Sahasranama positions 13 and 969 of the 1,072 names

Kamada

कामदा

Kāmadā

What Kamada means

Kamada is names 13 and 969 in the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama, the 1,072-name devotional text to Maa Kali. The Granter of all desires.

Also spelled

  • Source transliteration: KAMADA

Sanskrit names travel into English in several romanizations. This page keeps the common spelling, the IAST form, and the source transliteration together so the same name is discoverable under each spelling readers use.

Name 13: KAMADA

Meaning: The Granter of all desires.

Elaboration

The name Kamada comes from the Sanskrit root "kām," meaning desire, and "-da," meaning giver or bestower. Thus, she is "She who grants desires" or "The Giver of all wishes."

The Divine Fulfiller Kamada reveals the aspect of the Divine Mother who is the ultimate source of fulfillment, not only for material desires but also for the deepest spiritual aspirations of her devotees. She embodies the boundless grace and generosity of the Goddess.

Material and Spiritual Desires Her role as Kamada extends far beyond ordinary wishes. While she can grant prosperity, health, and other worldly comforts, her deeper significance lies in fulfilling the longing for spiritual knowledge (jñāna), liberation (moksha), devotion (bhakti), and realization of the ultimate truth. For the sincere seeker, the highest desire she fulfills is the longing for union with the Divine.

The Law of Karma and Divine Grace Kali, as Kamada, does not fulfill desires capriciously. She grants them in harmony with the larger cosmic order and the individual's karma, while also exercising her grace and divine oversight. Her blessings can purify and align a person's desires with their highest good, guiding them toward what is truly beneficial.

Ultimate Desire of Freedom Ultimately, the greatest desire that Kamada fulfills is the desire to be free from desire itself. She leads the devotee into contentment and non-attachment, which are marks of spiritual liberation. She is the beneficent Mother who meets the true needs of her children and leads them from worldly entanglement into divine freedom.

Name 969: KAMA-DA

Meaning: The Fulfiller of all desires.

Elaboration

Kama-da means "She who grants (da) desires (kama)." This name reveals Kali as the ultimate granter of wishes, material and spiritual alike, for sincere devotees.

Grantor of Desires (Kama Sadhana) In the Hindu understanding, kama is not limited to sensual longing. It includes every form of aspiration: happiness, prosperity, progeny, and spiritual fulfillment. As Kama-da, the Goddess is both the source and the bestower of these desires. This points to her command over the very conditions through which aspiration becomes reality.

The Benevolent Aspect Kali is often first perceived as fearsome, yet this name reveals her compassion. She is the Divine Mother who knows the heartfelt yearnings of her children and has the power to grant them. Kama-da reminds devotees that she is not only an annihilator, but also a provider and sustainer of well-being.

Ultimate Fulfillment At the highest level, Kama-da grants not only worldly aims but the supreme spiritual aspiration: moksha, self-realization, and union with the Divine. For the mature sadhaka, she fulfills the longing to transcend all longing. Her grace then appears as freedom itself, where true satisfaction no longer depends on external gain.

Text and sources

The name list follows the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama as compiled for this project. The English meaning and elaboration are interpretive notes for devotional study, not a translation of a single critical edition.

Read the editorial method and source notes →

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