Bhaskaraiah continues to be bothered about Rajegowda’s death and the fact that there is no convincing explanation for the body’s appearance at the temple. He wants to investigate. He tries to discuss possibilities with Krishnegowda and Sundru, but neither of them appear interested. Even Annaiah does not pursue the issue. Perhaps he has grown old, perhaps he wants to let sleeping dogs lie, perhaps he knows.

20. Kamadeva’s Story

20

KAMADEVA’S STORY

nnaiah, whose storytelling has been faltering of late, sits down one evening, a few days after Rajegowda’s death, to tell them how the Ramani tale ends – the story of Kamadeva himself. Perhaps the idea of Honni and the funeral pyre is still bothering him and he wants some closure.

In a deeply evocative song, Annaiah sings of why Kamadeva, despite being the god of desire, does not have a body.

He introduces the character of Kamadeva’s wife Rati, whom no one recalls hearing of before. Rati is an extension of Kamadeva’s own powers. Without her, he is incomplete and he knows it.

One day, when spring is at its height, Deyi Baidethi is happy, all the flowers across the wall have bloomed and the air is swollen with perfume. Honeybees are buzzing around, the kogile is singing its heart out and Kamadeva’s vehicle, the parrot, is flying around in dizzying hoops.

A young Parvati is sitting among the flowers, stringing together a garland of love with suryavamsis and swetasancharis. She is singing softly to herself of beauty, love and longing. Kamadeva is reminded of Ramani’s intentness on the task.

There is something about these mortal women. Look at how he is hankering after Ramani. This girl of rare grace will snare another impossible target: the ascetic Siva, the Destroyer. She will divert him from the destructive sharey and make him human, frail and filled with longings. She will reduce the dark omnipotent aura that always threatens to destroy the world.

Kamadeva wants to bring joy to Siva. He has himself felt the power of being with Ramani and wants to spread that happiness. He also has a subtle motive, which he does not acknowledge even to himself. He wants to bring Siva under his own power. He tasted just a glimpse of it in the Mohini episode. Now he wants to see it in full form. And he will get there, for Parvati is intent on weaving the perfect garland. Abruptly, Kamadeva sees the young girl and feels uneasy … is it too tough a task? Siva is a hard man.

Invisible to Parvati’s eyes, Kamadeva hovers, moving restlessly among the flowers and the shrubs, stirring and disturbing them. The bees buzzing around the flowers and rodents hiding in the shrubs dart out in panic. Parvati, her concentration disturbed, raises her eyes from the garland and looks around with a frown.