Kāmadeva

Kamadeva
God of Love, Attraction and Sexuality
Madan on his parrot
Devanagari	कामदेव
Sanskrit transliteration	Kāmadeva
Affiliation	Pradyumna, Vasudeva
Abode	Ketumala-varsa
Mantra	काम गायत्री (kāma-gāyatrī)
Weapon	Sugarcane Bow and Floral Arrow(pushpa dhanu and pushpa shar)
Consort	Rati, Priti
Mount	Parrot
Greek equivalent	Eros
Roman equivalent	Cupid

Kāmadeva (Sanskrit in Devanagari: कामदेव) or Kama is the Hindu god of human love or desire, often portrayed along with his female counterpart Rati. Some narratives also reference Pradyumna, Krishna's son, as a reincarnation of Kamadeva.

The name Kama-deva (IAST kāma-deva) can be translated as 'god of love'. Deva means heavenly or divine. Kama (IAST kāma) means "desire" or "longing", especially as in sensual or sexual love. The name is used in Rig Veda (RV 9, 113. 11). Kamadeva is a name of Vishnu in Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana (SB 5.18.15), and of Krishna as well as Shiva. Kama is also a name used for Agni.

Other names used in reference to Kamadeva are Manmatha/Manmathudu (one who agitates), Atanu (one without a body), Ragavrinta (stalk of passion), Ananga (incorporeal), Kandarpa (inflamer even of a god), Madana(intoxicating), "Manmatha" मन्मथ (churner of hearts), Manasija {he who is born of mind}, a contraction of the Sanskrit phrase Sah Manasah jāta), Ratikānta (lord of Rati), Pushpavān, Pushpadhanva, Kusumashara कुसुमशर (one with arrow of flowers), Abhipura (also a name for both Shiva and Vishnu), and simply Kāma (desire, longing).

Kāmadeva is represented as a young, handsome winged man with green skin who wields a bow and arrows. His bow is made of sugarcane with a string of honeybees, and his arrows are decorated with five kinds of fragrant flowers. The five flowers are Ashoka tree flowers, white and blue lotus flowers, Mallika plant (Jasmine) and Mango tree flowers. A terracotta murti of Kamadeva of great antiquity is housed in the Mathura Museum, UP, India.