| Kubera | |
|---|---|
| Member ofLokapalas | |
 9th century sandstone sculpture of KuberaOrigin: Candi Sewu, Java, Indonesia | |
| Affiliation | Yaksha,Deva,Lokapala |
| Abode | Lanka and laterAlaka |
| Mantra | Oṃ Shaṃ Kuberāya Namaḥ |
| Weapon | Gadā (Mace or club) |
| Mount | Man |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | |
| Siblings | Ravana,Kumbhakarna |
| Consort | Bhadra |
| Children | Nalakuvara,Manibhadra, Mayuraja, and Minakshi |
Kubera (Sanskrit:कुबेर,IAST:Kubera) also known asKuvera,Kuber and Kuberan, is the god of wealth, and the god-king of the semi-divineyakshas inHinduism.[3] He is regarded asthe regent of the north (Dikpala), and a protector of the world (Lokapala). His manyepithets extol him as the overlord of numerous semi-divine species, and the owner of the treasures of the world. Kubera is often depicted with a plump body, adorned with jewels, and carrying a money-pot and a club.
Originally described as the chief of evil spirits inVedic-era texts, Kubera acquired the status of adeva (god) only in thePuranas and theHindu epics. The scriptures describe that Kubera once ruledLanka, but was overthrown by his half-brotherRavana, later settling in the city ofAlaka in theHimalayas. Descriptions of the "glory" and "splendour" of Kubera's city are found in many scriptures.
Kubera has also been assimilated into theBuddhist andJain pantheons. In Buddhism, he is known asVaisravana, the patronymic used of the Hindu Kubera and is also equated withPañcika, while in Jainism, he is known asSarvanubhuti. In Indonesia, Kubera is also known asDaneswara.
Kubera is often depicted as a dwarf, with complexion of lotus leaves and a big belly. He is described as having three legs, only eight teeth, one eye, and being adorned with jewels. He is sometimes described riding a man.[4][5] The description of deformities like the broken teeth, three legs, three heads andfour arms appear only in the laterPuranic texts.[6] Kubera holds a mace, a pomegranate, or a money bag in his hand.[4] He may also carry a sheaf of jewels or amongoose with him. In Tibet, the mongoose is considered a symbol of Kubera's victory overnāgas—the guardians of treasures.[7] Kubera is usually depicted with a mongoose in Buddhist iconography.[5]
In theVishnudharmottara Purana, Kubera is described as the embodiment of bothArtha ("wealth, prosperity, glory") andArthashastras, the treatises related to it—and his iconography mirrors it. Kubera's complexion is described as that of lotus leaves. He rides a man—thestate personified, adorned in golden clothes and ornaments, symbolizing his wealth. His left eye is yellow. He wears an armour and a necklace down to his large belly. TheVishnudharmottara Purana further describes his face to be inclined to the left, sporting a beard and mustache, and with two small tusks protruding from the ends of his mouth, representing his powers to punish and to bestow favours. His wife Riddhi, representing the journey of life, is seated on his left lap, with her left hand on the back of Kubera and the right holding aratna-patra (jewel-pot). Kubera should be four-armed, holding agada (mace: symbol ofdandaniti—administration of justice) and ashakti (power) in his left pair, and standards bearing a lion—representingArtha and ashibika (a club, the weapon of Kubera). Thenidhi treasures Padma and Shankha stand beside him in human form, with their heads emerging from a lotus and a conch respectively.[8]
TheAgni Purana states that Kubera should be installed in temples as seated on a goat, and with a club in his hand.[9] Kubera's image is prescribed to be that of gold, with multi-coloured attributes.[10] In some sources, especially inJain depictions, Kubera is depicted as a drunkard, signified by the "nectar vessel" in his hand.[11]
The exact origins of the name Kubera are unknown.[10] "Kubera" or "Kuvera" (कुवेर) as spelt in later Sanskrit, means "deformed or monstrous" or "ill-shaped one"; indicating his deformities.[10][12] Another theory suggests that Kubera may be derived from the verb rootkumba, meaning to conceal. Kuvera is also split asku (earth), andvira (hero).[13]
As the son ofVishrava ("Fame"), Kubera is calledVaisravana (in thePali language, Vessavana) and as the son of Ilavila,Ailavila.[14] Vaisravana is sometimes translated as the "Son of Fame".[10] TheSutta Nitapa commentary says thatVaisravana is derived from a name of Kubera's kingdom,Visana.[13] Once, Kubera looked at Shiva and his wifeParvati with jealousy, so he lost one of his eyes. Parvati also turned this deformed eye yellow. So, Kubera gained the nameEkaksipingala ("one who has one yellow eye").[9] He is also calledBhutesha ("Lord of spirits") like Shiva. Kubera usually is drawn by spirits or men (nara), so is calledNara-vahana, one whosevahana (mount) isnara.Hopkins interpretsnaras as being water-spirits, although Mani translatesnara as men.[9][15] Kubera also rides the elephant calledSarvabhauma as aloka-pala.[14] His garden is named Chaitrarath.[16]
