Kāmotsava
Kāmotsava · kāma-utsava, “the festival of Kāmadeva”
The Kāmotsava is the festival of Kāmadeva, kept every year on the śukla trayodaśī of Caitra. Śrī Kṛshṇa tells of it to Mahārāja Yudhishṭhira in the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, Chapters 133–136. On this one day of the year, by the word of Bhagavān Śiva, Kāmadeva is born of the mind and lives. An image of him with Rati, Prīti and Vasanta is made under an aśoka tree, and the pūjā is done at midday. It gives plenty, safety, health and Lakshmī, and Bhagavān Vishṇu, Brahmā, the grahas and the others the text names become pleased with the one who keeps it.
The account
When Bhagavān Śaṅkara burned Kāmadeva to ash with the flame of his eye, Kāmadeva’s wives Rati and Prīti wept and lamented. Compassion arose in the heart of Devī Pārvatī, and she prayed to Bhagavān Śiva: “Mahārāja! Be gracious, give this Kāmadeva the gift of life and grant him a body.”
Pleased, Bhagavān Śiva said: “Pārvatī! He cannot now live again in embodied form. But each year, once, on Caitra śukla trayodaśī, he will be born of the mind and live. Whoever performs the pūjā of Kāmadeva on Caitra śukla trayodaśī will be happy all the year.” Having said this, Bhagavān Śiva went to Kailāsa.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 133–136
The vidhi
- On Caitra śukla trayodaśī, bathe.
- Make an aśoka tree, and beneath it make an image of Kāmadeva with Rati, Prīti and Vasanta from sindūra and turmeric, or set up an image of gold.
- Let the image be such that vidyādharīs attend with joined hands, apsarās stand all around, and gandharvas dance.
- At midday, with gandha, flowers, dhūpa, akshata, tāmbūla, dīpa, many kinds of fruit, naivedya and other upacāras, perform the pūjā of Kāmadeva and also of one’s own husband.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 133–136
The phala
One who keeps this Kāmotsava every year gains plenty, safety, health and Lakshmī. Bhagavān Vishṇu, Brahmā, the grahas Sūrya and Candra and others, Kāmadeva, Vasanta, gandharvas, asuras, rākshasas, suparṇas, nāgas, mountains and others become pleased with that person, who never has sorrow.
A woman who in vasanta performs with bhakti the pūjā of Kāmadeva with his retinue, Rati, Prīti, Vasanta, Malayānila and the rest, gains saubhāgya (good fortune), beauty, sons and happiness.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 133–136
The list of vratas in Chapter 208 of the Uttara Parva names this festival as the Madana Utsava.
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 133–136, 208