Kubera
Kubera is the king of the yakṣas and the master of all treasures (nidhis). He rules the guhyakas and kinnaras too, and he guards the north. The Śiva Purāṇa calls him the eternal friend of Parameśvara Bhagavān Śiva. He keeps the nava-nidhis, the nine divine treasures, and he is one of the Aṣṭa-dikpālas, the eight guardians of the directions. His city is Alakā.
The Purāṇas and the Mahābhārata tell of Kubera in many ways. The Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa says he first came from Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa and was reborn through the family of Viśravas. The Śiva Purāṇa tells of three lives that ended in his birth as Kubera. He did tapas (austerity) at Kāśī for 11,000 years, saw Bhagavān Śiva and Umā, lost his left eye, and was given the vara (boon) of eternal friendship with Bhagavān Śiva.
Origin and rebirth in the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa
The Brahma Khaṇḍa of the Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, in Chapters 5 to 8, tells of Kubera’s origin. He first came forth from the being of Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa as a primal power linked to divine wealth. Then Utathya, a great ṛṣi (seer) and the son of Aṅgiras, gave him a śāpa (a curse). Because of it, Kubera had to be born in a human family. He was reborn as the son of Viśravas, a great ṛṣi who was himself the son of Pulastya. This birth through the family of Pulastya and Viśravas made Kubera a half-brother of Rāvaṇa.
Roles and attributes
The Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa says that Kubera is the master of the nava-nidhis: Padma, Mahāpadma, Śaṅkha, Makara, Kacchapa, Mukunda, Kunda, Nīla and Kharva. He is the king of the yakṣas and kinnaras and the guardian of the north. His divine city Alakā stands on Mount Meru and is famous for its riches. He rules divine beings who look after the wealth of the world, and he is counted among the Aṣṭa-dikpālas.
His form in the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa
The Madhyama Bhāga of the Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, in Chapter 8, describes the form of Kubera. This description is found only in this Purāṇa. Kaśyapa appointed the rulers of the different divine regions, and Kubera was made king of the yakṣas and guardian of the north. The Purāṇa says he is three feet tall, with eight crooked teeth, a green moustache, a reddish skin and short arms. It places his appointment in Kaśyapa’s division of the territories, after the peace among the divine races was made.
The Padma Purāṇa: Kubera’s rule over the yakṣas through tapas
The Svarga Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa gives another account of how Kubera became ruler of the yakṣas. Nārada tells it to Yudhiṣṭhira, in the praise of the confluence (saṃgama) of the Kāverī and the Narmadā. Here Kubera earns the kingship of the yakṣas through his own tapas.
The text says: “The valorous Kubera performed a yajña (a fire ritual) at this saṃgama (Kāverī-Narmadā). After the yajña was complete he attained sāmrājya (rule over an empire). He also obtained siddhi (spiritual power).”
The account goes on. Satya-vikrama Kubera, in a pure state (śucir-bhūta), went to the meeting place of the Kāverī and Narmadā rivers. He did tapas there for one hundred years. Maheśvara was pleased with his tapas and appeared before him. He offered Kubera a vara. Kubera said: “O Deveśa! If you are pleased with my tapas and wish to give me a vara, then let me be first among all and the nāyaka (leader) of the yakṣas.” Bhagavān Śiva at once agreed: “So be it,” and disappeared. Kubera went to the yakṣa-loka. All honoured him there, and he was formally crowned (abhiṣikta) as the yakṣa-nāyaka.
The Padma Mahā Purāṇa gives this in the Svarga Khaṇḍa, Chapter 16.
The Viṣṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa: Laṅkā given up to Rāvaṇa
The Viṣṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa gives a short account of how Laṅkā passed from Kubera to Rāvaṇa. Rāvaṇa had won from Brahmā the vara that no supernatural being could harm him. He sent his minister Prahastha with a message that Kubera must give up Laṅkā. Kubera is called buddhi-śāli, a man of wisdom. He saw that Rāvaṇa now held Brahmā’s vara and that it would be useless to resist. He gave up Laṅkā of his own will to Rāvaṇa, without a war, and went to Kailāsa. There he built for himself the glorious Alakā nagara, the city of Alakā on the northern slopes of Kailāsa. He has lived there in peace and plenty ever since.
In Chapter 222, the Viṣṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa tells that Rāvaṇa later went to Kailāsa in the Puṣpakavimāna and took the Puṣpakavimāna from Kubera by force. This was the flying vehicle that Kubera had owned and used since his days in Laṅkā. The text says: “Kubera, who was driven from Laṅkā, now lives without trouble in the kingdom he established on Kailāsa.”
The Viṣṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa gives this in the Pūrvārdha, Chapters 220–222.
