Kandarpa''' ("God of amour"), '''Manmatha''' (''churner of hearts''), '''Manosij''' (''He Who Arises from the Mind''; the contraction of the Sanskrit phrase ''Sah Manasah Jāta''), '''Madana''' (''intoxicating''), '''Ratikānta''' (lord of the seasons), '''Pushpavān''', '''Pushpadhanva''' (''one with bow of flowers'') or just '''Kāma''' ("desire").
According to the ''Shiva Purāna'' Kāmadeva is a son of [[Brahma]], creator of the universe. According to the ''Skanda Purāna'' Kāmadeva is a brother of [[Prasuti]]; they are both the children of Shatarupa. Later interpolations consider him [[Vishnu]]'s son.<ref>The Book of Hindu Imagery: Gods, Manifestations and Their Meaning By Eva Rudy Jansen p. 93 </ref> Kāmadeva is wed to [[Rati|Ratī]], a daughter of [[Prasuti]] and [[Daksha]] (another son/creation of Brahmā). According to some, Kāmadeva was also once reincarnated as Pradyumna, the son of [[Krishna]] and Rukminī. The ''Stala Purāna'' indicates that Kamadeva was reduced to ashes after disturbing the meditation of Shiva at Kameshwara temple, [[Aragalur]]. This temple has ashta [[Bhairava]] (8 bhairava) statues.
==Kama in Buddhism==
In [[Buddhism]]'s [[Pali Canon]], the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] renounced ([[Pali]]: ''[[nekkhamma]]'') sensuality (''kāma'') en route to his [[bodhi|Awakening]].<ref>See, for instance, ''Dvedhavitakka Sutta'' ([[Majjhima Nikaya|MN]] 19) [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.019.than.html (Thanissaro, 1997a).]</ref> The Buddhist [[householder (Buddhism)|lay practitioner]] recites daily the [[Five Precepts]], the third of which is a commitment to abstain from "sexual misconduct" (''kāmesu micchācāra'').<ref>See, for instance, [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipalo/wheel206.html#precepts Khantipalo (1995).]</ref> Typical of [[Pali Canon]] discourses, the [[Dhammika Sutta]] ([[Sutta Nipata|Sn]] 2.14) includes a more explicit correlate to this precept when the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] enjoins a follower to "observe celibacy or at least do not have sex with another's wife ".<ref>(Ireland, 1982).</ref>
==Theosophy: kama, kamarupa and kamaloka==
In the [[Theosophy]] of [[Blavatsky]], Kama is the fourth principle of the [[Septenary (Theosophy)|septenary]], associated with emotions and desires, attachment to existence, volition, and lust/<ref>Farthing 1978 p.210.</ref>
The '''Kamarupa''' (desire-form) is a "form" or [[subtle body]] created of mental and physical desires and thoughts, a form that survives the death of the body. After death three of the seven "principles" or planes of consciousness, the body, its astral prototype and physical vitality, being of no further use, remain on earth. The three higher principles merge into the state of [[Trailokya|Devachan]], in which state the Higher Ego will remain until reincarnation. The [[eidolon (astral double)|eidolon]], the "image", the pale copy of the man that was, persists for a period of time determined by the past life. Bereft as of its higher mind, spirit and physical senses it will gradually fade and disintegrate. But if forcibly drawn back from [[Trailokya|Kamaloka]] (desire world) into the terrestrial sphere by the passionate desires and appeals of the surviving friends or by necromantic practices the Kamarupa may become a vampire feeding on the vitality of those anxious for its company. In [[India]] these [[eidolon (astral double)|eidola]], called Pisachas, are much dreaded.<ref>Theosophical Glossary, 1892</ref>
'''Kamaloka''' is a ''semi''-material plane, subjective and invisible to humans, where disembodied "personalities", the astral forms, called ''[[Kamarupa]]'' remain until they fade out from it by the complete exhaustion of the effects of the mental impulses that created these [[Eidolon (astral double)| eidolons]] of human and animal passions and desires. It is associated with [[Hades]] of ancient Greeks and the [[Amenti]] of the Egyptians, the land of Silent Shadows; a division of the first group of the ''[[Trailõkya]]''.
