Madana is the Hindu God of Love and in an important story in
the Puranas, Madana was assigned with the mission to stop Lord Shiva’s penance
that he started after the death of Sati Devi. Madana is also known as Kamdev.
After the death of Sati, Lord Shiva entered into yogic
penance in the Himalayas. Lord Shiva was no longer interested in the
world.
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Taking advantage of the situation, a demon named Tarakasura,
son of Vjranga and Varangi, did Tapas (penance and austerities) and pleased
Lord Brahma and got two boons. As the first boon, he asked Brahma to make him
the most powerful man in the world. As the second boon he sought that his death
should only happen at the hands of a son born to Shiva – thinking that Shiva
will never again marry.
After getting the boons, Tarakasura showed his true color
and started attacking the demigods, saints and humans. He defeated all the
Kings and Devas and took control over earth and heaven.
All the Devas and saints sought refuge at the feet of Brahma
who told that the only solution for this problem was to bring back Lord Shiva
to the world and stop his penance.
Brahma told them that Goddess Sati was reborn as Goddess
Parvati and was doing penance to get Shiva as her husband. But Shiva was not
ready to stop his intense penance.
Brahma asked the gods to take the help of Madana to stop the
penance by creating sexual desire and passion in Lord Shiva.
Madana arrived in front of Shiva along with Rati Devi, and
shot five arrows of flowers at the heart of Shiva.
Shiva’s meditation was interrupted and he was terribly angry
and opened his third eye on his forehead, and a fierce blazing flame came out
of his third eye and burned Kamadeva into ashes.
The sperm that split from Shiva as the result of the arrows
of Madana fell into River Ganga and it was born as six children. These six
children were looked after by the Krithiga Stars and were later joined to a
single child by Goddess Parvati after her marriage with Lord Shiva. This child was
Kartik and he later killed Tarakasura.
Shiva soon realized the good intention of Madana and restored him back to his former form.