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Kameshvara
| Kameshvara | |
|---|---|
| File:Kameswara mahadeva.jpg | |
| Other names | Mahakameshvara, Tripura Sundara, Rajarajeshvara, Shodasha |
| Affiliation |
|
| Abode | |
| Mantra |
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| Weapon | Pasha (noose), Ankusha (elephant goad), arrow and sugarcane bow |
| Symbols |
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| Day | |
| Mount | Nandi |
| Festivals | |
| Consort | Tripura Sundari |
Kameshvara (Sanskrit: कामेश्वर, IAST: kāmeśvara) also known as Mahakameshvara and Shodasha is one of the supreme forms of Lord Shiva, the supreme god of the universe in the Shaiva sect of Hinduism. He is mainly mentioned in Lalita Mahatmayam of Brahmanda Purana and Tripura Rahasya.[3][4]
Etymology and nomenclature[edit]
The Sanskrit word Kama (काम) means desire. Ishwara is the Lord. Kameshvara is the lord of the desires. Shiva is Brahman (Shaivism) and created the entire world out of his desire (Kama), hence he is called Kameshvara.[citation needed]
Legend[edit]
Brahmanda Purana[edit]
According to the Lalitopakhayana of Brahmanda Purana, after Goddess Tripura Sundari came to destroy Bhandasura, she took up her abode in the Sri Nagara, built by the Vishvakarma. There the supreme god appeared in the form of Kameshwara at the request of Lord Brahma to marry her.
Even as god Brahma was thinking thus, Maheshvara (Śiva) appeared in front of him assuming a form that fascinated the whole universe. He had a divine personality endowed with handsome features of ten million Kandarpas (God of Love) i.e. he was ten million times more beautiful than Kandarpa), dressed in divine robes, and wore divine garlands and was besmeared with heavenly scents and unguents. He was adorned with crown, necklaces, bracelets, earrings etc. He thus appeared in front of Brahma, assuming a form fascinating the world. Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, embraced that youthful hero having a charming body and named him Kameshvara.
— G.V. Tagare, Brahmanda Purana (Lalitopakhyana), Chapter 14 Verses 18 to 21
Tripura Rahasya[edit]
The Shakta scripture, Tripura Rahasya - Mahatmya Khanda mentioned, Goddess Tripura Sundari manifested Kameshvara from the right part of her body at the request of the demigods after manifesting herself in Manidvipa.
Hearing this Sadashiva who saw us ignorant, bowed to her and said thus: "Oh Devi! because you have fulfilled our desires (Kama) you will be kameshvari and the lord will be Kameshvara, because you are governors of us the king of kings you will be Rajarajeshvari and the lord will be Rajarajeshvara. You will be Tripurasundari and He will be Tripurasundara.
— T. B. Lakshmana Rao, Shri Tripura Rahasya (Mahatmya Khanda), Chapter 55 Verses 73 to 75
Shiva Purana[edit]
The Shiva Purana states that out of the ten incarnations of Lord Shiva, the fifth incarnation is Shri Vidya Shodasha.[5]
Iconography[edit]
Kameshvara and Kameshvari (Tripura Sundari) are stated to be residing in Manidvipa (Island of Gems), which is amidst the ocean of nectar. Within that island, kameshvara and kameshvari's abode is inside a Fort, which is made of Chintamani, a precious gem, and is surrounded by gardens. There, They are sitting on a divine cot of which Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Maheshvara are the four legs and Sadashiva is seat. Shakti is sitting on the left lap of Kameshvara.[6]
Lord Kameshvara also has Pasha (noose), Ankusha (elephant goad), Arrows and bow similar to Goddess Kameshvari. V. Ravi states that Kameshvari is not carrying anything, but she is carrying the reflection of weapons which kameshvara hold.[7]
Assimilation of traditions[edit]
Elaine M. Fisher state that Nilakanta's Sivatattvarahasya clearly shows how Sri Vidya and Shaiva Siddhanta are interwoven and form of Shiva prevalent in Shri Vidya, Kameshvara, is in fact a “highly esoteric” manifestation of the Saiddhantika Maheshvara.[8]
K. Ramesh states that Shri Shiva Kameshvara is the First guru in the Shri Vidya sect and He realized Shri Maha Tripura Sundari in the form of Shri Vidya in a coded secret manner, thus became the first guru in that lineage.[9]
Temples[edit]
- Kameshvara Temple is located at Rabindranath Tagore Rd, opp. Birla Birla Hospital, Machhodari, Varanasi, U.P, India
References[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ↑ Fuller 2004, p. 58.
- ↑ Dalal 2010, pp. 137, 186.
- ↑ Tagare, G.V. (2020). The Brahmanda Purana. Motilal Banarsidass Publications. ISBN 9788120838246.
- ↑ Rao, Lakshmana (2011). Shri Tripura Rahasya (Mahatmya Khanda).
- ↑ Shastri, J. L. (2011). The Shiva Purana. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. ISBN 9788120838185.
- ↑ Thyagarajan, Padmaa (2018). Thus Spake The Divine - Vol. 1. Giri Trading Agency Private Limited. ISBN 9788179507889.
- ↑ Ravi, V (2013). Understanding worshipping Sri Chakra. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 89. ISBN 9781493713639.
- ↑ Elaine, M. Fisher (2017). Hindu Pluralism (1st ed.). University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520293014.
- ↑ Ramesh, K (2011). Thoughts On The Way (1st ed.). Shripuram Trust.
Works cited[edit]
- Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0143414216.
- Fuller, Christopher John (2004). The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and society in India. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691120485.
- Ramesh, K (2011). Thoughts On The Way (1st ed.). Shripuram trust.