CHAPTER II.

KUVERA.

KUVERA, the god of riches, does not occupy a very conspicuous position in the mythology of the Hindus. No images or pictures of him are to be had, though he is frequently referred to in the Ramayana as the lord of gold and wealth. "Brahma had a mental son named Pulastya, who again had a mental son named Gaviputra Vaisravana (Kuvera). The latter deserted his father, and went to Brahma, who as a reward made him immortal, and appointed him to be the god of riches, with Lanka for his capital, and the car Pushpaka for his vehicle. [**] This car was of immense size, and moved at its owner's will at a marvellous speed; Ravana took it by force from Kuvera, at whose death it was restored by Rama to its original possessor.

"Pulastya being incensed at this desertion (of his son Kuvera) reproduced the half of himself in the form of Vaisravas, who looked upon Vaisravana with indignation. The latter strove to pacify his father, and with this view gave him three elegant Rakshasis to attend on him: Pushpotkata, who had two sons, Ravana and Kumbhakarna; Malini, who bore Vibhishana; and Raka, who bore Khara and Suparnakha. These sons were all

valiant, skilled in the Vedas and observers of religious rites, but, perceiving the prosperity of Vaisravana, were filled with jealousy. Excepting Khara and Suparnakha, they began to practise austerities to propitiate Brahma, and at the end of a thousand years Ravana cut off his own head and threw it as an oblation into the fire. Brahma appeared to put a stop to their austerities, and to offer them boons (except that of immortality). He ordained that Ravana should have heads and shapes at will and be invincible, except by men; that Kumbhakarna should enjoy a long sleep. Having obtained these powers, Ravana expelled Vaisravana from Lanka. Kuvera retired to Gandamardana. Ravana having been installed as king, and begun to exercise his power tyrannically, the Rishis resort to Brahma, who promises that, as Ravana could not be killed by gods or asuras, the four-armed Vishnu, the chief of warriors, should by his (Brahma's) appointment descend to earth for his destruction." [**]

The Ramayana (Uttara Kanda) [*+] makes Kuvera the grandson, not the son, of Pulastya. In the Krita Yuga the pious Pulastya, being teased with the singing and dancing of different damsels, proclaimed that any one of them whom he saw near his hermitage should become a mother. This threat had not been heard by the daughter of Trinavindu, who came near the hermitage, and incurred Pulastya's threatened punishment. Her father, on learning her condition, gave her as wife to Pulastya, and she bore him a son named Visravas; who, becoming a sage, married a daughter of the Muni Bharadvaja, whose son Brahma, named Vaisravana (Kuvera). He performed austerities for thousands of years, and received as a boon from Brahma that he should be the