Kubera also enjoys the titles "king of the whole world", "king of kings" (Rajaraja), "Lord of wealth" (Dhanadhipati) and "giver of wealth" (Dhanada). His titles are sometimes related to his subjects: "king ofyakshas" (Yaksharajan), "Lord ofrakshasas" (Rakshasadhipati), "Lord ofGuhyakas" (Guhyakadhipa), "king ofKinnaras"(Kinnararaja), "king of animals resembling men" (Mayuraja), and "king of men" (Nararaja).[10][14][15] Kubera is also calledGuhyadhipa ("Lord of the hidden"). TheAtharvaveda calls him the "god of hiding".[15]
In theAtharvaveda—where he first appears[10]—and theShatapatha Brahmana, Kubera is the chief of evil spirits or spirits of darkness, and son of Vaishravana.[12][17] TheShatapatha Brahmana calls him the Lord of thieves and criminals.[18] In theManusmriti, he becomes a respectablelokapala ("world protector") and the patron of merchants.[13] In the epicMahabharata, Kubera is described as the son ofPrajapatiPulastya and his wife Idavida, and the brother of sageVishrava. Kubera is described as born from a cow. However, from thePuranas, he is described as the grandson of Pulastya and the son of Vishrava and his wifeIlavida (or Ilivila or Devavarnini), daughter of the sageBharadvaja or Trinabindu.[9][10][14][17]
By this time, though still described as anasura, Kubera is offered prayers at the end of all ritual sacrifices.[17] His titles, such as "best of kings" and "Lord of kings" (TheHarivamsa indicates that Kubera is made "Lord of kings"), in contrast to the god-king of heaven,Indra, whose title of "best of gods" led to the later belief that Kubera was a man. The early textsGautamaDharmashastra andApastamba describe him as a man. Only theGrihyasutras of Shankhayana and Hiranyakesin call him a god, and suggest offerings of meat, sesame seeds and flowers to him.[8][19]
ThePuranas and the epicsMahabharata andRamayana grant Kubera unquestioned godhood.[8] Kubera also acquired the status of the "Lord of riches" and the wealthiest Deva. He also becomes alokapala ("world protector") andguardian (dikapala) of the North direction, although he is also sometimes associated with the East.[14][17] Kubera's status as alokapala and adikpala is assured in theRamayana, but in theMahabharata, some lists do not include Kubera. Thus, Kubera is considered a later addition to the original list ofLoka-palas, where the godsAgni orSoma appear in his place.[20] This status, theRamayana records, was granted to Kubera byBrahma—the creator-god and father of Pulastya—as a reward for his severe penance. Brahma also conferred upon Kubera the riches of the world (Nidhis), "equality with gods", and thePushpaka Vimana, a flying chariot. Kubera then ruled in the golden city ofLanka, identified with modern-daySri Lanka.[9][10][14] TheMahabharata says that Brahma conferred upon Kubera the lordship of wealth, friendship with Shiva, godhood, status as a world-protector, a son calledNalakubera/Nalakubara, the Pushpaka Vimana and the lordship of theNairrata demons.[14]
Both thePuranas and theRamayana feature the half-blood siblings of Kubera. Vishrava, Kubera's father, also married therakshasa (demigod) princessKaikesi, who mothered fourrakshasa children:Ravana, the chief antagonist of the Ramayana, and his siblings,Kumbhakarna,Vibhishana, andShurpanaka.[9][17] TheMahabharata regards Vishrava as the brother of Kubera, so Kubera is described as the uncle of Ravana and his siblings. It records that when Kubera approached Brahma for the favour of superseding his father Pulastya, Pulastya created Vishrava. To seek the favour of Vishrava, Kubera sent three women to him, by whom Vishrava begot his demon children.[14][21] Ravana, after acquiring a boon of Brahma, drove Kubera away from Lanka and seized his Pushpaka Vimana, which was returned to Kubera after Ravana's death. Kubera then settled on Gandhamandana mountain, nearMount Kailash – the abode of the godShiva—in theHimalayas. Sometimes, Kailash itself is called Kubera's residence. His city is usually calledAlaka or Alaka-puri ("curl-city"), but alsoPrabha ("splendour"),Vasudhara ("bejeweled") andVasu-sthali ("abode of treasures").[9][10][14][16] There, Kubera had a grove calledCaitraratha, where the leaves were jewels and the fruits were girls of heaven. There is also a charming lake calledNalini in the grove.[14][21] Kubera is often described as a friend of Shiva in the epics.[4] ThePadma Purana says that Kubera prayed to Shiva for many years, and Shiva granted him the kingship of yakshas.[9]
