Cosmogony concerns itself with understanding the birth and formation of the universe, the genesis of all things. In the rich tapestry of Hindu mythology, there is an entity that represents love at a primordial level, as a cosmic force with profound cosmogonic significance. This entity is Kama, the god of love. Often depicted as Kamadev with his bow and arrow, he stands as the embodiment of the loving awareness and compassionate awakening that underpin the structure of the cosmos.
Kamadeva, akin to the Greek Eros, is usually illustrated as a handsome youth, armed with a bow of sugarcane, a string of humming bees, and arrows adorned with five kinds of fragrant flowers. Each element of his depiction carries profound symbolism, linking love to the natural world and evoking its universal scope.
As the son of the mother goddess Shri Devi, Kama personifies the love that permeates and binds the cosmos. Shri Devi, in her various manifestations, has been a figure of boundless compassion, her warmth and nurturing essence influencing the universe’s structure and rhythm. As her offspring, Kama channels this nurturing love, amplifying it into a cosmic principle that enlivens the world.
It is interesting to draw parallels between Kama and Eros. Like Kama, Eros, in Greek mythology, is depicted as a young winged boy with his bow and arrows, ready to ignite desire in the hearts of gods and mortals. Both deities represent the transformative power of love, a force capable of shaping realities and birthing universes. They embody the inherent propensity for affection and desire that pervades the cosmos, acting as catalysts for creation and continuity.
The symbolism surrounding Kama is as profound as it is diverse. His sugarcane bow signifies that love is attractive and compelling. It draws us towards the sweet nectar of connection, even amidst the pains and challenges of life. The bowstring of humming bees serves as a reminder of the buzzing activity and energy inherent in love. Love is not static; it moves, evolves, and perpetuates in various forms.
The arrows of Kama, embellished with five types of flowers, further expound on this symbolism. They represent the sensory richness of love, the multisensory experience it invokes, as each flower aligns with one of the five senses. These arrows are poised to pierce hearts, to stir within them the sweet, fragrant intoxication of love.
In essence, Kama, the god of love, is more than just a mythological figure. As a cosmogonic principle, he represents the elemental force of love that permeates the universe, binding and unifying it in its profound harmony. As the son of the compassionate mother goddess Shri Devi, Kama propagates this nurturing energy throughout the cosmos, shaping existence with the profound force of love. His symbolism, rich in layers of interpretation, serves to emphasize the depth and reach of love, making Kama a cosmic principle of loving awareness and compassionate awakening.
Reference:
- Mialphaniomega: https://mialphaniomega.wordpress.com/2015/10/07/nasadiya-suktam-hymn-of-creation-commentary-recital-sanskrit-english-word-for-word-translation-translations-in-tamil-english-french-german-spanish-and-italian-explanation-notes/
- An explanation of the translation of the Nasadiya Sukta (hymn 10.129 of the Rigveda) by Kant Sing
- http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/vishnu/nasadiya.pdf
- Rig Veda, tr. by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1896], at sacred-texts.com
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Compassionate Awakening 