Kuber
कुबेरకుబేరుడుகுபேரன்
Also known as: Kubera · Kuber Dev · Vaishravana · Dhanapati · Dhanada · Yaksharaj · Alakapati · Kuberan · Kubera Bhagavan
Kuber is the treasurer of the gods, lord of the yakshas and guardian of the north. Families worship him with Lakshmi on Dhanteras and Diwali, praying that the wealth of the home is kept safe and used well.
- Festivals
- Dhanteras · Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)
Texts for Kuber
The story
Kuber was the son of the sage Vishrava, which is why he is called Vaishravana. The Ramayana and the Puranas tell that he did long tapas, and Brahma made him lord of all the treasures of the earth and one of the guardians of the directions, with charge of the north. He first ruled from Lanka and flew in the Pushpaka chariot, until his half-brother Ravana took both from him. Kuber then made his home at Alaka, near Mount Kailasa, close to his friend Shiva.
In pictures Kuber is a calm, well-fed king holding a pot of treasure, often with a mongoose that drops jewels from its mouth. He guards wealth more than he gives it away, and tradition says he releases it where Lakshmi is already worshipped. In the South a well-known Tirumala story says Lord Venkateswara borrowed money from Kuber for his wedding to Padmavati, a loan devotees say they help repay with their offerings.
On Dhanteras, families clean the house, buy something new of metal and worship Lakshmi and Kuber together in the evening. Many keep a Kuber yantra or a small image in the north of the house or in the cash box of a shop.