A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.958

c5.958

KUVERA. In the Vedas, a chief of the evil beings or spirits living in the shades: a sort of Pluto, and called by his patronymic Vaisravana. Later he is Pluto in another sense, as god of wealth and chief of the Yakshas and Guhyakas. He was son of Visravas by Idāvidā, but he is sometimes called son of Pulastya, who was father of Visravas. This is explained by the Mahā-bhārata, according to which Kuvera was son of Pulastya, but that sage being offended with Kuvera for his adulation of Brahmā, “reproduced the half of himself in the form of Visravas,” and had Rāvana and other children. (See Visravas.) Kuvera’s city is Alakā (also called Prabhā, Vasu-dharā, and Vasu-sthalī) in the Himālayas, and his garden Chaitra-ratha on Mandara, one of the spurs of Mount Meru, where he is waited upon by the Kinnaras. Some authorities place his abode on Mount Kailāsa in a palace built by Viswa-karma. He was half-brother of Rāvana, and, according to the Rāmāyana and Mahā-bhārata, he once had possession of the city of Lankā in Ceylon, which was also built by Viswa-karma, and from which he was expelled by Rāvana. The same authority states that he performed austerities for thousands of years, and obtained the boon from Brahmā that he should be immortal, one of the guardian deities of the world, and the god of wealth. So he is regent of the north, and the keeper of gold and silver, jewels and pearls, and all the treasures of the earth, besides nine particular Nidhis, or treasures, the nature of which is not well understood. Brahmā also gave him the great self-moving aerial car Pushpaka (q.v.). His wife is Yakshī, Chārvī, or Kauverī, daughter of the Dānava Mura. His sons are Mani-grīva or Varna-kavi and Nala-kubara or Mayu-rāja, and his daughter Mīnākshī (fish-eyed). He is represented as a white man deformed in body, and having three legs and only eight teeth. His body is covered with ornaments. He receives no worship. The name Ku-vera, as also the variant Ku-tanu, signifies ‘vile body,’ referring to his ugliness. He is also called Dhana-pati, ‘lord of wealth;’ Ichchhā-vasu, ‘who has wealth at will;’ Yaksha-rāja, ‘chief of the Yakshas;’ Mayu-rāja, ‘king of the Kinnaras;’ Rākshasendra, ‘chief of the Rākshasas;’ Ratna-garbha, ‘belly of jewels;’ Rāja-rāja, ‘king of kings;’ and Nara-rāja, ‘king of men’ (in allusion to the power of riches). From his parentage he is called Vaisravana, Paulastya, and Aidavida or Ailavila. As an especial friend of Siva he is called Isa-sakhi, &c.