Gunanidhi becomes Kubera
Gunanidhi becomes Kubera
#Shiva Puranam
We ended the tale with the ShivaGanas taking Gunanidhi’s soul to Shivalok with a prediction that after spending some time there he will be reborn as the king of Kalinga. So let us see what happened to him. Did he carry the vasanas (traits) of his life as a gambler and cheater or did he become a better person after spending some time in the Shivalok? Let us see.
Gunanidhi is reborn as Dama, son
of Arindama, the king of Kalinga. From his childhood, he was a pious person and
was very devoted to Shiva. He carried the memory of how an accidental lighting
of the lamp helped him reach Shivalok despite a sinful life as Gunannidhi. As
Dama, he started ensuring that all Shiva temples in Kalinga were always lit.
Hence Kalinga became a glorious kingdom. The care and the regular pujas in the
temple ensured that the kingdom had peace and prosperity.
After Dama’s death he was born
to Sage Vishravas the son of Rishi Pulastya who the manasika puthra (child created
through divine consciousness) of Brahma. Sage Vishravas was also the father of
asura Ravana. The good deeds he committed as Dama ensured that he was born in
an illustrious dynasty that could trace its roots to Brahma himself. Sage
Vishravas and his wife Ilavila (or Ilavida) named their son Vaisravana.
Vaisravana was a good learner
and a devout Shiva devotee. Once Vaisravana goes to Kashi. He looked at the
lustrous Lingam at Kashi and was mesmerized. He chanted the Shiva sthothra and
kept repeating the names of eleven Rudras with unwavering devotion. After that he got a
deep realisation or gnana that gave him a deep sense
of gratification and calm.
Vaisravana decided to dedicate
himself further to the cause of his bhakthi and retreated to do penance. He did
penance for thousands of years standing on fire without food, water and sometimes
even controlling his breath. As a result of this abstinence and severe penance,
he was reduced to skin and bones.
After a long long time, Shiva
took pity on him and came with Parvati in front of Vaisravana and asked him
what he wanted as a boon. The divine couple waited for the devotee to open his
eyes. Vaisravana tried to open his eyes but was dazzled by the brilliance of
the sight. He could not see anything.
He told Lord Shiva.” You have
taken pity on a poor devotee like me and come in front of me. What more will I
want? Your brilliance is so strong that I am unable to see anything. I want to have
the power of the vision to see this great sight” The divine couple took pity on
him and granted him the vision.
Vaisravana opened his eyes and
the first thing he saw was the beauty of the mother who was to the left of Lord
Shiva. He gave her a strange look “Who is this beautiful lady? How come she is
so close to my Lord Shiva? What penance did she do that was greater than mine
that the Lord thought it fit to keep her next to him, almost like she is half
of him. What beauty and perfection. How can one person be so beautiful.”
All these thoughts were racing
through his head. And he kept staring at the mother speechless. Unfortunately,
this inappropriate staring at the mother made her angry and his left eye burst.
Vaisravana was shocked. He did not know what happened.
Ma Parvati turned to Lord Shiva
and said “Why is this ascetic staring at me? He keeps saying “You make my penance
shine”. He is looking at me with envy and is also marvelling at my good luck
and beauty.”
Lord Shiva turned to her and
said “Don’t get upset. He is your son Gunanidhi. He is not angry or jealous of
you. He is just thinking that your penance must be greater than his to have got
a place by my side. He is also feeling blessed that someone with your glory and
tapas has blessed his penance.”
Then Lord Shiva
turned to his devotee Vaisravana and said “Son. I am pleased with your
devotion. Hereafter you shall be the Lord of the treasures. You will be the
Lord of Guhyakas, Yakshas, Kinnaras and the rulers. You will also be the master
of and the bestower of wealth. You shall be known by the name of Kubera and reside
in the city of Alaka near Kailash.” (What are these treasures? Wealth, gold and
gems? Please see the end of the story to understand a bit more.)
(Guhyakas – means hidden beings and
are demi Gods who guard the hidden treasure. Yakshas are also demi Gods who are
at the service of Kubera, the Lord of wealth. They are depicted with a human
face and the body of the horse or the reverse, horse face with the body of the
human. They are also called as Ashvwmukhas, Turanga Vaktras or Manus. Kinnaras
are half bird and half human demi Gods who are supposed to have the power of
flying. Kinnaras are supposed to watch over humans and have a strong
association with music, art and romance).
Ma Parvati on her
part blessed Vaisravana and said “Kubera, my son. You have earned the affection
of my Lord and that for me is an indication how important you are to him. We shall
stay nearby in Kailash. You can come and see us anytime you want.”
The Divine Mother
continued with a smile, “Shiva gave you the name of Kubera. But your left eye
that burst for staring at me will remain yellow forever and you shall be called
Ekashipingala. Your body will also be twisted as you stared at me openly. You
will have Nara, or the human as you vahan. You will always be towering over them
and clouding their senses. To overcome that confusion, they have to worship me
to look at their possessions in the right way.”
The divine couple then blessed Kubera and went back to their divine abode. Kubera became the Lord of the Navanidhis and ruled Alaka with his Guhyakas, Kinnaras and Yakshas. He remained a devout Shiva Bhakth and a friend of Shiva.
The many names of
Kubera that we may have heard for Kubera - Guhyakeswara (Lord of Guhyas),
Rajadiraja (king of kings), Paulastya (of the Pulastya dynasty), Ailavila (Son
of Ilavila), Kinnareswara (Lord of Kinnaras) Ekapinga (one who looks with one
eye), Naravahana (the one who has a Nara / human as the Vahana), Yaksharat (king
of Yakshas), Dhanadipa (possessor of wealth), Danada (one who gives wealth),
Sirda (one who has Sri or wealth), Ratnagarba (belly of jewels) all stem from
his various qualities and positions. Kubera is also considered the guardian
deity of the North.
In addition to his
possession of wealth, Kubera was also the original owner of the Pushpaka Vimaan
(flying chariot) that his half brother Ravana later snatched from him. He also displaced
Kubera from Lanka whereupon Kubera got Vishwakarma to build him a new city at
Alaka.
He still towers over us in our relentless pursuit for more wealth. Only surrender to the divine couple can perhaps help us overcome our dissatisfaction and confusion
Navanidhis
The Navanidhi that
Kubera and his assistants are guarding is not wealth in the conventional sense.
That is it is not gold, money and gems as we understand it. These are the
navanidhis that help a soul both in this birth and after to live a contented
and fulfilled life.
The navanidhis
here refer to (in brief). The pictorial representation and what is the blessing
/ nidhi associated with each is interesting.
Ø Mahapadma – A rare bluish white lotus – children;
Ø Padma – Lotus – Integrity;
Ø Shanka – Conch shell -Time;
Ø Makara – Alligator – Wisdom;
Ø Kachapa – Tortoise -Home;
Ø Mukunda – Gem –Food / Material things
Ø Kunda – Jasmine flower -Beauty (physical and spiritual)
Ø Nila – Sapphire – Wealth;
Ø Kharva – Earthen vessel -Good health.
Those readers who want a more detailed explanation of Navanidhis may please refer to the link below:
https://sameedh.com/9-nidhi/#:~:text=According%20to%20Hindu%20mythology%2C%20these,%2C%20prosperity%2C%20and%20good%20fortune
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