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A description of Kubera's magnificent court appears in theMahabharata as well as theMeghaduta. Here, gandharvas andapsaras entertain Kubera. Shiva and his wifeParvati often frequent Kubera's court, which is attended by semi-divine beings like thevidyadharas;kimpurushas; rakshasas;pishachas; as well as Padma and Shankha; personified treasures (nidhi); and Manibhadra, Kubera's chief attendant and chief of his army. Like every world-protector, Kubera has seven seers of the North in residence. Alaka is recorded to be plundered by Ravana once, and attacked by thePandava prince,Bhima once.[8][9][10][14][15] Kubera'sNairrata army is described to have defeated king Mucukunda, who then defeated them by the advice of his guruVashishta.Shukra, the preceptor of the asuras, is also recorded to have defeated Kubera and stolen his wealth.[6][9] Another major tale in the scriptures records how Kubera entertained the sageAshtavakra in his palace.[6][9]
Kubera is the treasurer of the gods, and the overlord of the semi-divine yakshas, theguhyakas,kinnaras and gandharvas, who act as his assistants and protectors of the jewels of the earth, as well as guardians of his city. Kubera is also the guardian of travelers and the giver of wealth to individuals, who please him. The rakshasas also serve Kubera,[4] however, some cannibalistic rakshasas are described to have sided with Ravana in the battle against Kubera.[14] Kubera also developed as minor marriage-divinity. He is invoked with Shiva at weddings and is described asKameshvara ("Lord ofKama – pleasure, desire etc.").[22] He is associated with fertility of the aquatic type.[23]
ThePuranas and theMahabharata record that Kubera marriedBhadra ("auspicious"), or Riddhi ("prosperity"), daughter of thedemon Mura. She is also calledYakshi – a female yaksha,Kauberi ("wife of Kubera") andCharvi ("splendour"). They had three sons:Nalakubara ("Reed-axle"),Manigriva ("Bejewled-neck") or Varna-kavi ("Colourful poet"), and Mayuraja ("king of animals resembling men"); and a daughter called Minakshi ("fish-eyed").[4][10][21]
As the treasurer of the riches of the world, Kubera is prescribed to be worshipped. Kubera is also credited money to the deityVenkateshwara (a form of Vishnu) for his marriage withPadmavati. In remembrance of this, the reason devotees go toTirupati to donate money in Venkateshwara'sHundi ("Donation pot"), is so that he can pay it back to Kubera.[24] He is also associated withLakshmi for this reason, and is sometimes represented with her as Kubera Lakshmi.
While Kubera still enjoys prayers as the god of wealth, his role is largely taken by the god of wisdom, fortune and obstacle-removal,Ganesha, with whom he is generally associated.[4][17]
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Kubera is recognized outside India and Hinduism as well. Kubera is a popular figure in Buddhist as well as Jain mythology.[5] TheOrientalist Nagendra Kumar Singh remarked that, "EveryIndian religion has a Kubera after the Hindu prototype".[25]
Kubera is the Buddhist Vaiśravaṇa or Jambhala, and the Japanese Bishamon. The Buddhist Vaisravana, like the Hindu Kubera, is the regent of the North, alokapala and the Lord of yakshas. He is one of theFour Heavenly Kings, each associated with a cardinal direction.[26] In Buddhist legends, Kubera is also equated withPañcika, whose wifeHariti is the symbol of abundance.[27] The iconography of Kubera and Pancika is so similar that in certain cases, A. Getty comments, it is extremely difficult to distinguish between Pancika and Kubera.[7] The Japanese Bishamon, also known as Tamon-Ten,[28] is one of the Jūni-Ten (十二天), a group of 12 Hindu deities adopted in Buddhism as guardian deities (deva orten) who are found in or around Buddhist shrines. The Juni-Ten group of twelve deities were created by adding four deities to the older grouping of Happou-Ten, the eight guardians of the directions. Bishamon rules over the north, like his Hindu counterpart Kubera.[28][29][30]
In Jainism, Kubera is the attendant yaksha of the 19thTirthankarMallinath.[25] He is usually calledSarvanubhuti orSarvahna, and may be depicted with four faces, rainbow colours and eight arms. TheDigambara sect of Jainism gives him six weapons and three heads; while theŚvetāmbaras portray him with four to six arms, numerous choices of weapons, though his attributes, the money bag and citron fruit are consistent. He may ride a man or an elephant.[25][31] He is related to the Buddhist Jambhala rather than the Hindu Kubera.[31]
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