==Sources==
* Ireland, John D. (trans.) (1983). ''Dhammika Sutta: Dhammika (excerpt)'' ([[Sutta Nipata|Sn]] 2.14). Retrieved 5 Jul 2007 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.14.irel.html.
* Khantipalo, Bhikkhu (1982, 1995). ''Lay Buddhist Practice: The Shrine Room, Uposatha Day, Rains Residence'' (The Wheel No. 206/207). Kandy: [[Buddhist Publication Society]]. Retrieved 5 Jul 2007 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipalo/wheel206.html.
* Sri Lanka Buddha Jayanti Tipitaka Series (n.d.) (SLTP). ''{{IAST|Pañcaṅgikavaggo}}'' ([[Anguttara Nikaya|AN]] 5.1.3.8, in Pali). Retrieved 3 Jul 2007 from "MettaNet-Lanka" at http://mettanet.org/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara3/5-pancakanipata/003-pancangikavaggo-p.html.
* [[Thanissaro Bhikkhu]] (trans.) (1997a). ''Dvedhavitakka Sutta: Two Sorts of Thinking'' ([[Majjhima Nikaya|MN]] 19). Retrieved 3 Jul 2007 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.019.than.html.
* Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997b). ''Samadhanga Sutta: The Factors of Concentration'' ([[Anguttara Nikaya|AN]] 5.28). Retrieved 3 Jul 2007 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.028.than.html.
* [[H. P. Blavatsky]], 1892.'' The Theosophical Glossary''. London: The Theosophical Publishing Society
==See also==
*[[Cupid]]
*[[Kama sutra]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://experts.about.com/e/k/ka/kamadeva.htm/ About.com page]
*[http://www.urday.com/rudra.htm Shiva purānam]{{dead link|date=January 2008|url=http://www.urday.com/rudra.htm}}
*http://www.webonautics.com/mythology/kamadeva.html
*[http://www.thecolorsofindia.com/holi-legends/sacrifice-of-kamadeva.html/ Kamadeva's holy sacrifice]
*[http://thattechnicalbookstore.com/b0791465659.htm/ God Of Desire: Tales Of Kamadeva In Sanskrit Story Literature (book)]
*[http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Kamadeva/id/108298/ Theosophical dictionary on Kamadeva]
*''[http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/etgloss/etg-hp.htm ENCYCLOPEDIC THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY: A Resource on Theosophy]'', G. de Purucker
*Theosophical Glossary, 1892
* [[Geoffrey Farthing]], ''Exploring the Great Beyond'', [[Theosophical Publishing House]], Wheaton, 1978, p.210.
{{HinduMythology}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kama}}
[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Love and lust gods]]
[[Category:Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]
{{Hinduism footer small}}
[[Category:Purusharthas]]
{{Buddhism2}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Hindu-philo-stub}}
{{Buddhism-stub}}
[[Category:Buddhist terms]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]
[[Category:Theosophical philosophical concepts]]
[[de:Kama (Indien)]]
[[es:Kāma]]
[[ka:კამა (ინდუიზმი)]]
[[pl:Kama (hinduizm)]]
[[ru:Кама (философия)]]
[[ta:காமம்]]
[[da:Kama]]
[[de:Kamadeva]]
[[es:Kāmadeva]]
[[fr:Kâma]]
[[it:Kama]]
[[ml:കാമദേവന്]]
[[ja:カーマ (ヒンドゥー教)]]
[[pt:Kamadeva]]
[[ru:Кама (бог)]]
[[sv:Kama]]
[[th:กามเทพ]]
[[ta:காம தேவன்]]
[[it:Kamaloka]]