Holi Festival/Feast

This legend is about Kamadeva, the god of Love. This is the day on which Cupid was burnt by Lord Shiva. For the sake of Kama's wife Rati (passion), Shiva restored him, but only as a mental image, representing the true emotional and spiritual state of love rather than physical lust. The Holi bonfire is believed to be celebrated in commemoration of this event.

Parvati is known to have been devoted to Lord Shiva took a penance to get married to Him. Lord Shiva was however busy teaching the great Sages. In the meanwhile the Devas were troubled by the demon Surapadma. He had the boon that none other than the son who is the power of Shiva could kill him. As Lord Shiva was teaching the path of Bliss to the sages and Parvati doing penance, the Devas Out of the desperation, forcibly sent Kama (cupid) to induce lust into Shiva towards Parvati. Kama, whose arrows never failed elsewhere, shot an arrow that would kindle lust in Shiva. Kama has been vested with the power by Lord Shiva himself to induce lust in all creatures. However he failed, and as Shiva opened his third-eye, Kama was burnt down to a heap of ash. Unperturbed the Lord continued the explanation to the sages! This incident of burning off Kama is called Kamadahana or Holi. The posture of God burning KAMA is called Kamadahana Murthi and is one of the 25 Maheshwara Murthis.

As the lust was won over by the Eternal Bliss of Lord Shiva, the Kamadahana or Holi festival is celebrated as an event associating with the Bliss of God. The Holi bonfire is in commemoration of this event. The ash of Kama's body settled over the Lord Shiva. So following Kamadahana during Holi, people put the powders on themselves and others remembering this victory over lust. To this day, people offer sandalwood paste to Kamadeva to relieve from his stinging burns.