In Buddhist belief, the greatest enemy of Buddha, who seeks to outgrow desire, is Mara, the demon of desire. In Hindu belief, Mara is Kama, god of desire. Kama raises his sugarcane bow, shoots a flower arrow at Shiva, the hermit, the lord of yoga, to ignite desire in him. But Shiva opens his third eye, releases a missile of fire, sets Kama aflame, until he reduced to a heap of ash.

If Shiva does not marry, he will father no children and the demon Taraka will not be killed. Nothing will grow: the bee will not come to the flower, the bull will not go to the cow, the earth will be bereft of life.