The three lives of Kubera in the Śiva Purāṇa
Brahmā tells Nārada the story of Kubera’s origin in the Rudra Saṃhitā of the Śiva Purāṇa. It answers the question: how did Bhagavān Śiva become the friend of Kubera? It is the story of three lives.
First life: Guṇanidhi
Guṇanidhi was the son of the learned brahmin Yajñadatta of Kāmpilya. He had an excellent father, but he fell into gambling and theft and gave up all the duties of a brahmin. In the end his father disowned him.
On the night of Śivarātri, Guṇanidhi was hungry and had no home. He followed a devotee of Bhagavān Śiva to a temple and tried to steal the naivedya (the food offered to the mūrti). First he tore a strip of cloth from his uttarīya (upper cloth) to make a wick, and he lit the temple lamp to burn brighter. By doing this, without meaning to, he took the shadow off the crown of the Śiva-liṅga. He also happened to hear the names of Bhagavān Śiva and to see the devotee’s pūjā. He died that same night.
At the moment of death, the gaṇas of Bhagavān Śiva took him away from the Yama-dūtas (the messengers of Yama). They did this because of these three accidental acts of puṇya (merit). They took him to Śiva-loka.
Second life: Dama, king of Kaliṅga
Guṇanidhi enjoyed a divine life in Śiva-loka. Then he was born as Dama (also written Damā), the son of Arindama, king of Kaliṅga. The saṃskāra (the lasting impression) of his chance lighting of the lamp grew into the whole dharma of his life as king. His one rule was to light lamps in every Śiva temple in his kingdom. He enforced it by royal command, on pain of death. By this one act, done faithfully and always, he gained great puṇya. He died in that state.
Third life: Kubera
The saṃskāra of the lamp-lighting had grown through two births. By its force, Dama was born as Kubera, ruler of Alakā, of all treasures and of all yakṣas.
The text also says that in the earlier Pādma Kalpa, Viśravas, the son of Pulastya, had a son called Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera). He did tapas. He received Alakāpurī, which Viśvakarmā had built, and ruled it. So the same Kubera is found across the kalpas.
The Śiva Purāṇa gives this in the Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapters 18–19.
Tapas at Kāśī
Kubera knew how great was the power of even the faintest devotion to Bhagavān Śiva from his earlier births. He came to Kāśī, the city of Viśveśvara, where the awareness of Bhagavān Śiva shines as an unending light. There he woke the Eleven Rudras with the lamp of his own citta (mind). He did tapas of very great strength.
His tapas was wholly inward. He did prāṇāyāma (breath control) to stop the movement of the vāyu (the vital air). He kept his awareness turned inward, without any vikāra (disturbance). He set up the Śaṃbhu-liṅga in the field of his mind and worshipped it with the flowers of pure citta-vṛtti (movements of the mind). He also set up Śiva-ekatva, oneness with Bhagavān Śiva through bhāvanā (deep meditation). In this state, kāma (desire) and krodha (anger), the great obstacles, found nothing to hold on to. He wore his body down to skin and bone and stayed in that state for eleven thousand years.
The Śiva Purāṇa gives this in the Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 19.
Śiva’s darśana and the burst eye
Bhagavān Śiva, the Viśveśvara of Kāśī, with long eyes, came before Kubera in answer to his tapas. Umā was with him. His radiance was greater than ten million rising suns. Kubera opened his eyes, was overcome at once, and shut them again. He said: “O Prabhu Śiva! Give my eyes the power to see your feet.” Bhagavān Śiva touched him with his palm and gave him that power.
Kubera opened his eyes again. Before he could look at Bhagavān Śiva, he saw Pārvatī standing at Śiva’s side. He was amazed by her matchless beauty, her wealth of tapas, her saubhāgya (good fortune) and her divine radiance. Again and again he cried out: “Who is this? What tapas she must have done! More than mine! What beauty! What love! What fortune!” The text describes this as awe mixed with something like a wish to own her spiritual wealth. From the strength of this repeated gaze, his left eye burst.
Pārvatī turned to Bhagavān Śiva in anger. Bhagavān Śiva said gently: “Umā! He is your son. He is praising your wealth of tapas. He is not looking at you in a wrong way.” Then he turned to Kubera with love: “Vatsa (child)! Your tapas has pleased me. Ask for varas.” Kubera said: “O Prabhu Śiva! To see you directly is the vara I wanted. What need is there for any other?”
The Śiva Purāṇa gives this in the Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 19.
The varas Kubera received
Bhagavān Śiva gave Kubera these:
- Nidhi-nātha, master of all hidden treasures in all the worlds.
- Guhyaka-prabhu, master of the guhyakas.
