Kubera at Kāśī and Śiva at Kailāsa

This account is from the Sṛshṭi Khaṇḍa of the Rudra Saṃhitā in the Śiva Purāṇa. It tells how Kubera did tapas (austerity) at Kāśī for 11,000 years. Bhagavān Śiva appeared to him with Umā and gave him varas (boons). Then Bhagavān Śiva decided to go to Kailāsa, and all beings gathered to go with him.

Kubera’s earlier births

The Rudra Saṃhitā speaks of Kubera’s history across two kalpas (ages of the world). In the Pādma Kalpa, Pulastya, a mind-born son of Brahmā, had a son named Viśravas. Viśravas had a son named Vaiśravaṇa, who is Kubera. This Kubera did very intense tapas to Bhagavān Śiva. He received the city of Alakā, built by Viśvakarmā, and ruled it as its master.

When the Pādma Kalpa passed and the Megha-vāhana Kalpa began, that same being was born again as the son of Yajñadatta. This is the Guṇanidhi of the previous chapter. He then passed through a birth as King Dama of Kaliṅga and was born once more as Kubera. He understood the power of even the smallest act of devotion to Bhagavān Śiva, because lighting a lamp had brought him the state of Kubera. So he decided to do the highest tapas possible. (Chapter 19)

Kubera’s tapas at Kāśī

Kubera came to Kāśī, the city of Viśveśvara. It is the eternal home of Bhagavān Śiva, where consciousness shines as living light. There he woke the Eleven Rudras with the lamp of his citta (mind). He stayed in steady concentration, absorbed in Śiva-ekatva (oneness with Bhagavān Śiva through meditation). In that state kāma (desire) and krodha (anger), the great obstacles, could find no way in, like arrows that cannot pierce a stone.

He practised prāṇāyāma (breath control) to still the movement of vāyu (the vital air). His awareness was turned inward and free of every disturbance (vikāra). He set up the Śambhu-liṅga in the field of his mind (mano-deśa) and worshipped it with the flowers of a pure citta-vṛtti (movement of the mind). His body became only skin and bones. In this state he did tapas for eleven thousand years. (Chapter 19)

Śiva appears and Kubera’s eye bursts

When the tapas was complete, Bhagavān Viśveśvara appeared in person. His eyes were like long blue lotuses. Umā, who shares half of his body, stood beside him, and he was full of grace and compassion. He looked at Kubera, who stood as still as a pillar (sthāṇu-vat), his mind merged in the liṅga.

Bhagavān Śiva said: “O Alakāpati (master of Alakā), ask for a vara. I am pleased with you. I will give whatever you ask.”

Kubera opened his eyes and was at once overwhelmed. In front of him blazed a light greater than ten million rising suns. He saw Bhagavān Śiva, the blue-throated, with the moon on his head, together with Pārvatī Devī. Kubera could not bear that light and closed his eyes at once. Speaking from within, he said: “O Bhagavān Śiva, give my eyes the power to see your feet.”

Bhagavān Śiva gave this power, touching Kubera with his palm. Kubera opened his eyes. In that first moment of sight, before he could see Bhagavān Śiva himself, he saw Pārvatī Devī standing near Śambhu. He was amazed and said: “Who is this young woman of unmatched beauty near Śambhu? What tapas has she done? Greater than mine! What beauty! What love! What good fortune (saubhāgya)! What radiance (śobhā)!” He said these praises again and again, staring at her with what looked like an intense gaze.

From this gaze his left eye burst. The source gives two possible causes: wonder mixed with something like a wish to own her wealth of tapas, or simply the strength of his looking.

Pārvatī turned to Bhagavān Śiva in anger: “What is this? This wicked tapasvī keeps staring at me and speaking. Show him the power of my tapas. He keeps looking again and again, wanting my beauty, my love, my good fortune, my wealth.”

Bhagavān Śiva smiled and explained: “Umā! He is your son. He is not looking at you in a wrong way. He is describing the wealth of your tapas in praise.” Then he turned to Kubera and said with love: “Vatsa (dear child)! Your tapas has pleased me. I will give you varas.” (Chapter 19)

Kubera’s varas

Bhagavān Śiva gave Kubera these varas:

1. Nidhi-nātha: master of all treasuries and hidden wealth.
2. Guhyaka-prabhu: master of the guhyakas (a class of half-divine beings).
3. Yaksha-rāja: king of the yakshas and kinnaras, a king above all kings.
4. Puṇyātmā-prabhu: master of those of great puṇya (merit).
5. Dhana-dātā: the giver of wealth to all beings.
6. Eternal friendship with Śiva: “You and I are friends forever. I will live near your city of Alakā.”
7. Nearness: Bhagavān Śiva promised to live at Kailāsa, next to Alakā, so that Kubera would always have him close.

Pārvatī added her vara: “May you always have pure, bright bhakti toward Śiva. And because your left eye burst when you looked in this way, from now on you will be known by the name Kubera.” She also blessed him: “May all the varas that Śiva gave you come true.”

Bhagavān Śiva then said gently: “Son of Yajñadatta! You are my great bhakta. Come. This is your mother. Bow at her feet with a peaceful mind.” Kubera bowed down before Pārvatī. Bhagavān Śiva then went back into his own abode, Viśveśvara-dhāma, in Kāśī. In this way Kubera won the friendship of Śambhu and the city of Alakā, with Kailāsa, the home of Bhagavān Śiva, set up close by. (Chapter 19)

Śiva decides to go to Kailāsa

After he had given Kubera his varas, Bhagavān Śiva thought in his divine abode: “Rudra, who was born from Brahmā’s body and who brings about dissolution, is my complete avatāra (pūrṇāvatāra). I will go to Kailāsa, where the guhyakas live, in that Rudra form. Rudra, born from my heart, is entirely Parabrahman, without guṇas (nirguṇa), served by Hari and Brahmā, not separate from me and without fault. I will live at Kailāsa in the form of Rudra, as the friend of Kubera, and do great tapas.”

