kama

/ˈkɑmə/
noun
  1. In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, the god of love and desire.
    • Kama is often shown riding a parrot and holding a bow made of sugarcane.
    • In Hindu mythology, Kama is the god of love who shoots arrows made of flowers.
    • Many temples in India have carvings of Kama and his wife Rati.
  2. In Hindu philosophy, one of the four goals of human life, meaning pleasure, love, and desire.
    • A balanced life includes pursuing kama, but not at the expense of dharma.
    • The ancient texts teach that kama, or desire, is a natural and important part of life.
    • The Kama Sutra is a famous text that discusses kama and how to enjoy it wisely.