Another Holi Related Story

There is a famous legend that relates Kaamadeva, the love god of Indian mythology, to the festival of Holi. According to this story, Lord Shiva's consort Sati committed herself to fire due to disgrace shown by her father Daksha to Shiva. At the same time, Parvati (the daughter of the mountains), started meditating to acquire Shiva as her husband. All this added to Shiva's already reticent nature with the result that he renounced his worldly duties and went into deep meditation.

To bring Shiva back to his original self, the gods went to Kaamadeva. Even though he knew that he might have to suffer the consequences of troubling Lord Shiva, Kaamadeva agreed for the sake of the world. Kaamadeva is believed to have shot his love arrow on Lord Shiva to break his meditation and evoke his interest in worldly affairs. Kama's body was reduced to ashes by the force of an angry Shiva’s third eye, when he shot a flower-draped arrow at him to disrupt his penance. On the tearful requests of Kama's wife Rati, the lord restored him, but only as a mental image, representing true love rather than physical lust.

People of Tamil Nadu follow the tradition of worshiping Kaamadeva, the love god of Indian mythology on Holi. The Holi bonfire, also known as Kama-Dahanam is a celebration of this mythological event. In fact, in the state of Tamil Nadu, Holi is known by three different names - Kamavilas, Kaman Pandigai and Kama-Dahanam.

The Stories Of Holi Festival

The traditions that we regard as being naturally associated with Holi have a long history behind them. Some of the more popular ones are,

Legends Behind Holi Bonfire – Holika Dahan
Most of us would have read or heard of the association of the legend of Holika with Holi. This is particularly true of the tradition of the Holi bonfire which takes place the evening before the play of colours. Holika Dahan or Holikotsav has a direct relationship with this very famous legend.

Once upon a time, there was a demon king named Hiranyakashyap who had won all the three worlds of heaven, earth and hell and had thus, become very proud. He had beome overconfident and vain because of his powers so much so that he believed that he could defeat even Lord Vishnu. This evil king had ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him above any god. He could not though influence his own son, Prahlad, who was a worshipper of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashyap tried to get his son killed and was unsuccessful every time. Finally, he asked his sister Holika to help him. Holika had a very special power. She was immune to fire. The king ordered that his son be made to sit with Holika in a bonfire. In the end though, Prahlad who by then was known as Bhakt Prahlad (Devotee Prahlad) came away unhurt whereas Holika was consumed by the fire.

Legend Behind Holi Colours
As with Holika Dahan, the story behind Holi colours is connected to another of Lord Vishnu's avatars, Krishna. Legend has it that Lord Krishna was not too happy with the fact that whereas Radha was fair complexioned, he himself was very dark. Krishna questioned his mother about this injustice. To make her son happy, Yashoda suggested that Krishna apply colour on Radha's face and change her complexion. Krishna was also understood to have played with milkmaids (gopis) by throwing colour and water on them. It was thus that the game of applying colours gained popularity and became a part of Holi traditions. Even now, the application of colours is also an expression of love.