Kamadeva in the context of "Makara (Hindu mythology)"

A love deity or lust deity is a deity in mythology associated with romance, sex, love, lust, or sexuality. Love deities are common in mythology and are found in many polytheistic religions. Female sex goddesses are often associated with beauty and other traditionally feminine attributes.

Śāntinātha (Sanskrit: शान्तिनाथ) or Śānti is the sixteenth tīrthaṅkara of Jainism in the present age (Avasarpini). According to Jain beliefs, he was one of the three tirthankaras to have also held the status of a Chakravarti (universal monarch) and a Kamadeva (being of supreme beauty) in the same lifetime. He is traditionally revered as the deity of peace (Shanti) and is invoked by devotees to avert calamities and epidemics.

Jain texts describe his life as a transition from imperial sovereignty to total renunciation. Born in Hastinapur to King Vishvasena and Queen Aćira of the Ikshvaku dynasty, he is said to have ruled for 25,000 years. As a Chakravarti, traditional accounts state he possessed the "fourteen jewels" (ratna) and "nine treasures" (nidhi), symbolizing absolute material dominion, before renouncing his empire to become a Jain monk. After sixteen years of asceticism, he is believed to have attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience) and subsequently achieved Moksha (liberation) at Shikharji.

Rati (Sanskrit: रति, Rati) is the Hindu goddess of love, carnal desire, lust, passion, and sexual pleasure. Usually described as the daughter of Prajapati Daksha, Rati is the female counterpart, the chief consort and the assistant of 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.