Kubera
Kubera | |
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God of Wealth Manibhadra , Mayuraja, and Minakshi |
Kubera (
Originally described as the chief of evil spirits in
Kubera has also been assimilated into the
Iconography
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 depicted riding a man.[4][5] The description of deformities like the broken teeth, three legs, three heads and four arms appear only in the later Puranic 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 a mongoose with him. In Tibet, the mongoose is considered a symbol of Kubera's victory over nāgas—the guardians of treasures.[7] Kubera is usually depicted with a mongoose in Buddhist iconography.[5]
In the Vishnudharmottara Purana, Kubera is described as the embodiment of both Artha ("wealth, prosperity, glory") and Arthashastras, the treatises related to it—and his iconography mirrors it. Kubera's complexion is described as that of lotus leaves. He rides a man—the state 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. The Vishnudharmottara 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 a ratna-patra (jewel-pot). Kubera should be four-armed, holding a gada (mace: symbol of dandaniti—administration of justice) and a shakti (power) in his left pair, and standards bearing a lion—representing Artha and a shibika (a club, the weapon of Kubera). The nidhi treasures Padma and Shankha stand beside him in human form, with their heads emerging from a lotus and a conch respectively.[8]
The
Etymology and other names
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 root kumba, meaning to conceal. Kuvera is also split as ku (earth), and vira (hero).[13]
As the son of
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 of yakshas" (Yaksharajan), "Lord of rakshasas" (Rakshasadhipati), "Lord of Guhyakas" (Guhyakadhipa), "king of Kinnaras"(Kinnararaja), "king of animals resembling men" (Mayuraja), and "king of men" (Nararaja).[10][14][15] Kubera is also called Guhyadhipa ("Lord of the hidden"). The Atharvaveda calls him the "god of hiding".[15]
Literature
Early descriptions and parentage
In the Atharvaveda—where he first appears[10]—and the Shatapatha Brahmana, Kubera is the chief of evil spirits or spirits of darkness, and son of Vaishravana.[12][17] The Shatapatha Brahmana calls him the Lord of thieves and criminals.[18] In the Manusmriti, he becomes a respectable lokapala ("world protector") and the patron of merchants.[13] In the epic Mahabharata, Kubera is described as the son of Prajapati Pulastya and his wife Idavida, and the brother of sage Vishrava. Kubera is described as born from a cow. However, from the Puranas, he is described as the grandson of Pulastya and the son of Vishrava and his wife Ilavida (or Ilivila or Devavarnini), daughter of the sage Bharadvaja or Trinabindu.[9][10][14][17]
By this time, though still described as an
Puranic and epic descriptions
The Puranas and the epics
Both the Puranas and the Ramayana feature the half-blood siblings of Kubera. Vishrava, Kubera's father, also married the
A description of Kubera's magnificent court appears in the Mahabharata as well as the
Kubera is the treasurer of the gods, and the overlord of the semi-divine yakshas, the guhyakas, 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 as Kameshvara ("Lord of Kama – pleasure, desire etc.").[22] He is associated with fertility of the aquatic type.[23]
The Puranas and the Mahabharata record that Kubera married
Worship
As the treasurer of the riches of the world, Kubera is prescribed to be worshipped. Kubera is also credited money to the deity
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]
Beyond Hinduism
Kubera is recognized outside India and Hinduism as well. Kubera is a popular figure in Buddhist as well as Jain mythology.
Buddhism
Kubera is the Buddhist Vaiśravaṇa or Jambhala, and the Japanese Bishamon. The Buddhist Vaisravana, like the Hindu Kubera, is the regent of the North, a lokapala and the Lord of yakshas. He is one of the Four Heavenly Kings, each associated with a cardinal direction.[26] In Buddhist legends, Kubera is also equated with Pañcika, whose wife Hariti 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 or ten) 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]
Jainism
In Jainism, Kubera is the attendant yaksha of the 19th
References
- ^ "Kubera, Kuvera, Kuberā: 52 definitions". 15 June 2012.
- ISBN 9788184750218.
- ISBN 9788170173694.
- ^ ISBN 0-595-79779-2.
- ^ a b c Kubera.(2010). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 08, 2010, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/324235/Kubera
- ^ a b c Hopkins 1915, p. 147
- ^ ISBN 81-7017-406-6.
- ^ ]
- ^ ISBN 0-8426-0822-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Daniélou, Alain (1964). "Kubera, the Lord of Riches". The myths and gods of India. Inner Traditions / Bear & Company. pp. 135–7.
- ^ Sutherland 1991, p. 65
- ^ a b Monier-Williams Dictionary: Kubera
- ^ a b c Sutherland 1991, p. 63
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hopkins 1915, pp. 142–3
- ^ a b c d Hopkins 1915, pp. 144–5
- ^ a b Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 65.
- ^ ISBN 1-85109-650-7.
- ^ "Satapatha Brahmana Part V (SBE44): Thirteenth Kânda: XIII, 4, 3. Third Brâhmana (13.4.3.10)". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ Hopkins 1915, p. 146
- ^ For Loka-palas, Hopkins 1915, pp. 149–52
- ^ ISBN 1-4021-9308-4.
- ^ Hopkins 1915, p. 148
- ^ Sutherland 1991, p. 61
- ISBN 81-223-0951-8.
- ^ ISBN 81-261-0691-3.
- ISBN 81-7936-009-1.
- ^ Sutherland pp. 63–4, 66
- ^ ISBN 978-8172112691, page 184
- ^ Twelve Heavenly Deities (Devas) Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Nara National Museum, Japan
- ISBN 978-8120807815, pages 120–124, 298–300
- ^ ISBN 0-8426-1027-8.
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-8426-0560-6.
- Sutherland, Gail Hinich (1991). The disguises of the demon: the development of the Yakṣa in Hinduism and Buddhism. ISBN 0-7914-0622-9.