Rudra Samhita · Chapter 6
Tarakasur's Boon and Kamdev Burnt to Ashes
The story so far
Daksha's yagya was destroyed and later he was forgiven. Grieving for Sati, Shiv went into deep samadhi. Sati was reborn as Parvati in the home of Himalaya.
Sati was reborn as Parvati, daughter of Himalaya, king of the mountains, and Queen Maina. The sage Narad foretold that this girl would become Shiv's wife. When she grew up, Parvati began serving Shiv, who was meditating in the Himalayas, but Shiv would not even open his eyes.
Meanwhile a demon named Tarakasur pleased Brahma with tapasya and won a boon: only a son of Shiv could kill him. He thought Shiv, lost in samadhi, would never marry. With this boon he seized heaven and tormented the devas.
The devas went to Brahma. The only way was for Shiv to marry Parvati. Indra sent , the god of love, to awaken love for Parvati in Shiv's heart. Kamdev went with his wife Rati and the spirit of spring. Suddenly the whole forest burst into bloom.
When Parvati came to offer worship, Kamdev shot his arrow of flowers. For a moment Shiv's meditation wavered. He opened his eyes and understood that someone was playing a trick. He looked at Kamdev, and his third eye opened. Its fire burnt Kamdev to ashes on the spot.
Weeping, Rati fell at Shiv's feet. Shiv said with compassion: Kamdev will now live without a body, as , in everyone's heart. And in the Dwapar Yuga he will be born again as Pradyumna, son of Shri Krishna, and you will meet him then. Rati was comforted.
A lesson for today
Distractions come from outside, but the power to master them is within us. And even in the hardest moment, there is room for compassion.
All chapters
- 1What Is the Shiv Puran?
- 2The Endless Pillar of Light: Brahma and Vishnu
- 3Why Is the Shivling Worshipped?
- 4Sati and Daksha's Yagya
- 5Virbhadra and the End of Daksha's Yagya
- 6Tarakasur's Boon and Kamdev Burnt to Ashes
- 7Parvati's Tapasya
- 8The Wedding of Shiv and Parvati
- 9Kartikeya's Birth and the Defeat of Tarakasur
- 10Ganesh's Birth and the Elephant Head
- 11Tripurasur and the Single Arrow
- 12Neelkanth: When Shiv Drank the Poison
- 13Ganga Descends into Shiv's Hair
- 14Markandeya and the Defeat of Death
- 15The Kirat and Arjuna
- 16Shiv's Forms: Ardhanarishvar and Nataraj
- 17The Hunter and the First Shivratri
- 18The Twelve Jyotirlingas — Part 1
- 19The Twelve Jyotirlingas — Part 2