Storytelling Week 11: Kubera the gentle deity

One day the almighty god Brahman received the news that he was going to be a grandfather. The god was extremely happy to hear this. Months went by and his grandson finally arrived. His name was Kubera. Brahman gave him the power of wealth and the power of immortality. He also gave him a chariot that could take Kubera wherever he pleased.

As Brahman gave Kubera all these gifts a young boy named Dashagriva, from the heavens also wanted to have all that. He saw as Brahman gave Kubera all his powers and chariot all he was given was a powerful fire weapon. He wanted more than that. As a way of showing Brahman that he would give anything to have more power he cut off some of his fingers. Brahman was impressed. Dashagriva asked Brahman to be immortal from any other god like deities. Brahman granted him that wish.

Dashagriva was given what he wanted but that wasn’t enough. Kubera had become king of a city on earth called Lanka. Being the the guardian of wealth he had created a city that flourished in funds and resources. He got rid of all poverty in his city. Dashagriva had lived in a neighboring city and saw how Kubera gave everything to his people. The people in his city loved Kubera The people in the city of Dashagriva did not like the way he  ran the city. They expected much more from him since he was a god who came to live on earth. Dashagriva full in anger and jealousy set out to destroy Kubera.

Dashagriva arrived at the city of Lanka demanding that Kubera come out of his castle. Kubera heard the noise and came out to talk to Dashagriva. As Kubera opened the door to his castle Dashagriva had shot a series of fire balls, injuring Kubera. Kubera stood up in pain and shot a force of water out of his hands taking down Dashagriva. Dashgriva was very powerful that he just stood right back up. Kubera, being a peaceful deity, could not harm Dashagriva so he fled the scene.

Dashagriva was happy being the new king of Lanka but he did not know that Brahman was Kuberas grandson. Brahman created a human named Rama that later comes to earth to destroy Dashagriva who is now called Ravana.

Statue of Dashagriva: Wikipedia

Author’s note

                  My story this week is based on the comic book Kubera: The Lord of Wealth.  Kubera is the grandson of Brahma who is one of the most important gods in Indian epics.  This god gives Kubera control of wealth as well as a flying Pushpaka. Kubera is a gentle person but Dashagriva who was given the power of invincibility, unless taken out by a human, is obsessed with taking out Kubera. Dashagriva was given this power when he cut off all of his eight heads as a sacrifice. At first he wanted the power of immortality but was denied that power by Brahma. They have a major battle where Kubera uses a weapon of fire while Dashagriva uses a weapon of water. Kubera loses but he cannot be killed. Dashagriva takes control of Lanka and later in the story I find out that Dashagriva is actually Ravana. Which Rama then comes along and kills Dashagriva since he is human and gives Lanka to Ravana’s brother Vibhishana. Rama then travels back to Ayodhya in Kuberas chariot which was taken away from him by Dashagriva when he was defeated. Rama then arrives at Ayodhya and gives the chariot back to Kubera.