- Yakṣa-rāja, king of the yakṣas, the kinnaras and all kings, and the giver of wealth to all beings.
- Puṇyātmā-prabhu, master of beings of great puṇya.
- Eternal friendship with Bhagavān Śiva. He said: “You and I are friends forever (nitya-maitri). I will live near your city of Alakā.”
- Kailāsa near Alakā. Bhagavān Śiva promised to make Kailāsa, his own home, lie next to Alakā, so that Kubera would always be near him.
Pārvatī added these blessings:
- “May you always have pure Śiva-bhakti (devotion to Bhagavān Śiva).”
- “Because your left eye burst in this way, you shall be known as Kubera.” This explains the name from the event.
- “May all the varas that Bhagavān Śiva gave you come true.”
Bhagavān Śiva told him: “This (Pārvatī) is your mother. Bow at her feet with a peaceful heart.” Kubera bowed down before Pārvatī. After that, Bhagavān Śiva went back into his Viśveśvara-dhāma.
The Śiva Purāṇa gives this in the Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 19.
Śiva goes to Kailāsa and Kubera welcomes him
After this blessing, Bhagavān Śiva decided to live at Kailāsa in his Rudra form. He declared that Rudra, born from his heart, is his pūrṇāvatāra (full avatāra). He sounded his ḍamaru (small drum), and a huge assembly gathered. There were 2,200 crore crores of gaṇas (the gaṇapatis and their armies), all the devas, Bhagavān Viṣṇu, Brahmā, the munis, the siddhas, and the Vedas and Āgamas in bodily form.
Kubera welcomed Bhagavān Śiva and the whole assembly with deep respect. He made offerings and did pūjā, and then he honoured Bhagavān Viṣṇu and all the gaṇas. Bhagavān Śiva was full of joy. He embraced Kubera and kissed his forehead (lalāṭa-mukha). Viśvakarmā was told to build palaces of many kinds on Kailāsa for Bhagavān Śiva and all his devotees, and he built them quickly.
Bhagavān Śiva sat on his throne at Kailāsa. All the devas came to do pūjā and receive varas. He spoke to Kubera with special love: “O friend! Out of my love for you I came here. O stainless one! Go now to your home. You have nothing to fear. I am always your support.” Kubera was overjoyed and went back to Alakā.
The Śiva Purāṇa gives this in the Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 20.
Kubera’s golden liṅga
In Chapter 12 of the same Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa, Viśvakarmā made liṅgas of different materials for all the devas, at the direction of Brahmā and Bhagavān Viṣṇu. Kubera received a golden liṅga. Each deva received a liṅga of the material that suited his nature.
The Śiva Purāṇa gives this in the Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 12.
The Mahābhārata: the gift of astras to Arjuna
In the Vana Parva of the Mahābhārata, Kubera is one of the four lokapālas (guardians of the worlds) who come down to the Himālaya peak where Arjuna stands. Arjuna has just received the Pāśupatāstra from Bhagavān Śiva. As master of the northern quarter, Kubera gives Arjuna the Antardhāna astra, which brings concealment, and the Prasvāpana astra, which brings sleep. He says that these weapons were used in the great battle to destroy Tripura.
The Mahābhārata gives this in the Vana Parva, Chapter 41.
The Mahābhārata: the Saugandhika lake on Gandhamādana
High on Gandhamādana lay a divine lake full of saugandhika lotuses. These flowers have an unusual scent and beauty. The name saugandhika means “that which has fragrance.” The lake lay among the kadalīkhaṇḍa groves (plantain groves) kept by Kubera’s yakṣas, and the flowers belonged to Kubera’s realm of pleasure. Yakṣa guards under Kubera’s command watched the lake, and no one without an invitation could enter. This place was one of the farthest northern holy places that the Pāṇḍavas reached during their stay on Gandhamādana.
The Mahābhārata gives this in the Vana Parva, Chapters 153–160.
A wind carried a divine saugandhika lotus to the place where Draupadī sat in the Pāṇḍava āśrama. She was charmed by its divine scent and beauty. She asked Bhīmasena, her devoted protector, to bring more of these flowers for her. On his way to the lake, Bhīma went through the kadalīkhaṇḍa. There he first met Hanumān and was taught about yuga-dharma. After the great meeting with Hanumān, Bhīma went on to the lake.
The Mahābhārata gives this in the Vana Parva, Chapters 153–155.
The Mahābhārata: the death of Maṇimanta and Agastya’s śāpa
Bhīma reached Kubera’s lake and blew his conch to announce himself. The yakṣas who guarded the lake took this as an intrusion and an offence against the domain of their master. A great battle began between Bhīma and the yakṣa host. Bhīma showed his usual ferocity. He tore up trees, used his gadā (mace) and fought with his bare hands. Little by little he drove the yakṣa forces back.
