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{{Short description|Hindu goddess of love, lust and pleasure}}
{{About|the Hindu goddess of love|the Indonesian lunar goddess|Dewi Ratih}}
{{other uses|Rati (given name)|Rati (Norse mythology)}}
{{Infobox deity<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->
| type = Hindu
| image = Rati sculpture at the group of monuments at Belur, Hassan, Karnataka, India (2009) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Sculpture of Rati on a temple wall of [[Chennakeshava Temple, Belur|Chennakesava Temple]], [[Belur, Karnataka|Belur]]
| name = Rati
| Devanagari = रति
| Sanskrit_transliteration = Rati
| affiliation = [[Devi]]
| god_of = Goddess of Sexual Pleasure, Lust and Passion
| abode = [[Kamaloka]]
| children = Harsha & Yasha (sons)<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/61937/61937-h/61937-h.htm|title=A Prose English Translation of Harivamsha|author1=Manmatha Nath Dutt|year=2020}}</ref>
| weapon = Sword
| parents = [[Daksha]]
| consort = [[Kamadeva]]
| mount = Parrot
| Greek_equivalent = [[Aphrodite]]
| Roman_equivalent = [[Venus (mythology)|Venus]]
| equivalent4_type = Egyptian
}}
'''Rati''' ({{langx|sa|रति}}, {{IAST|Rati}}) is the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Devi|goddess]] of [[List of love and lust deities|love, carnal desire, lust, passion, and sexual pleasure]].<ref name="swami"/><ref name="wendy"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Patricia Turner and estate of Charles Russell Coulter|title=Dictionary of ancient deities|year=2000|publisher=Oxford University Press US|isbn=0-19-514504-6|pages=258, 400}}</ref><ref name = "K253ff"/> Usually described as the daughter of ''[[Prajapati]]'' [[Daksha]], Rati is the female counterpart, the chief consort and the assistant of [[Kamadeva|Kama]] (Kamadeva), the god of love. A constant companion of Kama, she is often depicted with him in legend and temple sculpture. She also enjoys worship along with Kama.

The Hindu scriptures stress Rati's beauty and sensuality. They depict her as a maiden who has the power to enchant the God of Love. When the deity [[Shiva]] burns her husband to ashes, it is Rati, whose beseeching or penance, leads to the promise of Kama's resurrection. Often, this resurrection occurs when Kama is reborn as [[Pradyumna]], the son of [[Krishna]] and [[Rukmini]]. Rati – under the name of [[Mayavati]] – plays a critical role in the upbringing of Pradyumna, who is separated from his parents at birth. She acts as his nanny, as well as his lover, and tells him the way to return to his parents by slaying the demon-king, who is destined to die at his hands. Later, Kama-Pradyumna accepts Rati-Mayavati as his wife.

==Etymology==
The name of the goddess Rati comes from the Sanskrit root ''{{IAST|ram}}'', meaning "enjoy" or "delight in." Although the verb root generally refers to any sort of enjoyment, it usually carries connotations of physical and sensual enjoyment. Etymologically, the word ''{{IAST|rati}}'' refers to anything that can be enjoyed; but, it is almost always used to refer to sexual love.<ref>{{Harv|Monier-Williams|2008|p=867}}</ref>

==Legend==

=== Birth and marriage ===
[[File:Rati on composite horse.jpg|thumb|left|Rati on a composite horse]]
The ''[[Kalika Purana]]'' narrates the following tale about Rati's birth. After the creation of the 10 ''[[Prajapati|Prajapatis]]'', [[Brahma]] – the creator-god – creates Kama (Kamadeva), the god of love, from his mind. Kama is ordered to spread love in the world by shooting his flower-arrows. ''Prajapati'' [[Daksha]] is requested to present a wife to Kama. Kama first uses his arrows against Brahma and the ''Prajapatis'', who are all incestuously attracted to Brahma's daughter Sandhya ("Twilight-dawn/dusk"). The god [[Shiva]], gets enraged by the heinous act of Brahma and shows his condemnation. Embarrassed, Brahma and the ''Prajapatis'' tremble and perspire. From the sweat of Daksha rises a beautiful woman named Rati, who Daksha presents to Kama as his wife. At the same time, the agitated Brahma curses Kama to be burnt to ashes by Shiva in the future. However, on Kama's pleading, Brahma assures him that he would be reborn.<ref name = "Mani">''Rati'': Mani pp. 644–5</ref> The ''[[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]]'' narrates that Sandhya committed suicide, after Brahma lusts for her. The god [[Vishnu]] resurrects her and names her Rati, and marries her to Kama. The ''[[Shiva Purana]]'' mentions that after her suicide, Sandhya is reborn from the sweat of Daksha as Rati.<ref name = "K253ff">Kramrisch pp. 253–4</ref> In some texts, Shiva is described as the father of Rati.<ref name="suresh"/>

