The Development of Hindu Iconography c10.77

c10.77

There is thus no uniformity about the number and we can suggest that the eight objects descending from the banyan capital symbolise the aṣṭanidhis associated primarily with Śrī Lakṣmī and secondarily with Kubera. Mediæval representations of Jambhala, the Buddhist counterpart of Kubera show the god seated on a couch beneath which is a row of eight coin jars, on the upturned one of which exuding coins, the god’s right leg rests; one of his hands holds a mongoose vomitting jewels; the purse is the usual cognisance of the Brahmanical Kubera. The number of coin jars beneath the seat of Jambhala should be noted in this connection.