- Also spelled:
- Kuber, Kuvera, or Kuberan
Kubera
Who is Kubera in Hindu mythology?
How is Kubera depicted?
How is Kubera worshipped?
Kubera, in Hindu mythology, the god of wealth and the king of the yakshas (nature spirits). He is associated with the earth, mountains, all treasures such as minerals and jewels that lie underground, and riches in general. He is sometimes called Dhanada (âgiver of wealthâ) and for his fellow gods acts as a treasurer. As one of the dikpalas (âguardians of the directionsâ) or lokapalas (âguardians of the worldâ), he is the guardian of the north. Although the gods Lakshmi and Ganesha have largely taken over the role of wealth deities in Hindu practice, Kubera is worshipped especially on the holidays Dhanteras, which is part of Diwali festivities, and Akshaya Tritiya. He also figures in Jain and Buddhist mythology.
Mythology
In early Vedic religious texts Kubera was initially considered to be an asura (demonic demigod) and lord of dark forces. However, he was gradually incorporated into the orthodox Vedic pantheon as a deva and received ritual invocations as the god of wealth. Some mythological accounts suggest that he was a god of bodies of water prior to attaining wealth. The classical accounts of Kuberaâs exploits are recounted in the Ramayana (c. 300 bce, but some parts were written centuries earlier and later), the Mahabharata (finalized c. 400 ce), and the Puranas (first millennium ce).
In the epics
According to the Ramayana, Kubera first lives in Lanka (a mythical island later associated with Sri Lanka), but his rakshasa (demon) half brother Ravana takes over Lanka and deposes him. Kubera then builds a beautiful mountain palace in the mythical city of Alaka located on or near Mount Kailash, a Himalayan mountain considered the abode of Shiva, with whom he is close friends. In his majestic dwelling in Alaka he is attended by various demigods, especially yakshas but also gandharvas (celestial musicians) and apsaras (nymphs).
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Kubera plays a small but important role in the plot of a seminal and celebrated work in classical Sanskrit literature. In the poem Meghaduta (âCloud Messengerâ) by Kalidasa (5th century ce), a yaksha fails at his responsibilities, inciting Kubera to punish him with a year of exile in Ramagiri in southern India. The lovelorn yaksha, now separated from his wife, sends a message to his beloved via a passing monsoon cloud. Much of the poem consists of the yaksha describing to the cloud the journey to Kuberaâs sanctuary in Alaka. This classic poem of love-in-separation inspired further dutakavyas, or messenger poems.
After Kubera establishes his palace in Alaka, Ravana attacks him again and steals his flower chariot (pushpaka vimana), which can fly through the air. As narrated in the version of the Ramayana that is told in the Mahabharata (the Ramopakhyana), Kubera then curses Ravana, warning that whoever kills him will fly off in the chariot. And indeed Rama does just that after defeating the 10-headed demon kingâthe hero flies home to Ayodhya in the chariot with his retinue, an event that is celebrated on Diwali. Kubera also sends special water to revive Rama when he faints on the battlefield, and in the Mahabharata Kubera gives comfort to the Pandavas during their sojourn in the forest.
In the Shiva Purana
The Shiva Purana (c. 750â1350) narrates a story of Kuberaâs origins from infamy to divinity and his friendship with the god Shiva. It begins with Gunanidhi, the son of a righteous and learned Brahmin, who engages in the roguish behavior of gambling, theft, and neglect of Brahmin orthodox ritual duties. His mother covers for him, but his father comes to know and disowns him. Turned away from his home and hungry, Gunanidhi spies a Shiva devotee bringing food to a temple after Maha Shivaratri. He follows and watches the devotees, waiting for them to sleep so he can steal the food. When he enters the temple, he finds that the lamp is too dim and tears his clothing for a wick. As he absconds with the food, he awakens a devotee and is caught and killed. When the attendants of Yama (god of death) come to take Gunanidhi to hell, Shivaâs attendants intervene. They note that Gunanidhi observed the Maha Shivaratri fast (through hunger), lit the temple lamp, and heard the names of Shiva while watching in wait. The merit from those acts, albeit unintentional, earned Gunanidhi a place in Shivaâs heaven.
In Shivaâs heaven Gunanidhi becomes pure of mind and serves Shiva and Parvati. He is reborn as a king of Kalinga (eastern India), where he is a great devotee of Shiva and particularly focused on ensuring that Shivaâs temples are illuminated with lamps. By and by he is reborn as Kubera.