The ''[[Harivamsa]]'', an appendix to the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', mentions that Kama and Rati have two children, Harsha ("Joy") and Yashas ("Grace"). However, the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' mentions that Rati, as ''Nandi'', only has one son – Harsha.<ref name = "H165">Hopkins p. 165</ref> The epics ''Mahabharata'' as well as the ''[[Ramayana]]'', also attest to Rati being the consort of Kama.<ref>Hopkins p. 199</ref>

{{clear}}

=== Rebirth as Mayavati ===
{{redirect|Mayavati|the Uttar Pradesh politician|Mayawati}}
The demon [[Tarakasura]] had created havoc in the universe, and only the son of god [[Shiva]] could slay him, but Shiva had turned to ascetic ways after the death of his first wife, [[Dakshayani|Sati]]. Kama was thus instructed by the gods to make Shiva fall in love again. Kama went to [[Mount Kailash]] with Rati and Madhu or Vasanta ("Spring"), and shot his love-arrows at Shiva (in another version of the legend, Kama entered Shiva's mind) and invoked desire. Wounded by Kama's arrows, Shiva becomes attracted to [[Parvati]], the reincarnation of Sati, but agitated, burns Kama by a glance of his third eye.<ref name = "wilkins">{{cite book|last= W.J. Wilkins|title=Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/hmvp/hmvp32.htm|year=1900|publisher=Sacred Texts Archive|chapter=Kamadeva|isbn= 1-4021-9308-4}}</ref><ref name = "Kama">''Kama'': Mani pp. 378–9</ref><ref name = "B41"/>

[[File:Pradyuman.jpg|thumb|left|Kama as Pradyumna with Rati as Mayavati, return to [[Dvārakā|Dvaraka]]]]
The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' narrates further that the grief-stricken Rati goes mad by Kama's death<ref name = "wilkins"/> and in the ''[[Matsya Purana]]'' and the ''[[Padma Purana]]'' versions, she smears herself with her husband's ashes.<ref name = "B41"/> Further in ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Rati undergoes severe penance and pleads with Parvati to intercede with Shiva to restore her husband. Parvati reassures her that Kama would be reborn as [[Pradyumna]], the son of [[Krishna]], the [[avatar]] of the god [[Vishnu]] on earth, and Rati should wait for him in the demon ([[asura]]) Sambara's house.<ref name = "wilkins"/> In other versions of the narrative like the ''Matsya Purana'', the ''Padma Purana'', the ''[[Shiva Purana]]'', the ''[[Linga Purana]]'' and the ''[[Kathasaritsagara]]'', it is Shiva who blesses Rati with the boon of Kama's resurrection.<ref name = "Kama"/><ref name = "B41">Benton p. 41</ref><ref>Benton p. 66</ref> 

In other variants, she curses the gods who sent Kama for this doomed mission and the gods, as a group or Brahma, seeks relief for the grieving Rati from Shiva or [[Mahadevi|the Supreme Goddess]], Parvati being one of her many manifestations. In some legends, like the one in the ''[[Brahmanda Purana]]'', the Goddess revives Kama immediately, hearing the pleading of the wailing Rati and the gods.<ref>Benton pp. 52, 61</ref> The renowned Sanskrit poet [[Kalidasa]] dedicates canto IV discussing the plight of Rati in his ''[[Kumarasambhava]]'', which focuses on the story of the wedding of Shiva and Parvati and the birth of their son [[Kartikeya]], who kills Tarakasura. Canto IV narrates that Rati witnesses the death of her husband and laments his death, and then tries to immolate herself on a funeral pyre. A heavenly voice stops her on time, stating that after the marriage of Shiva, he will revive her husband.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kale |first1=M R|last2=Kālidāsa|title=Kumārasambhava of Kālidāsa|edition=7|date=1999 |orig-year=1923|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=81-208-0161-X|page=xxiv }} See also the English translation and Sanskrit original of canto IV</ref>

The ''Kedara Khanda'' chapter of the ''[[Skanda Purana]]'' presents a very different version. In this version, after the burning of Kama, Parvati is worried that she could not achieve Shiva in absence of Kama. Parvati is consoled by Rati, who asserts that she will revive Kama and starts severe austerities to achieve her goal. Once, the divine sage [[Narada]] asks her "whose she was". Agitated, Rati insults Narada. The spiteful Narada provokes the demon Sambara to kidnap Rati. Sambara takes her to his house, but is unable to touch her as the goddess decreed that he would be reduced to ashes if he touches her. There, Rati becomes the "kitchen in-charge" and is known as Mayavati ("mistress of illusion – ''[[Maya (Hinduism)|Maya]]''").<ref name="wendy"/>

[[File:Kama sur le temple de Parshvanath (Khajuraho) (8638392628).jpg|thumb|Sculpture of Kama and Rati at [[Khajuraho Group of Monuments|Khajuraho]]]]

