A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.787

c5.787

The mysterious origin of Kāma and the universal operation of the passion he inspires have accumulated upon him a great variety of names and epithets. Among his names are Ishma, Kanjana and Kinkira, Mada, Rama or Ramana, and Smara. As produced in the mind or heart he is Bhava-ja and Mano-ja. As Pradyumna, son of Krishna, he is Kārshnī, and as son of Lakshmī he is Māyī or Māyā-suta and Srī-nandana. As reduced to ashes by Siva he is An-anga, ‘the bodiless.’ He is Abhi-rūpa, ‘the beautiful;’ Darpaka and Dīpaka, ‘the inflamer;’ Gadayitnu, Gridhu, and Gritsa, ‘lustful or sharp;’ Kamana and Kharu, ‘desirous;’ Kandarpa, ‘the inflamer of Brahmā;’ Kantu, ‘the happy;’ Kalākeli, ‘the gay or wanton;’ Māra, ‘destroyer;’ Māyī, ‘deluder;’ Madhu-dīpa, ‘the lamp of honey or of spring;’ Muhira, ‘the bewilderer;’ Murmura, ‘the crackling fire;’ Rāga-vrinta, ‘the stalk of passion;’ Rūpāstra, ‘the weapon of beauty;’ Rata-nārīcha, ‘the voluptuary;’ Samāntaka, ‘destroyer of peace;’ Sansāra-guru, ‘teacher of the world;’ Smara, ‘remembrance;’ Sringāra-yoni, ‘source of love;’ Titha, ‘fire;’ Vāma, ‘the handsome.’ From his bow and arrows he is called Kusumāyudha, ‘armed with flowers;’ Pushpa-dhanus, ‘whose bow is flowers;’ and Pushpa-sara, ‘whose arrows are flowers.’ From his banner he is known as Makara-ketu; and from the flower he carries in his hand he is Pushpa-ketana.