The Shiva Purana continues to tell how Kubera performs austerities devoted to Shiva for 200,000 years in Varanasi. When Shiva and Parvati come to him, he asks for the boon of seeing Shivaâs feet. Yet upon opening his eyes Kubera first sees Parvati and is overcome by her beauty, so much so that his left eye ruptures. He copiously praises her appearance, but Parvati is offended by what she interprets as his cruel and jealous gaze. Shiva explains that Kubera is merely praising her glory with religious devotion and then grants his devotee lordship over riches, yakshas, and other divine beings in Alaka. He elaborates that Alaka is located near his own abode on Mount Kailash and that he and Kubera would always remain close friends.
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In Buddhism and Jainism
Kuberaâs significance extends beyond Hinduism, appearing prominently in Jain and Buddhist mythology as well. As the son of Vishravas, Kubera is also called Vaishravana (Pali: Vessavana), by which name he is commonly referred to in Buddhism. Another name for him in Buddhism is Jambhala. He is particularly revered in Tibetan Buddhism, where he has a prominent role as the northern world protector (lokapala) and a protector of Buddhist dharma (Dharmapala). In Jainism a yaksha named Kubera is attested as the attendant of Mallinatha, the 19th Jain Tirthankara (âford-crosserâ; a savior and teacher figure); Kubera is said to be rainbow-colored.
Iconography
Kuberaâs name possibly derives from his description as having a physical deformity. In some portrayals Kubera has three legs and eight teeth. He is usually depicted as a white dwarf figure with a large paunch and holding a money bag or a pomegranate. Some scholars have conjectured that the elephant-headed god Ganeshaâs iconic potbelly was borrowed from Kuberaâs imagery. On account of his jealous glances at Parvati, Kuberaâs eye is said to have torn apart, and the spot is replaced with a yellow mark. Thus Kubera is sometimes called Pingalaksha (âyellow eyeâ) or Ekapingala (âone yellow [eye]â). According to the Shiva Purana, it is this ocular deformity that earned him the name Kubera.
As for Kuberaâs mount (vahana), it is sometimes an elephant and sometimes a man. In Hindu temples he is often depicted on a goat and holding a club. In Buddhist sculptures he is frequently shown holding a mongooseâthe conqueror of nagas, monstrous snakes that guard treasuresâand a citron fruit. In Tibetan Buddhism he is considered âlord of horsesâ and is therefore usually on a horse. In some imagery he is accompanied by his wife Riddhi (âProsperityâ), who is also called Bhadra (âAuspiciousâ).
In one myth about Kubera, recounted in the last book of the Ramayana, he attends a yajna (sacrificial ritual) with the Vedic gods Indra, Varuna, and Yama. However, Ravana, ever the sacrifice-interrupting rakshasa, attempts to spoil the event. To escape the demonâs attack, the assembled gods change into various birds while Kubera turns himself into a chameleon. In gratitude Kubera imbues the chameleon with its wealth of hues, the ability to change them, and golden marks on its head.
Worship
Although Kuberaâs role as the god propitiated for wealth has been overshadowed by the now far more popular Hindu deities Ganesha and Lakshmi, he is still much revered. Kubera is especially worshipped with pujas on the holiday of Dhanteras. Also called Dhantrayodashiâfrom Sanskrit dhana, or âwealth,â and trayodashi, meaning âthirteenthââDhanteras occurs on the 13th day of the dark half (krishna paksha) of Karttika (in October or November). It is the first day of the five-day Diwali festival, and two days prior to the third day, which is the main event of Diwali. It is customary on Dhanteras for devoted Hindus to purchase jewelry of gold, silver, and other precious metals as they aspire to gain riches from Kubera and Lakshmi. Other significant holidays for Kubera include Akshaya Tritiya, which is said to be the date he was appointed treasurer of heaven, and his birthday on Sharad Purnima (the full moon day of the month of Sharada, in September or October).
At the wealthy Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh state, donations at the temple are said to be helping the residing deity pay back a debt to Kubera. According to a foundational myth of the temple, the god Venkateswara (considered an avatar of Vishnu), incarnated as Srinivasa, took out a loan from Kubera to pay for the dowry and wedding to Padmavati (an incarnation of Lakshmi). Devotees who give money at the temple help the god repay his prodigious debt to Kubera while accruing merit in his eyes. Thanks to these donations, the temple is one of the richest in India.