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In Hindu Literature: Siva

Love, "the god of the flowery shafts," sent his arrow into Siva's heart, but the merciless deity, inflamed with anger, slew the gentle god of love with a glance of his eye. In a moment Káma was reduced to ashes, and we have the lament of Rati, his wife, the goddess of love. 66 Say, Káma, say, whose arrow now shall be The soft green shoot of thy dear mango tree, The favorite spray which Kóils 1 love so well, And praise in sweetest strain its wondrous spell ?

This line of bees which strings thy useless bow Hums mournful echo to my cries of woe."

Umá, refused by Śiva, takes upon herself the most austere vows, and her mother fears for her daughter's strength in the performance of them, for 1 The Indian cuckoo.

In Hindu Literature "The lily, by the wild bee scarcely stirred, Bends, breaks and dies beneath the weary bird."

Although Umá has undertaken the life of a recluse in the forest we learn that - "Her matted hair was full as lovely now, As when 't was braided o'er her polished brow.

Thus the sweet beauties of the lotus shine When bees festoon it in a graceful line."

Finally we find Umá triumphant and arranged for her bridal. "Less dazzling pure the lovely lotus shines Flecked by the thronging bees in dusky lines."

The maidens fly to the windows to see the passing of Siva and his bride. "Oh! what a sight! the crowded windows there With eager faces excellently fair, Like sweetest lilies, for their dark eyes fling Quick glances quivering like the wild bee's wing." "The murmur of the bee" is a constant accompaniment to Hindu song and love-making, and the music of the bee at times vies with the song of the bird, or even with celestial music.