Kāmeśvara, the Husband of Lalitā

Kāmeśvara is the name of Bhagavān Parameśvara (Mahāśiva) in his supremely beautiful form as the husband of Lalitā Mahātripurasundarī. The Lalitopākhyāna tells that Lalitādevī rose from the sacrificial fire (yajñāgni) of the devas and wished for a husband worthy of her. Bhagavān Mahāśiva himself then appeared in this new form of endless youth and beauty, finer than all his other forms, to be her husband for ever. Together they rule from the Cintāmaṇi Gṛha at the centre of Śrī Nagara, seated on the Bindu-pīṭha of the Śrī Cakra. Their union is the ground of all that exists.

The appearance of the beautiful form (Chapter 14)

While the wedding of Lalitādevī was being prepared, Viśvakarma built a splendid city for it. Brahmā looked over the devas and honoured guests who were waiting, and saw something that filled him with wonder. Bhagavān Mahāśiva had come in person. He did not come in any of his fierce or ascetic forms. He came as Kāmeśvara, “the lord of kāma” (desire), a youth of beauty beyond anything seen in all the worlds. The name means that just as Kāmadeva (Manmatha) was the deva of desire, Kāmeśvara is the supreme ruler of kāma. (Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Lalitopākhyāna, Chapter 14)

The divine wedding (Chapter 15)

Lalitādevī saw this form and chose Kāmeśvara by placing a garland on him. It was a svayaṃvara (a bride’s own choice of husband) in the highest sense. Bhagavān Viṣṇu gave Lalitādevī in marriage as kanyādāna (the giving of the bride). All the devas, ṛṣis, siddhas (perfected beings), gandharvas and other divine beings came. The Lalitopākhyāna describes the gifts given by each group of divine beings, the blessings spoken, and the joy that filled all the worlds. At this wedding Brahmā gave Lalitādevī the name Kāmākṣī, “she whose eyes are kāma”.

When the wedding was over, Kāmeśvara and Kāmākṣī-Lalitā began their divine rule from Śrī Nagara. (Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Lalitopākhyāna, Chapter 15)

Kāmeśvara’s chariot, the Kiricakra (Chapter 20)

In the great war against Bhaṇḍāsura, Kāmeśvara went with Lalitādevī in his own chariot, the Kiricakra. Chapter 20 describes it with its divine officers, its weapons and the devas placed at each position. In the Kiricakra Kāmeśvara also serves as the charioteer of Lalitādevī’s own Cakrarāja ratha (chariot). (Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Lalitopākhyāna, Chapter 20)

Eternal presence at the Bindu-pīṭha

In the teaching on the Śrī Cakra in the Lalitopākhyāna, the central Bindu, the point at the heart of the Śrī Cakra, stands for the union of Kāmeśvara and Kāmeśvarī (Lalitā), who cannot be parted. Every spreading out of the cosmos comes from this union, and every dissolution is a return to it. The Śrī Cakra is therefore the diagram of the divine play of creation of Kāmeśvara and Kāmākṣī. Kāmeśvara is the Śiva side, pure consciousness. Lalitā is the Śakti side, divine power. Their union at the Bindu is the source and support of all that exists. (Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Lalitopākhyāna, Chapter 41)

Sources

Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Lalitopākhyāna, Chapters 14–15, 19–20
Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Lalitopākhyāna, Chapter 41