ॐ सुखनिधये नमः।
Om Sukhanidhaye Namah
The God of Happiness and Money
Lord Shiva with his wife Goddess Parvati and his sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya lived happily on top of the snowy peaks of Mount Kailash. Lord Shiva spent most of his time in deep meditation. The Goddess too was busy with helping all the devas and humans who prayed to her for her blessings or asked for favours. Ganesha and Kartikeya cheerfully spent their time playing on the icy slopes and amidst the mighty trees of the splendid mountain forests.
There was a very important God called Kubera. He was the richest of all the Gods. He had so much wealth that he had to find new and unique places to store and hoard his wealth. He lived in a golden palace. His throne was made of gleaming gold adorned with rubies, emeralds, diamonds and other precious stones. He ate only from golden plates and only the very freshest and finest foods were laid at his table. In fact Kubera was so rich that he was nominated as the God of Wealth. But Kubera having accumulated so much gold, silver, precious gems and the many riches of the universe started to get very proud.
Knowing that his fortune was far greater than that of any of the other gods, He began to feel that his riches made him better than all the other gods. Worse still he would show off his wealth to everyone. Whenever he met another deity he would touch his forehead to draw attention to the crown on his head and boast, “This crown I wear is so heavy. After all it is made of gold and is studded with hundred’s of precious stones.”
Blowing his own trumpet he would loudly declare to anyone who was listening, “Do you know that those who come to my court are blinded by my gold and jewel studded throne and sceptre?”
Kubera would strut around in his gold embroidered robes wearing heavy ornate pieces of jewellery around his neck. He wore several gold and silver bracelets and rings on each of his fingers that were made of the most rare and sparkling jewels. Even his ankles were adorned with heavy gold anklets and his slippers were delicately crafted from gold silk. Kubera would often parade around in his finery showing-off to all the other Gods in the Universe.
He would invite the Gods and celestial beings to his palace not because he enjoyed their company or because he wished to entertain them but only to display his wealth. He would take them around the palatial residence, pointing out all the valuables he had collected. At the meal he would not fail to point out the magnificent setting and the mile long table laid with only the very best of foods.
Kubera never missed an opportunity to draw attention to the fact that he had the most wealth and was the richest of all the Gods. He was so vain that he began to believe that as he had the most riches he was also the most powerful of all the Gods.
Kubera had become so conceited and arrogant that he began to feel that it was high time that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati too acknowledge his greatness and his enormous wealth.
He decided that the best way to impress Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati was to invite them to his palace. He would show them around his magnificent royal residence and they would undoubtedly be overawed by what they saw. He thought to himself, “I am the God of Wealth and everyone looks up to me. Shiva and Parvathi too must be shown my true worth.”
Before extending his invitation to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Kubera decided to have his palace specially decorated with even more gold, jewels and precious gems. He made sure that everything in the palace was glittering, gleaming and full of sparkle. Thereafter he planned a grand banquet with every imaginable delicacy on the menu. He invited all the Gods of the heavens and all the important sages and seers. There were to be hundreds of guests to partake of the lavish meal. After all Kubera wanted every one to be present when Shiva and Parvathi expressed their admiration for him.
Kubera’s only purpose in extending an invitation to the Lord and goddess was to make them aware of his substantial wealth. He felt that when they saw the extent of his riches they would certainly be bedazzled. This in turn would put all the other deities to shame. Excited about his plan and puffed up with pride Kubera headed off for Mount Kailash.
As he neared Lord Shiva’s abode he cunningly decided to put on a reverential attitude. He entered with his head bowed and hands folded. There he found Lord Shiva in meditation and Goddess Parvathy beside him. Kubera quietly waited till Lord Shiva, completed his meditation. He did not wish to disturb the lord for fear that he might anger the great Shiva. That would be dreadful.
When Lord Shiva opened his eyes he saw Kubera who quickly prostrated before the Lord.
Lord Shiva said, “Kubera what brings you here?”
Kubera pretending to be very respectful and meek said in a low voice, “Oh Lord I have come here with the humble request that you and the Goddess Parvathy visit my simple home and partake of a meal with me and some of my guests.”
Though Kubera referred to his golden palace as a “simple home” he knew it was anything but simple. Nor was his invitation sincere. Kubera’s only intention was to show off his wealth to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.
In his arrogance Kubera had completely forgotten that Lord Shiva is all knowing. The Lord knew that Kubera was merely pretending to be humble. Shiva knew that the boastful Kubera had invited him to the banquet only to make himself feel even more important. Lord Shiva also knew that Kubera thought he could impress Lord Shiva with his wealth. Lord Shiva decided that the conceited Kubera should be taught a lesson
After a moment’s deliberation, Lord Shiva said to Kuber, “We thank you for your invitation Kubera. Unfortunately I and my wife are unable to attend. However, as you have made this long journey all the way to Kailash to invite us I cannot disappoint you so I will send my dear son Ganesha to attend as our representative.”
Goddesses Parvathy smiled knowing exactly what Lord Shiva intended and said to Kubera, “Yes we will be happy to send Ganesha but I must tell you that my son loves food and he will certainly eat a lot. Are you prepared to receive him?”
Folding his hands Kubera faced the goddess and in a soft voice he answered, “It makes me sad that I cannot welcome you and serve you at my home but I would be more than grateful if your son Ganesha would accept my invitation. I am so happy to hear that he has a hearty appetite. I will ensure that all the delicacies that he enjoys are served. I am certain that he will be more than pleasantly surprised with my offering.”
