Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c17.53

c17.53

VAIŚRAVAṆA KUBERA—The AV. (8.10) clearly refers to a cult of Four Lokapāla gods represented frequently on the Toraṇa-gateways of the Stūpas. Amongst them one is Vaiśravaṇa Kubera popular among the common folk (Itarajana). The cult of the Four Mahārāja gods was universally accepted in all religions. But from the point of view of iconography Kubera received the greatest attention. The formula comprised deformed-pot-bellied-corpulent body, mongoose or purse in hand, rich ornaments, smiling face and an open admittance to Yaksha, Gaṇa and Pramatha figures of whatever nature and description into his hosts of attendants. They are generally depicted as kiṅkara or atlantes bearing his aerial car and depeted in this position in western Indian cave sculptures and in the Stūpas of Bharhut and Sanchi.