Sukhataha kriyate raamaabhogaha
pashcaat hanta shareere rogaha
yadyapi loke maranam sharanam
tadapi na muncati paapaacharanam
Of the six invisible enemies of man, namely, Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsarya, the very first one that is difficult to conquer and leads us to bad activities - is Kama. Kama takes birth from our Rajoguna. It creates attraction between two things. The world bids its existence from this, grows from this and continues in it. The bodily attraction between man and woman is generally termed as Kama. In addition to this, hankering for wealth, children, name and fame etc are also the various faces of Kama. That Kama, which is against the tenets of Dharma, belongs to Arishadwarga. The one, which is not against the tenets of Dharma is satkama, which is quite acceptable and welcome. ‘Dharmaviruddho bhutheshu kamosmi bharatharshab’ said Lord Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita. This kama of human beings, if it is satkama, becomes an important ingredient of foursome Purusharthas and assists in the growth and development of divine population. It becomes a firm foundation for the divine life. There are many who perished due to kama, like Ravana, Vali etc., The King Nahusha and Indra were drowned in deep trouble, struck by Kama. Even Sita the very figure of chastity, had to undergo unbearable hardships due to her momentary aspiration for the golden deer.
Lord Sri Rama was piously attached to a single wife - Sita. King Dasharatha had three wives. Even being the husband of 16,008 women, Lord Krishna is acclaimed as one who is unflinched from celibacy right from birth. Hence, Kama, which is not against the tenets of Dharma is quite welcome.
Uncontrolled Kama is the root of sorrow, transcendent and leads to decay and destruction. While enjoying, we behave as though our life and health are permanent. But this human body rots day by day. Death is its end stage. As man ages, the urge of kama also reduces. That is why the child Nachiketa explained to Yama Dharma, the transient nature of human life in his words - Tavaiva vaha tava nrithyagite. The boy rejected all the wealth, vehicles, kingdom and retinue offered by Yama by saying ‘whatever you offer now, they are nothing but the music and accompaniments for your dance of death. Nothing is permanent in this universe’. Arguing thus, the boy Nachiketa won over Yama himself and returned to the earth without a blemish.
Even though it appears to be very happy while enjoying a woman, the body becomes a den of deceases at the end. It only culminates in the last stage, the death. When the facts are so glaring, why carry on this sin of Kama.
Remember that Yayathi was never totally happy and contented even though he enjoyed all along his youth and spent the youth borrowed from his son. He finally understood the transient nature of youth and age. Even Maharshi Vishwamitra was tormented by kama towards Menaka, the divine damsel. He swerved from his Yoga and Tapas and had a mighty fall from his spiritual accomplishments. He had to carry out extended and arduous tapas to regain his original status. After this he even earned the title of Brahmharshi. Stuck by the kama towards Indrani, Nahusha had to fall to the earth in the form of Ajagara, heavy and immovable snake. On account of Kama, even the great Ahalya, who is one of the five Kanyas being remembered every day in our country, had to undergo the curse of being a stone like till the feet of Sri Rama redeemed her.
Sadguru Sri Radhakrishnan Nampoothiri, Chief Priest of Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple, popularly known as the Sabarimala for Women.