Kubera Red sandstone India, Madhya Pradesh

Kubera is seated in royal ease (rajalilasana) on a molded rectangular pedestal decorated with half a lotus flower, holding a drinking cup in his right hand and his left hand, now missing, would probably have held a treasure sack. He wears a diaphanous, pleated dhoti secured with a twisted belt, and jewelry including large circular earrings of two different designs, a collar consisting of a band with granulation on either side culminating in a lotus bud pendant and a diadem around his head. His hair is gathered into a ribbed coiffure secured with a twisted fillet. Behind his head is a rayed nimbus and on the throne back is engraved a rudementary rayed arch with a small attendant figure at his left shoulder.

Nasli M. Heeramaneck
Pan-Asian Collection, acquired1972

Formerly on loan to the Denver Art Museum.

Kubera is primarily the God of Wealth but he is also one of the Four Great Kings (maharajas) as well as one of the Eight Guardians (lokapalas) and in this latter role he is associated with the North. He is also identified with Vaisravana, Pancika and Jambhala and has a further role as leader of the yakshas, nature spirits derived from Pre-Aryan tradition who were believed to have power over wealth, fertility and illness. An association with Baccanalian imagery could explain the Gupta iconographic convention depicting him holding a cup, probably for wine, while the large potbelly is indicative of prosperity.

Compare with an example from Uttar Pradesh, 6th century published P. Pal (ed.); Asian Art; Selectons from the Norton Simon Museum, Pasedena, 1988, p. 25, fig. 6.