HOLI AND SHIVA

The legend has it that when Lord Shiva's consort Sati committed herself to
fire due to disgrace shown by her father Daksha to Shiva, Lord Shiva
became extremely sad. He renounced his worldly duties and went into deep
meditation.
Meanwhile, the daughter of the mountains, Parvati started meditating to
acquire Shiva as her husband. Moreover, since Shiva was least interested in
the affairs of the world complications began to generate in matters of the
world which made all the gods concerned and afraid.
The gods then sought the help of Lord Kamadeva, the god of love and
passion to bring Shiva back to his original self. Kamadeva knew that he
might have to suffer the consequences of doing this, but he accepted to
shoot his arrow on Shiva for the sake of the world.
As planned Kama shot his love arrow on Shiva while he was in meditation.
This made Shiva extremely angry and he opened his third eye - reducing
Kamadeva to ashes. However, Kamadeva arrow had the desired effect and
Lord Shiva married Parvati.
A short while after this, Kamadeva's wife, Rati pleaded Lord Shiva and said
this was all the plan of the gods and asked him to kindly revive Kamadeva.
An embodiment of love himself, Lord Shiva gladly accepted to do so. Thus
the incident had a happy ending for all.
It is believed that Lord Shiva burned Kamadeva on the day of Holi. Down
south people worship Kamadeva-the Love-god for his extreme sacrifice on
the day of Holi.
Kamadeva is depicted with his bow of sugarcane having the string of a line
of humming bees and his arrow-shafts are topped with passion that pierces
the heart. The deity is offered mango blossoms that he loved and
sandalwood paste to cool off the pain of his fatal burns. Songs are also song
in which Rati's sorrow is depicted. In Tamil Nadu, Holi is known by three
different names - Kamavilas, Kaman Pandigai and Kama-Dahanam.