What scriptures of Hinduism teach against having a romantic obsession on another?
 

Hi. I have this friend who is having a hard time with obsessive, romantic feelings for a man that isn't hers. He's married, and with children. I'm trying to help her put the whole thing into perspective, but she won't listen. She says she's following her heart. Please direct me to some scriptures that talk about detachment, or not having love attachments to other people. She needs the help bad.

In the Ramayana, the Lankan princess Surphanaka lusts for the Avatar Rama even though he was married. When Rama refused to marry Surphanaka on account of his marriage to Sita, Surphanaka tried to kill Sita unsuccessfully.

This set in course the events of the Ramayana, with Surphanaka persuading her brother Ravana to abduct Sita and antagonise Rama.

In the end, this course of action went on to be highly inauspicious for Ravana and his kingdom Lanka.

The moral is that one must not allow one's emotional cravings or aversions to transcend the virtuous code of conduct or Dharma.

As the saying goes, Dharmo Raksita Raksitah -- Dharma will protect its protector.

Double post. Pls delete. Thanx.

Isn't there a story, it relates to the folly of human attraction...
A beautiful Princess has suitors coming from far and near to marry her.
One is picked by her father. He proclaims his love and exclaims of her beauty.
The Princess in not interested.

There is awhile before the wedding. The Princess orders her maids to collect all of her excreta in barrels.
She, also, is eating almost nothing.
On the wedding day she looks so thin and sickly.
The future husband says. "I don't understand where did all your beauty go?"
She points to the barrels, "There".
~~~~~~

This gives me an idea. Just get this married guy to start fasting and collecting all of his excreta in barrels (I suppose a bunch of Mason jars would work too), and see if this friend is still smitten.

I am not aware of any particular scriptures per se, except for ones which talk about attachments in general and hence why I didn't reply.

There is another story which sorta goes like this..

After the death of Sati Devi, Lord Shiva decided to become a hermit, meditating in the Himalayas.

However, there was a demon (Tarakasura) who, knowing this got an immortality boon from Lord Brahma.

Now, any boon given by the Devas, MUST come with an escape clause, so Tarakasura said "I will not be able to be destroyed EXCEPT at the hands of Lord Shiva's son". At the time, Lord Shiva had no offspring and had taken monastic vows of celibacy and bachelor-ism so the demon thought he was pretty safe...then he began wreaking havok and terrorizing the three worlds.

Well, in order to fulfil prophecy, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Indra Deva, Indrani Devi and Narada Muni all had a celestial "pow wow" to brainstorm ideas..until it was decided to send Kama Deva (lust) and his partner, Rati Devi (seduction) along with their companion Vasant (springtime) to Mt. Kailash to try and change Lord Shiva's mind and to marry Parvati (who had been doing penance to seek Lord Shiva's favour as a husband) however, Lord Shiva would not be moved from His state of Samadhi.

Kama Deva and Rati tried everything to break His meditation and focus...dancing, singing, flirting, fornicating in front of Him...nothing!

Then, Kama Deva (lust) shot an arrow of flowers directly into Lord Shiva's heart...(it is where our Cupid myth started) and what happened after that..Lord Shiva's samadhi was broken and He became furious. His Third-Eye Chakra opened and its energy burnt Kama Deva to ashes, leaving a grieving Rati to mourn inconsolably.

However, the damage had been done, Lord Shiva became like a lovesick puppy and answered Parvati's prayers..the two got married, had a son called Murugan who then killed Tarakasura.

Aum Namah Shivaya