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 and Holi

It is believed by a major portion of Hindus that Kaamdev was revived on the day of Holi. In the south Indian state of Tamil, Holi is known by three different names – Kaman Pandigai, Kamavilas and Kama-Dahanam.

Devotees sing songs depicting the sorrow of Rati during Holi in Tamil Nadu and people also offer sandalwood to God Kaamdeva as a gesture to help soothe his pain of burning. Kaman Pandigai is an exquisite dance form, performed by the devotees with Kaamdev and Rati as the main characters.

The one time Kaamdev’s arrows failed

He was the man who could ignite desire in any soul be it mortal or divine. However, when Kaamdev challenged Krishna to call out for the Gopis of Vrindavan on a full moon night and stay unaffected when struck by arrow, Krishna accepted.

This was a time when Kaamdev was clouded with pride, thinking of himself as the greatest God of all. On a moonlit night cool breeze blew from the Yamuna and thousands of Gopis left their work at home and ran to the direction of Krishna’s flute. However, flanked by young women, Krishna remained unaffected, forcing Kaamdev to accept defeat.