Editing Rati (section)

==Associations, worship, and iconography ==
[[File:Rati devi.JPG|left|thumb|upright|A stone Rati sculpture on a temple pillar, opposite the pillar with Kama. Seated on a parrot, Rati is holding a sugarcane bow. Shikakirisvara Temple, Kudumiyanmalai]]
The name ''Rati'' in Sanskrit means "the pleasure of love, sexual passion or union, amorous enjoyment", all of which Rati personifies.<ref name = "name">{{cite web|url=http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0867-randhrAnusArin.jpg|title=p. 867: Rati|last=Monier Williams|author-link=Monier Williams|year=2008|work=Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary|access-date=24 July 2010}}</ref> Rati also indicates the female-seed.<ref name="wendy1">{{cite book|last=Doniger O'Flaherty|first=Wendy |title=Women, androgynes, and other mythical beasts|year=1980|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=0-226-61850-1|pages=39, 103}}</ref> The word ''Rati'' also gives rise to other love-related Sanskrit words like ''Kama-rati'' ("a man stupefied by desire"), ''rati-karman'' ("sexual intercourse"), ''rati-laksha'' ("sexual intercourse"), ''rati-bhoga'' ("sexual enjoyment"), ''rati-shakti'' ("virile power"), ''rati-jna'' ("skilled in the art of love"), and ''rati-yuddha'' ("a sex-battle").<ref name = "H165"/><ref name = "name"/><ref name="wendy1"/> The word ''Rati'' also appears in title of the Sanskrit erotic work ''[[Ratirahasya|Rati-Rahasya]]'' ("secrets of Rati") – which is said to contain the sexual secrets of the goddess – as well as in the Sanskrit names of many sex techniques and positions like ''Rati-pasha'' ("the noose of Rati"), a [[sex position]] in which the woman locks her legs behind her lover's back.<ref name="swami">{{cite book|last=Swami Ram Charran|title=The Vedic Sexual Code: Enjoy a Complete and Fulfilling Relationship With Your Lover|year=2007|publisher=AuthorHouse|pages=151, 209}}</ref><ref name = "name"/>

Rati stands for sexual pleasure, carnal desire and sexuality.<ref name = "B29"/> Rati represents only the pleasure aspect of sexual activity and does not relate to child-birth or motherhood.<ref name = "B32">Benton p. 32</ref> Professor Catherine Benton of the [[Lake Forest College]] (Department of Religion) relates her birth from the "desire-ridden" sweat to bodily fluids produced during sexual intercourse, which are considered impure in Hinduism. Her association with Kama – the auspicious god of love – grants her the status of an auspicious goddess. Rati and Kama are often pictured on temple walls as "welcome sculptures", symbols of good fortune and prosperity.<ref name = "B29">Benton p. 29</ref> Not only is Rati Kama's consort, but she is also his assistant and constant companion, who arouses sexual feelings. Kama is usually depicted with Rati along his side.<ref name = "B29ff"/> Rati is also included as a minor character in any drama involving Kama.<ref name = "B32"/> Rati also enjoys worship with Kama in some festival rites dedicated to him.<ref>Benton pp. 94, 101</ref>

The ''[[Shiva Purana]]'' mentions that Kama himself was pierced by his love-arrows when he saw his "auspicious wife", Rati.<ref name = "B29ff">Benton pp. 29–31</ref> Rati, as well as her husband Kama, ride a parrot as their ''[[vahana]]'' (vehicle).<ref name="wendy">{{cite book|last=Dongier|first=Wendy|author-link=Wendy Doniger|title=Purāṇa perennis: reciprocity and transformation in Hindu and Jaina texts|isbn=0-7914-1382-9|year=1993|publisher=SUNY Press|pages=52, 75}}</ref> Rati is often depicted with a sword.<ref name="suresh">{{cite book|last=Chandra|first= Suresh |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindu gods and goddesses|edition=2|year=2001|publisher=Sarup & Sons|isbn=81-7625-039-2|page=273}}</ref>

In [[Tantra]], the [[Mahavidya]] goddess [[Chhinnamasta]] is depicted severing her own head and standing on the copulating couple of Kama and Rati, with the latter on top, ([[Woman on top (sex position)|''viparita-rati'' sex position]]). The woman-on-top position suggests female dominance over male. Chhinnamasta standing on a copulating couple of Kama and Rati is interpreted by some as a symbol of self-control of sexual desire, while others interpret it as the goddess, being an embodiment of sexual energy. Images of Chhinnamasta depicted sitting on Kamadeva-Rati in a non-suppressive fashion are associated with the latter interpretation. The love-deity couple also symbolize [[maithuna]], ritual sexual union.<ref>Benton pp. 125–6</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Kinsley|first=David R.|title=Tantric visions of the divine feminine: the ten mahāvidyās|publisher=University of California Press.|year=1997|isbn=978-0-520-20499-7|pages = 154–7}}</ref>
[[File:Statue of Rati.jpg|thumb|Statue of Rati, [[Koodal Azhagar temple|Koodal Alagar Temple]], Madurai]]
'''Worship'''

* Kameshwara Temple, in [[Aragalur]]. The [[Purana#Sthala Puranas|Sthala purana]] indicates that Kamadeva woke up [[Shiva]] at this place.
* Kameshvara Temple, in [[Vraja|Kamyavan]], one of the twelve forests of [[Vrindavana]].
* Soundaraja Perumal Temple at [[Thadikombu]], near Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. Separate shrine for Kamdev and Rati.
* Harsat-Mata Temple at [[Abhaneri]] has representation of Kamadeva.