The moment this thought rose in the mind of Bhagavān Śiva, Rudra was eager to fulfil his wish and sounded his ḍamaru (small drum). The sound of the ḍamaru was lively, it called all to move, it was wondrous and deep. It spread through all three worlds. (Chapter 20)

The gaṇas gather

At that sound all beings hurried to gather. Bhagavān Vishṇu, Brahmā and all the devas came. The munis and siddhas came. The Āgamas and the Vedas came in bodily form. Rākshasas and asuras came with eagerness. Most of all came the countless pramatha-gaṇas (the gaṇas of Rudra) from wherever they were. The lords of gaṇa armies (gaṇa-nāthas) who came with their forces included these:

Besides these named leaders, countless other lords of gaṇas came. All had many arms and wore matted hair or crowns. They had the moon on their heads, dark-blue throats and three eyes. They were decorated with necklaces, earrings, armlets and crowns. Each was equal in power to Brahmā, Indra and Vishṇu. They shone with the light of ten million suns. Aṇimā and the other eight siddhis (powers) waited on them.

The text gives the total. Bhagavān Śiva set out for Kailāsa with iriuvadi vanda koṭi koṭla gaṇas, which the source reads as twenty-two hundred crore crores of gaṇas. (Chapter 20)

Reception at Kailāsa and the palaces of Viśvakarmā

All the devas, with Bhagavān Vishṇu first among them, came before Bhagavān Śiva. They folded their hands, bowed their heads and offered great praises. Parameśvara Maheśa, together with Bhagavān Vishṇu and all the devas, went to Kailāsa out of love for Kubera.

Kubera and his followers received Bhagavān Śiva as he arrived, with deep respect and devotion. They offered countless gifts (upahāra) and worshipped him. Then Kubera honoured Bhagavān Vishṇu and all the gaṇas who had come.

Śambhu was full of joy. He embraced Kubera, kissed his forehead (lalāṭa-cumbana), and stayed with all of them near the city of Alakā. He then ordered Viśvakarmā: “Build fitting homes on the mountain for me and for all my devotees.” By the command of Śambhu, Viśvakarmā went to Kailāsa and quickly built palaces of many kinds.

At an auspicious muhūrta (time), Parameśvara entered Kailāsa, his own eternal home. In his compassion for all, he settled them in his presence. (Chapter 20)

Śiva enthroned and the varas given

Bhagavān Vishṇu and all the devas, full of joy and joined by munis and siddhas, performed the abhisheka (the sacred bathing for installation) of Bhagavān Śiva with love and devotion. They came with gifts (upāyana) in their hands. They worshipped Bhagavān Śiva one after another and offered the mahā-nīrājana (the great waving of lamps, the great ārati). The devas rained down auspicious flowers. The apsarases sang and danced with joy. All the directions rang with “Jaya, Jaya!” and “Namaḥ!”

Śambhu sat on his throne and shone with great splendour. Bhagavān Vishṇu and all the devas served him, each in the way that suited him. Each of the gathered devas also praised Bhagavān Śiva separately, in meaningful words that please him.

Bhagavān Śiva heard their praises with a mind full of grace. He gave as varas whatever each one had silently wished in his heart. All of them left for their own homes after taking leave.

Bhagavān Śiva called Bhagavān Vishṇu and Brahmā to his side and seated them. He spoke to them with great love: “O Hari! O Brahmā! You are dear to me. You two are among the most precious to me. You are the greatest among the devas. You create the universe and always protect it. Go now to your own places. Live without fear at all times. This is my command. I will give you happiness. I will always look after your welfare.”

Bhagavān Vishṇu and Brahmā bowed to him and went joyfully to their homes.

Then Bhagavān Śiva, deeply moved with love, took Kubera’s hand, seated him beside him and said: “O friend! Out of love for you I became bound and came here for the sake of our friendship. O blameless one! Go now to your home. You have nothing to fear. I am your support at all times.” Kubera was overjoyed. He bowed and went back to Alakā by the command of Bhagavān Śiva. (Chapter 20)

Śiva’s life at Kailāsa

Bhagavān Śiva made his home at Kailāsa. He was absorbed in yoga and meditation, and yet he also played many līlās (divine plays) for the joy of the worlds. Sometimes he was ātma-rata, absorbed in the Self. Sometimes he was yoga-nishṭha, deep in the stillness of yoga. Sometimes, when he felt like it, he told itihāsas (accounts of past events) with great delight.

He is the best at every kind of vihāra (divine sport). He roamed the regions of Kailāsa with his gaṇas in joy. Though he is the best of yogīs, he played many līlās in his Rudra form on his mountain.

After living there for some time without a wife, Parameśvara married Satīdevī, the daughter of Daksha. With Satīdevī at his side, Bhagavān Śiva followed loka-ācāra (the customs of the world) and lived in joy at Kailāsa. (Chapter 20)

The fruit of hearing this account

The text says that whoever reads or hears this account with śraddhā (faith) will gain bhukti (enjoyment) in this world and mukti (liberation) in the next. The account fulfils all wishes, in this life and beyond, and increases the jñāna (knowledge) of the one who hears it.

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛshṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 19 (Kubera’s births, his tapas at Kāśī, his varas)
• Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛshṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 20 (Bhagavān Śiva’s journey to Kailāsa, the gaṇas, the palaces, the enthronement)