The Development of Hindu Iconography c19.s2.16

c19.s2.16

Much has been said about Kubera, the lord of the northern quarter in Chapter IX of this book. It will be of interest here to note some of his descriptions given in the mediaeval iconographic texts, quoted by Rao. The Aṃśumadbheda describes the god as two-armed, the hands being in the varada and abhaya poses (a club also being shown in the left hand), having a sheep for his mount, attended by his consort and the two Nidhis, Śaṅkha and Padma, in the form of two powerful spirits (bhūtākāraṃ mahābalam). The Suprabheda lays stress on the terrific features of the two-armed god holding a club in one of his hands. The Śilparatna (or a work associated with it) characterises him as a friend of Hara (Śiva), riding a chariot drawn by men, holding a mace in one of his hands, as pot-bellied and long-armed, accompanied by Aṣṭanidhis and Guhyakas on all sides. The Pūrvakāraṇa says that the god rides on a man, is accompanied by the two Nidhis, Śaṅkha and Padma, and holds a club. The Rūpamaṇḍana describes in the first line of one couplet that the god is four-armed, the hands holding a club, a nidhi, a citrus and a water-vessel; the last line of this verse is corrupt, for in it he is described both as gajārūḍhaḥ (elephant-rider) and naravāhanaḥ (riding on a man). The Viṣṇudharmottara description of this Dikpāla has already been commented on earlier (supra, p. 339), and it has been shown how it partly reminds us of the Pañcika and Hārīti reliefs of Gandhāra, the tundila (pot-bellied) feature of the earlier Yakṣas is emphasised in this and some other texts, and a few other traits like the two fangs in his mouth, his bearded face, Riddhi (the goddess of prosperity) seated on his left lap, etc. are added.