Description
Kubera is the Lord of Wealth. Kubera is also principally revered as the God who bestows fortunes and prosperity. He is deputed as the king of Yakshas (semi-divine species like Rakshasas, Guhyakas, Kinnaras, Kinnoris and Gandharvas) who assist Him in safeguarding the treasures lying in the lap of the earth and in the roots of the trees. He is always remembered with the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi. As the God of wealth and material, his responsibilities are to distribute them while creating wealth is the responsibility of Lakshmi.
He is also deputed as one of the Dikpala and Lokpalas (custodians of the directions). He has been accorded exclusive authority over the North direction (Uttara disha). Kubera is not an important deity and his images are very rarely seen, though he is frequently referred to in the epics.
Kubera has also been assimilated into the Buddhist and Jain pantheons. In Buddhism, he is known as Vaisravana, the patronymic used of the Hindu Kubera and is also equated with Pañcika, while in Jainism, he is known as Sarvanubhuti. Kubera is one god that all the three religions of India namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism all claim to be their own.
Names
The exact origins of the name Kubera are unknown. "Kubera" or…show more content… Kubera is basically believed to be the son of Sage Vishrava who also fathered Ravana and his wife Illavida. Vishrava also married the demon princess Kaikesi, who mothered four children: Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana and Surpanakha. So Lord Kubera is also the half-brother of Ravana. According to some mythological beliefs, Kubera was also Lord Brahma's grandson who deserted his father Vishrava and went to live with his grandfather. Pleased with his act, Lord Brahma conferred immortality upon him and also the all the riches of the world (Nidhis). Lord Brahma also awarded him Pushpaka, a spectacular gigantic aerial vehicle that would transport him anywhere at a speed willed by