A Comparative Study of ‘Kāman Festival’ in Tamil Nadu and the Archaeological Remains of Madan Kamdev Temple in Assam

தமிழக காமன் விழாவும் அசாமில் மதன் காம்தேவ் கோவிலின் தொல்லியல் எச்சங்களும்: ஓர் ஒப்பீட்டு ஆய்வு

Abstract

Rathi and Manmadha are the epitomes of beauty who stand as witnesses of unrequited love in Puranas. The story of Manmadha who holding his sugarcane bow and stirring the hearts of lovers with flowers, burning to ashes due to Shiva’s anger and coming back to life due to Rathi’s prayer, is widely popular among the people. The event is celebrated under the name ‘Kaman festival’ as one of the popular festivals of Tamils. Many Tamil classical texts refer to this festival which was celebrated as a grand festival. The story of Manmadha being burnt by Shiva is still celebrated as a common festival every year in the villages of Tamil Nadu. Kaman, who was regarded as the god of love, has many accounts of his early beginnings as a deity to be worshipped. Similarly, the common story is presented with variations across the India. It is now served as ’Kamandi’ in some parts of Tamil Nadu. This article aims to compare the social environment of the time by analyzing the festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India, the history of the Madan Kamdev temple discovered by the archeology department of Assam state in the north-eastern part of India, and the sculptures of the temple and the sentiments of the people.