Manmatha

As Tarakasura was harassing the world and was gloated with a boon from Brahma that only Maha Deva’s son Skanda could exterminate the Asura, Indra and Devas were anxious that Devi Parvati should soon wed Maha Deva. The latter approached Vishnu and requested for a quick solution as Maha Deva was absorbed in very long Tapasya after he was totally disenchanted after Devi Sati’s self- sacrifice pursuant to Daksha Yagna since Sati was frustrated that her husband Shiva was insulted by her father Daksha in non-invitation of his Yagna to Shiva.

In response, Vishnu looked amorously sideways to Devi Lakshmi and there got manifested Manmatha with arrows of flowers and a sugarcane bow.

Brahma blessed Manmatha to become an Embodiment of Love on the Universe.

Indra and Devas got the hint and requested Manmadha to utilise all their skills to kindle attraction of Maha Deva in favour of Devi Parvati who was already serving Shiva in Tapasya by arranging the wherewith all like fruits, flowers and other material utilised in Shiva’s puja in progress. Manmatha agreed and released an arrrow of flowers. For a split second, Maha Deva opened his eyes and saw Parvati with a momentary fultter of thought of liking for her, but soon got over that feeling and discovered as to who was behind this disturbance as Manmatha was lurking behing the trees! A furious Maha Deva opened his third eye and converted Manmadha as a heap of ash!

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Brahma introduced Rati Devi the widow of Manmatha and requested Lalita Devi to terminate her widow-hood and Lalita Devi readily agreed to do so and asked her to be bathed and dressed up as a ‘Sumangali’ with

1. chandana-kumkuma, 
2. flowers and 
3. ornaments. 

Manmatha got revived. Devi bestowed boons to him saying that

1. from the hair roots of his body he would materialise crores of Manmathas for ever and 
2. that he would ensure all the married couple to get marital satisfaction for ever; 
3. those who blame him would fail in their marriage unions and males turn out to be impotent and females turn out as frigid and barren. 

The Nava Manmatha was further blessed by Devi that Maha Deva would renounce Vairagya and would be so fond of Parvati that he did not leave her thus acquiring the epithet of ‘Arthanaareswara’ Manmatha’s Senaani was Chandra, and Peetha mardakas were ‘Raaga’ or sweet musical notes, Mandanalaya or provocative winds and the sweet cooing of Kokila or Koel.

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