Adapted from the Saura Purana
There was once a demon, Taraka in name. Taraka undertook to gain the favor of Brahma through asceticism, and succeeded in obtaining from the Creator a blessing.
"What blessing do you ask?" inquired Brahma.
At this Taraka folded his hands, bowed before Brahma, and answered, "O Lotus-born One, I ask only that I not die at the hands of any of the living gods."
Having offered any blessing Taraka might ask, Brahma was obligated to fulfill the request.
With this blessing, Taraka began to assail the gods. He set them to flight and took their wives. The gods fled to Brahma in distress.
"We are terrified," they told the Creator. "Even Vishnu himself, the strongest of all gods, has fought Taraka for 30,000 years to no avail. And now, seeing that Taraka cannot die, even Vishnu has withdrawn."
Brahma reflected for a time, then answered, "When I gave to Taraka the blessing, I also asked him in what way he would die. His reply was 'By one conceived by the seed of the god above all gods.' Vishnu alone will discern how this is to happen." At this all the gods went with Brahma to Meru, the holy mountain, to seek Vishnu.
Vishnu came out from hiding when the gods arrived. "How are we to destroy Taraka?" he asked them.
Brahma and the rest of the gods told him what must be done, and Indra remembered to them the one of pleasure, Kama. At the thought of his name, Kama appeared at Meru with his flower-bow. "What demon threatens you, that I may afflict him with the distraction of desire?" Kama said. "Or what woman resists your commands? I will make her realize your irresistibility."
To this Indra replied, "We know that you are capable of much with your flower-bow. Go to Shiva, shake the mind of that Remover, make him seek to unite with his wife Parvati. It is for this that I thought of you and your flower-bow."
Kama went forth to Shiva's abode, but when he arrived he found the door guarded as always by Nandi, the bull of Shiva. He stood frighteningly, tall as the peak of Meru, looking like a second Shiva. But Kama took the form of a pleasing fragrant breeze, and entered from the south.
Inside, Shiva was deep in meditation. Like 10 million suns he shone, like pure crystal, like a smokeless fire. Kama drew his bow and took aim, and he stood in this way for 60 million years.
From the depth of his meditation, Shiva opened his two eyes and saw the Goddess, shyly doing her asceticism before him. As the desire rose in him, Shiva realized that Kama was present. He turned to look behind him, and as his eyes beheld Kama fire went forth and consumed the giver of pleasure.
Then Shiva turned again to the goddess. "What blessing shall I give you for your asceticism, Daughter of the Mountain?"
But the Goddess refused a blessing. "What blessing can replace the union with you? But you have destroyed the giver of desire. Can there ever be happiness without Kama?"
Shiva protested, "I did not intend to burn him. The fire that goes forth from eye goes forth of its own accord."
"You who are the lord of lords have no control? Then why do you not burn me too as I stand before your uncontrollable eye? If you have no control, I have no other refuge. I would prefer death."
Then Shiva changed his mood. "Ask me any blessing."
The Goddess answered, "The blessing I seek is the restoration of Kama."
Her husband relented. "I will restore Kama. But I do so without form. Without a body, he will shake the world."
Thus the great lord blessed Kama, the one known as Infatuation, the one called Excitement, the one named Stiffening, the one spoken of as Heat and Parching. And Kama disappeared, working ever since in the minds of all.
Telling is copyrighted 1999 by Thomas Shoemaker.