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Kaam Dev (god of love) is the Ansh Avataar (part incarnation) of Bhagvaan Vaasudev. He is the god of Love. He himself has several names - Anang, Madan, Manmath, Manoj, Kandaarp. According to Brahm Vaivart Puraan, 4.112.11, his one name is Makaradhwaj also. His wife's name is Rati (passion), and Vasant Ritu (spring season) is his companion. His ride is parrot. He has a daughter named Ashrubindumatee.

Kaam Dev is depicted with his bow of sugarcane having the string of a line of humming bees and his arrow-shafts are topped (flowers) with passion that pierce the heart. The deity is offered mango blossoms that he loved and sandalwood paste to cool off the pain of his fatal burns. Songs are also song in which Rati's sorrow is depicted. He has five arrows in his quiver, all are of different flowers - Lotus flower, Ashok flower, mango flower (Maur or Baur), new jasmine flower and blue costus. The five states of mind associated with each arrow are - Unmaad (maniacal state), Tapan (fervent state), Shoshan (squeezing out state), Stambhan (stand-stillness); and Sammohan (stupification). The Ashok flower  kills natural hunger; jasmine flower desiccates (draining up of emotional and intellectual vitality); mango flower fades the color; lotus flower causes crisscross thinking; and the Costus incites the desire for suicide. Kaam Dev's Vaahan (ride) is crocodile.

Kaam Dev and Shiv Jee
One of his names is Anang which means without body. How he became without body? When Satee, Daksh's daughter and Shiv Jee's wife, immolated herself in Daksh's Yagya, Shiv Jee got very furious and sad, and destroyed Daksh's Yagya. Then he got Vairaagya and sat in Samaadhi for many thousand years. In the meantime Satee was born in Himvaan and Mainaa's house as Paarvatee Jee. At the same time a Raakshas named Taarakaasur also came up.

He was a very terrible and powerful Raakshas. He was troubling Devtaa a lot, so they went to Brahmaa Jee and lodged their complaint. Brahmaa Jee said that only Shiv Jee's son could kill him. So it was decided that Naarad Jee should be sent to Paarvatee to instigate her to marry Shiv Jee. And they themselves went to Shiv Jee with their request and problem. Shiv Jee agreed to marry Paarvatee Jee. On Naarad Jee's advice Paarvatee Jee did very hard Tap to get Shiv Jee as her husband.

In the meantime Indra thought to send Kaam Dev to Shiv Jee to make him romantic. Although Kaam Dev knew Shiv Jee's fury, but still he agreed to do Devtaa's work. He went there where Shiv Jee was sitting in  Samaadhi and started spreading his powers.

Flowers bloomed all around; soft, sweet smelling air started flowing around; birds started singing in their sweetest voice; rivers flowed fast towards sea. All creatures, living and non-living, had a desire to meet their spouses. All this happened in two Ghadee time. When Kaam Dev got satisfied with the effects of his powers, then he picked his flower bow, put the flower arrow on it, and pulled the string of the bow. As he was about to release the arrow, Shiv Jee opened His third eye and burned him in a moment in a great fury.

Rati, his wife, got very sad seeing her husband dead and prayed Shiv Jee for the life of her husband. Shiv Jee consoled her and said - "Your husband will be born as Krishn's son when he will incarnate on Prithvi in Dwaapar Yug. And till then he will affect everybody without body. So from today your husband will be known as Anang."

Later he was born as Krishn and Rukminee's son, and was named Pradyumn. He was just like his father. It is written in Bhaagvat Puraan, 1/u13 that when Pradyumn Jee used to come to palaces, not only women but also Krishn's queens mistook him as Shree Krishn. Even his son Aniruddh was also like him. When Chitralekhaa, the friend of Ushaa (the daughter of Baanaasur), drew a sketch of Pradyumn Jee she felt shy to see it. Then Chitralekhaa said - "You cannot see this man as he is already married. Then she drew the sketch of Aniruddh, and said - "You must have seen this man?" Ushaa got happy to see it and nodded, "Yes, this is the man I saw in my dream."

According to Bhavishya Puraan, 3/26, Kaam Dev was burnt by Shiv in Swaarochish Manvantar (2nd Manvantar) while Krishn was born in the 7th Manvantar (Vaivaswat Manvantar), the present one, and its 28th Dwaapar.

Later Paarvatee Jee got married to Shiv Jee.

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