Book Summary
God of Desire presents Sanskrit tales of the Indian deity Ka madeva as he battles the ascetic god S iva, 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 Ka madeva 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 Ka madeva, the demonic Ma ra, who tries to persuade the Buddha to trade enlightenment for the delights of a woman, and the ever-youthful Manjus ri, who cuts through ignorance with the bodhisattva sword of wisdom. Tales of Ka madeva 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.
Book Details
| Book Name | God Of Desire: Tales Of Kamadeva In Sanskrit Story Literature |
| Author | Catherine Benton, Wendy Doniger |
| Publisher | State University Of New York Press (Nov 2005) |
| ISBN | 9780791465653 |
| Pages | 288 |
| Language | English |
| Price |
