More handsome than any man or god, Kamadeva, with his broad chest, fine nose, perfect teeth, slender waist and wavy locks of bluish black hair, carries a bow made of sugar cane with its string of buzzing honey bees and five arrows made of flowers.
If one is pierced with Kama's floral projectile, they find their heart filled with desire; they may even become slightly deranged or obsessed until the object of their desire is identified and obtained.
So it goes with Kamadeva, the personality expressive of sensual love who is often found traveling with Vasantha, Springtime, and Rati, who is desire personified.
The stories of Kamadeva as they appear in the Puranas, Vedic literature, are so juicy and delicious as one might expect stories about desire to be.
Who among us hasn't felt that pull of desire in the heart to talk to a beautiful stranger, or flirt with our spouse, or lean over a neighbor's fence in order to get close enough to a rose to breath it in and satisfy the heart's desire for sensory pleasure? It is about more than romantic love although that is certainly on the menu.
It is desire for all of the senses; seeing a fluffy dog and asking its owner if you can pet it, just to feel that sweet warm fur on your skin and commune with a darling pooch. Or having a taste of your favorite dark chocolate. Breathing in the salty ocean air. Playing your favorite record while cooking your favorite meal. Riding your bike to the perfect spot to witness the sunset.
Pleasure of the senses, small impulses of heart's desires with an appreciation for the relative world is highly relevant. This of course is different from compulsion or dependence on external objects to bring fulfillment.
We know our fulfillment is on the inside. When we feel Kama's subtle arrows piercing our hearts, we move in the direction of our innocent desires bringing our fulfillment with us and we find ourselves at the intersection of relevance and pure joy.