The ''Bhagavata Purana'' and the ''Kathasaritsagara'' continue, that on advice of Shiva, Rati assumes the form of Sambara's kitchen-maid Mayavati and awaits her husband's arrival in Sambara's house. Sambara is foretold that the reborn Kama would be his destroyer. Sambara finds out that Kama was born as Pradyumna, the son of Krishna and his chief wife, [[Rukmini]]. He steals the child and throws him in the ocean, where the child is swallowed by a fish. This fish is caught by fishermen and sent to Sambara's kitchen. When the fish is cut, the child is found by Mayavati, who decides to nurture him. The divine sage [[Narada]] reveals to Mayavati that she was Rati and the child was Kama, and that she was to rear him. As the child grew up, the motherly love of Mayavati changes to the passionate love of a wife. The reborn Kama resents her advances, as he considers her his mother. Mayavati tells him the secret of their previous births as narrated by Narada and that he was not her son, but that of Krishna and Rukmini. Mayavati trains Pradyumna in magic and war and advises him to kill Sambara. Pradyumna defeats Sambara and slays him. He returns to [[Dvārakā|Dvaraka]], Krishna's capital with Mayavati as his wife, where they are welcomed.<ref name = "wilkins"/>

The ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' and the ''[[Harivamsa]]'' also have a similar account, though the reincarnation of Rati is called Mayadevi and described as Sambara's wife, rather than his maid. Both these scriptures safeguard her chastity saying that Rati donned an illusionary form to enchant Sambara. The ''[[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]]'' explicitly states that Rati does not sleep with Sambara, but gave him the illusionary form of Mayavati.<ref name = "wilkins"/><ref>Hopkins p. 214</ref><ref name = "B71ff">Benton pp. 71–3</ref> Rati-Mayavati takes a critical role in all narratives of this story where she seduces – by her ''Maya'' – both Sambara and Kama-Pradyumna, her "son" who she convinces to be her lover. All texts at the end stress on her purity, untouched by another man.<ref name = "B71ff"/>

The ''Harivamsa'' describes [[Aniruddha]], the son of Pradyumna, as "the son of Rati".<ref>Hopkins p. 164</ref>

==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.

==Outside Indian subcontinent==
===Indonesia===
[[File:2 painted wayang puppets.jpg|thumb|Kamaratih and Bathara Kamajaya [[wayang]] (puppetry) in [[Indonesian culture]]]]
In the [[Indonesia]]n version, Rati ([[Indonesian language|Indonesian]]: ''Kamaratih'' ) is the daughter of Bathara Soma, the son of Sanghyang Pancaresi, the descendant of Sanghyang Wening, the younger brother of Sanghyang Wenang. Kamaratih is married to [[Kamadeva|Bathara Kamajaya]], the ninth son of Sanghyang Ismaya and Dewi Senggani. He resides in Kahyangan Cakrakembang.

Kamaratih has a very beautiful face, has charm and character, is very loyal, loving, generous, kind, patient, and devoted to her husband. She, together with her husband, [[Kamadeva|Bathara Kamajaya]], is a symbol of husband-wife harmony in the universe, because of their harmony and love for one another.

Kamaratih was once assigned by Sanghyang Manikmaya to send Wahyu Hidayat to Dewi Utari, the youngest son of Prabu Matswapati, the king of Wirata and his consort, Dewi Ni Yutisnawati/Setyawati. Wahyu Hidayat was revealed as the pair of Wahyu Cakraningrat who was passed down by Bathara Kamajaya to Raden Abhimanyu/Angkawijaya, son of [[Arjuna]] and Dewi Sumbadra.<ref>{{citation | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UYN3DQAAQBAJ| author= Sunardi I.D.M.| title= Arjuna krama| date= January 1988| publisher= PT Balai Pustaka (Persero)| isbn= 9789794071427}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Hopkins |first=Edward Washburn|author-link=Edward Washburn Hopkins|title=Epic mythology |url=https://archive.org/stream/epicmythology00hopkuoft#page/n169/mode/2up/search/Rati|year=1915|publisher=Strassburg K.J. Trübner|isbn=0-8426-0560-6}}
* {{cite book|author = Mani, Vettam|title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|publisher = Motilal Banarsidass|year = 1975|location = Delhi|isbn = 0-8426-0822-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Benton|first=Catherine |title=God of desire: tales of Kamadeva in Sanskrit story literature|year=2006|publisher=State University of New York|isbn=0-7914-6565-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Kramrisch|first=Stella|title=The Presence of Siva|series=Mythos|date=1992|orig-year=1898|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=0-691-01930-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/presenceofsivamy00skra}}
* {{cite book | last = Monier-Williams | first = Monier | title = Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary | author-link = Monier Monier-Williams <!-- | access-date = May 18, 2011 --> | year = 2008 | orig-year = 1899 | publisher = Universität zu Köln }}

{{Commons category|Rati Devi}}

{{HinduMythology}}
{{good article}}

[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category:Love and lust goddesses]]
[[Category:Daughters of Daksha]]