Ananga Trayodashi 2109

From the Shiva Purana

Ananga means "the one without a body". It is a name of Kama, the god of love, and the Shiva Purana tells how he came to bear it.

In those days the demon Taraka was troubling the gods. Their weapons failed against him, even the discus of Vishnu. Brahma had said that Taraka could die only at the hands of a son born to Shiva. But Shiva was sitting in deep penance on the mountain, and his mind was far from marriage. Parvati, the daughter of the mountain king, was serving him there at her father's wish.

Indra, the king of the gods, called Kama to him. Kama came with his wife Rati and with his friend Vasanta, the spring. Indra asked Kama to stir love for Parvati in Shiva's heart, so that a son might be born who would free the world from Taraka. Kama gladly agreed and went with Rati and Vasanta to the place of Shiva's penance.

Spring filled the grove. Flowers opened everywhere, and every creature felt the pull of love. Parvati came with two companions, carrying flowers for Shiva's worship. As she drew near, Shiva opened his eyes for a moment, and Kama let fly his arrow. Shiva looked at Parvati and praised her beauty. Then he steadied himself, and he wondered who had disturbed his penance.

Looking around, Shiva saw Kama standing at his left side with his bow drawn. Kama shot again, but his arrow, which never misses, had no power over Shiva. Kama grew afraid and called out to Indra and the gods. They came and bowed to Shiva and praised him. But before they could ask for mercy, a great flame burst from Shiva's third eye and burned Kama to ashes.

Parvati went back to her palace with her companions, pale and shaken. Rati fainted. When she woke she wept for her husband, who was dearer to her than her own life. The gods comforted her and told her to keep some of the ashes, for the Lord would give her husband back. Then they pleaded with Shiva, saying that Kama had acted for the good of the world and not for himself.

Shiva said that what had happened could not be undone. Kama would stay without a body for a time. When Vishnu came to earth as Krishna and married Rukmini, Kama would be born as their son Pradyumna, and Rati would be united with him again. Rati went away to wait for that time. From then on Kama was called Ananga, the bodiless one.

Later Shiva married Parvati. In the middle of the wedding joy, Rati came before Shiva with the ashes of her husband and begged him to make the joy complete. Saraswati and the other goddesses joined her prayer. Shiva looked at the ashes with compassion, and Kama rose from them in his own handsome form, with his bow and arrows and a smile. Rati bowed to Shiva and praised him. Kama asked to be forgiven, and asked for love among his people and devotion to Shiva's feet. Shiva was pleased and told him to have no fear.