The yakṣa captain Maṇimanta then came forward to fight Bhīma himself. In that fight Bhīma slew Maṇimanta. Without knowing it, he thereby fulfilled the śāpa that Agastya Maharṣi had long ago spoken on Maṇimanta for an act of disrespect at the ṛṣi’s āśrama. The defeated yakṣas told Kubera at Alakā what had happened.
The Mahābhārata gives this in the Vana Parva, Chapters 158–160.
The Mahābhārata: Kubera meets the Pāṇḍavas and tells of Agastya’s śāpa
News of the battle and of Maṇimanta’s death reached Kubera. The king of the yakṣas came to Gandhamādana himself with his followers. He reached the lake and found the Pāṇḍavas gathered there. He received them kindly and was not angry.
Kubera told the Pāṇḍavas the history of Agastya’s śāpa on Maṇimanta. He explained that the yakṣa’s death at Bhīma’s hands was not a wrong act but the working out of an old curse. In this way he freed Bhīma of any guilt for the killing.
Kubera then blessed the Pāṇḍavas and spoke words of hope about their future. He told them that Arjuna, who had gone to Indra’s svarga (heaven) to obtain divine weapons, was about to return. This comfort came from the master of the northern quarter, the dik-pāla (guardian of a direction) whose realm they were crossing. It showed that the cause of the Pāṇḍavas was upheld by the will of the devas. Kubera allowed Bhīma to gather the saugandhika lotuses freely.
The Mahābhārata gives this in the Vana Parva, Chapters 160–162.
The Anuśāsana Parva: Mandākinī in the Hastikūṭa itihāsa
In the Hastikūṭa narrative of the Anuśāsana Parva, Gautama names the places of svarga to which he could threaten to send the disguised Indra, who appears as “Dhṛtarāṣṭra.” One is Mandākinī, the river of Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera). It is open to those of great puṇya who enjoy pleasures among the gandharvas, yakṣas and apsarases. “Dhṛtarāṣṭra” says it is meant for those who honour guests (atithi) and keep their promised gifts to brāhmaṇas. He says it is not meant for one who seizes another’s property.
The Mahābhārata gives this in the Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 102.
The Anuśāsana Parva: Kubera hosts Aṣṭāvakra at Alakāpurī
In the Aṣṭāvakra–Uttarā Diś Saṃvāda (Chapters 19–21 of the Anuśāsana Parva), Kubera again appears as the kind host of Alakāpurī. The ṛṣi Aṣṭāvakra comes there on his journey to the north. He is fulfilling a condition set by Vadānya before Vadānya would give him his daughter Suprabhā in marriage.
Aṣṭāvakra sees the golden gate of Alakāpurī and the Mandākinī, Kubera’s own lake, filled with the waters of the Gaṅgā. It is guarded by Maṇibhadra and other rākṣasa attendants, who stand up at once to welcome him. Kubera already knows through his own foresight why Aṣṭāvakra has come. He comes in person to receive him. He offers arghya and pādya and gives him the freedom of his palace.
At Kubera’s invitation, Aṣṭāvakra spends a night there, which turns out to last a full divine year. He watches nṛtya-gīta (dance and song) by Kubera’s apsarases. Among them are Urvarā, Miśrakeśī, Rambhā, Ūrvaśī, Alambuṣā, Ghṛtācī, Citrā, Citrāṅgadā and many others. Then he takes leave with Kubera’s blessing of lasting vṛddhi (growth) and ṛddhi (prosperity), and he goes on toward Kailāsa.
The Mahābhārata gives this in the Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 19.
The Āśramavāsika Parva: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s foretold destination
Nārada spoke a prophecy to Śatayūpa and the ṛṣis at the forest āśrama of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. He said that when Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s remaining three years of tapas were over, Dhṛtarāṣṭra would go with Gāndhārī to Kubera’s own palace. He would be received there with honour. After that, he would wear divine ornaments, and his faults would be burnt away by tapas. He would then travel at will among the lokas of the devas, gandharvas and rākṣasas in the kāmagamana vimāna (a flying vehicle that goes where one wishes). Nārada said that he was repeating a talk between Indra and Pāṇḍu in svarga which he had overheard.
The Mahābhārata gives this in the Āśramavāsika Parva, Chapter 20.
Sources
- Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa (Chapters 5 to 8)
- Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Madhyama Bhāga, Chapter 8
- Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Svarga Khaṇḍa, Chapter 16
- Viṣṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapters 220–222
- Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapters 18–20
- Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 12
- Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 41
- Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapters 153–162
- Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapters 19, 102
- Mahābhārata, Āśramavāsika Parva, Chapter 20