Kuber is a well-known name in Hindu culture. Kuber is the god of money, but the irony is that today's man values wealth so much that he is utterly unaware of the god's life. According to a Purana tradition, a Brahmin named Yagyadatta had a son named Gunanidhi. His father kicked him out of the house when he began stealing as a youngster. Gunanidhi, who was hungry, began rushing away after taking fruits and sweets from the local Shiva temple, and his gaze was drawn to the temple lamp.
The lamp's wick was burned out, and it was about to go out. Gunanidhi tore off the corner of his shirt and used it to make a wick of a lamp. He then lit the lamp again and left the temple. On the way, he met a brahmin, who was the guard of the temple. Gunanidhi was killed in the fight. Gunanidhi had the good luck to be the last person to light the lamp in the temple. In his next life, he was born to a good king, who did a lot of good things. So, in his next life, he was born as the son of sage Vishrava, who was Lord Brahma's descendant. Kuber was his name.
Kubera was a sage because he came from the family of Vishrava. Kubera had only eight teeth when he was born. He looked fat, was short, and was weak on the inside. He was hurt many times in his life, but he never gave up and always got back up. Kubera was a good person, but he was also impatient. He used to get mad very fast. So, if he curses other people, they curse him back.
Even though he was weak in body and mind, Kubera pleased Lord Brahma and Shiva through strict penance and spiritual practice, and they gave him important names like "Dhaneshwar," "Lokpal," and "Yaksharaj." Few people know that Dhaneshwar Kuber and Lankadhipati Ravana were half-brothers.
Another interesting fact is that Kubera ruled over the Golden City of Lanka before Ravana. Then something bad happened, and the two brothers turned against each other. There was a long struggle between the two brothers for the right over Lanka, which also ended tragically. Kuber and his mother had to suffer for life because of many mistakes of father Vishwas and half-brother Ravana. The life of the God of Wealth is also not easy! Kubera is an important but neglected character of Puranic literature.
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