Depicted as the most handsome and desirable man among the deities, Kaamdev is often considered the Indian Cupid. He rides a parrot and carries a bow of sugarcane that is strung with a line of honeybees along with floral arrowheads. As he strikes with his arrows, no man, or even God at times, can escape the arousal of passionate desire. This season of love, we bring a few things that you probably didn’t know about the God of love and desire.

Kaamdev was born as Krishna’s son

Shiva who burnt Kaamdev to ashes and left him to live on formless in the cosmos, promised Rati, his grieving wife that both of them would be reborn and marry each other. Kaamdev was born to Lord Krishna and Rukmini and was named Pradyumna.

Rati, on the other hand, was born to Rukmini’s brother, Bhimkaraya Rukmi. Pradyumna, as an infant was abducted by Sambara, a demon, cast into the sea, swallowed by a fish but finally rescued and taken back to Sambara’s house where a woman raised him. The woman knew of his identity as Narada had already informed him and upon growing up, Pradyumna killed Sambara, went back to his father Krishna and eventually married Princess Rukmavati, the reincarnation of Rati.

Other accounts say Kaamdev married the woman who raised him

According to certain accounts, the woman who raised Pradyumna at Sambara’s house was the reincarnation of Rati. Her name was Mayavati and she was Pradyumna’s nanny during his childhood but made advancements at him as a lover as he grew older. Pradyumna who looked at her as his mother did not respond to such advancements but when he came to know the truth about himself and Rati, he reciprocated.

Now, according to Vishnu Purana, Mayavati was not just a maid at Sambara’s house but she was actually his wife. However, all texts say that Rati projects an illusion of Mayavati to Samabara and never actually gets physically involved with him, staying chaste for Pradyumna.