Om Kamadevaya
Vidmahe Pushpabanaya
Dhimahi Tannoanongah
Prachodayat
Om = Life, The Universe, Everything and Everywhen
Kama = Wish, Desire, Longing (God of Sensory Love and Desire)
Devaya = Divine Embodiment
Vidmahe = To Understand, To Know
Pushpabanaya = The God Of Love, The Five Flower Arrows of Kama*
Dhimahi = To Think, Perceive, Imagine, Reflect Upon
Tanno = He to Us
Ananga = Bodiless, Incorporeal, Air, Sky
from bhagavata.org: name of Kâma (god of love, so called because he was made bodiless by a flash from the eye of S’iva, for having attempted to disturb his life of austerity by filling him with love for Pârvatî)
Prachodayat = Stirring the Consciousness,inspiration
It is believed that chanting this mantra will increase love and intimacy between married couples. It enhances sensuality and desirable qualities, and increases sexual energy. It makes the entire physical body more attractive, and the face and eyes shine. It works with both body and mind to manifest a sensual and charmingly irresistible presence.
The “Kama Gayatri” is believed to be one of the most powerful of the gayatri mantras (Gayatri means three lines of eight syllables) which has an immediate effect upon the chanter. If suffering from lack of love, whenever searching for the right love partner, and whenever sexual life has lost luster, chanting the Kama Gayatri is considered to be the solution for all the troubles associated with desire, both sensual and relational.
Bryan’s philosophical perspective:
We can enhance our attractiveness to each other by cultivating awareness of the energies we dwell on and communicate with. Chanting and singing this mantra is part of the establishment of our intention to become more attractive to one another (and to ourselves maybe?).
One of the best collections of beauty suggestions comes from one of Audrey Hepburn’s favorite poems, which was originally authored by Sam Levenson. It is reproduced here in its entirety:
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.
Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!
*The following is from archive.org and provides some interesting additional information about the five arrows of Kama:
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana – English Translation
Puṣpabāṇa (पुष्पबाण) refers to the “five flower-arrows” of Kāma, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.2.—“[…] O best of sages, when I Brahmā, thought like this, a wonderfully Beautiful Being appeared as my mental creation. He [viz., Kāma] had a golden complexion. […] He had the Makara fish for his vehicle. He was armed with a bow and five flowers for his arrows [viz., Puṣpabāṇa]. His loving glance was very attractive as he rolled his eyes here and there. […]”.
Brahmā said:—“In this form and with your five flower-arrows [viz., Puṣpabāṇa] you can enamour and captivate men and women and carry on the eternal task of creation. In this universe consisting of three worlds, mobile and immobile beings, none of the living beings including the Devas will be competent to defy you. O best of beings, not to speak of ordinary living beings even I Brahmā, Vāsudeva and Śiva will be in your control. Invisibly you enter the hearts of living beings, excite thrilling feelings of pleasure and carry on the activities of creation that is to last for ever. The minds of all living beings will become an easy target of your five-flower arrows (Puṣpabāṇa). You will be the cause of their elation. Thus I have assigned you the task of facilitating creation. These sons of mine will confer names and titles on you”.
Taking his five flower-arrows (Puṣpabāṇa), Kāma decided on his future course remaining invisible in form. His five arrows are respectively:
- Harṣaṇa (delighting),
- Rocana (appealing),
- Mohana (deluding),
- Śoṣaṇa (withering),
- Māraṇa (killing).
Even sages could be deluded and tormented by them.
Note: The five flowers that are the missiles of love-God Kāma are stated to be:
- arabinda (a white lotus),
- aśoka (Jonesia Aśoka),
- āmra (mango-oot (?)),
- navamallikā (Jasmine),
- nīlotpala (a blue lotus).
–end of information from archive.org