Though a little disappointed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were unable to attend, Kubera thought to himself, “It doesn’t really matter to me who comes. After all once Ganesha has visited my palace, I am sure, he will be so amazed by its grandeur that he will recount every minute of his experience to his parents. So Shiva and Parvathy will both get to know of my enormous riches and the splendour of my palace.”
Lord Shiva then called Ganesha and said, “Son, Kubera has kindly extended to us an invitation to lunch at his home. As we are unable to attend we wish that you go in our stead. He tells us that he will have a lavish spread laid out just for you”
Young Ganesha who was most delighted at the prospect of indulging in innumerable, delicious foods, very happily agreed to attend the luncheon.
Once again, prostrating before Lord Shiva, Kubera said, “Thank you Lord for sending Ganesha. I will spare no efforts in welcoming your son. I am very grateful for this opportunity to extend my hospitality to him.”
However, in his mind Kubera was thinking- “I will obviously be able to impress this young boy with the glitter and glamour of my palace but he will not be able to truly discern the real value of all the precious pieces I own. My banquet will be the best imaginable but how can a child appreciate the fine delicacies that I will be serving?”
Kubera left Mount Kailash a little disappointed but determined to make a lasting impression on Lord Shiva’s son, Ganesha.
On the day of the grand banquet the guests started arriving one by one. Kubera welcomed them and made sure they were seated comfortably. It was not long before little Ganesha arrived too. Ganesha, though young, was wise and very observant. He watched Kubera strut around showing-off his wealth. Ganesha observed how Kubera made his guests feel they were less than him because they did not have as many possessions, gold, ornaments and jewels as he did. When they sat at the meal Kubera, as each course was brought in, would announce the expensive and rare ingredients used. Often adding, “this supremely delicious dish is only served at my palace.”
Ganesha was growing increasingly irritated with Kubera’s behaviour. He decided that he would put the haughty, arrogant Kubera in his place. Ganesha resolved to burst Kubera’s inflated ego. This is exactly what Lord Shiva had expected when he had offered to send Ganesha to Kubera’s palace.
There was an unmistakable twinkle in Ganesha’s eyes as he set about his plan in his own inimitable style. Kubera had set an elaborate banquet. Food tables were laid out from end to end in each room of his massive palace. Ganesha started purposefully walking from one room to the next. He then proceeded to devour each every item on the long tables. In just moments Ganesha polished off dish after dish. Kubera immediately ordered his staff to replenish the plates that were emptied. But, to his astonishment, within seconds of them being refilled Ganesha had consumed the food. The staff raced between the kitchen and the dining tables. The cooks worked at a frantic pace cutting, chopping, cooking and frying. The faster the staff worked the faster Ganesha ate. Kubera couldn’t believe his eyes.
There was a merry gleam in Ganesha’s eyes as he watched Kubera get more and more anxious and worried. Kubera’s guests too were finding humour in the situation. They began to whisper among themselves. All the guests were glad that finally Kubera was being taught a lesson that he truly deserved. Many of them tried to hide their smiles as they watched the staff scurry up and down. Kubera was so tense and stressed that he began pacing up and down, wondering what he could do to save face. He was getting so flustered that he took his crown off and wiped the sweat off his brow. He was a worried man.
Ganesha in the mean time, quite oblivious of all the chaos he was creating in Kubera’s palace, continued to eat and eat and eat. Obviously, it was not long before he had eaten all that there was to eat.
Now there was no food left to cook. The cooks revealed that there was not a grain left in the palace nor any food left in the universe for them to cook! Every morsel of food had been served and eaten. Ganesh who had been served first had eaten so much that there was no food left for any of the guests whom Kubera had invited. Shamefaced he requested them to leave and go home. He told them that unfortunately there was no food to be served. The feast was a huge flop.
Ganesha even after eating up all the food was still hungry. He went from room to room checking all the tables but they were all empty. So now he set about eating the golden plates and bowls. Kuber was absolutely flabbergasted. “What next?” he thought to himself, “When will this end?”
Ganesh after chopping away at all the plates and dishes began to look around for other tasty morsels. Looking around the palace he saw gems and jewels everywhere so with his trunk he pulled them out one-by-one and stuffed them into his mouth. Every precious piece in Kubera palace was being gobbled up by the ravenous Ganesha. Kubera’s eyes widened, his mouth agape he stared at Ganesha as he polished off everything in the palace with the greatest of ease.
Now there was nothing left for the famished Ganesha to eat except his host - Kubera! Ganesha thought to himself, “This should be fun. Let’s see what this braggart will do now.” With this thought in mind Ganesha slowly and purposefully walked towards Kubera.
Holding back his laughter Ganesha kept moving steadily forward. The once mighty Kubera was shaking like jelly. Seeing Ganesha move towards him, Kubera fearing for his life turned and began to run. He ran and ran and ran as fast as he could all the way to Mt. Kailash. Puffing and panting he fell at the feet of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Lord Shiva in a most concerned voice asked Kubera, “Kubera what brings you here? Why are you looking so terrified? Did our son not enjoy your meal?”
Still gasping for breath Kubera answered, “Oh Lord it seems that Ganesha has enjoyed the meal so much that he has eaten all we served and also most of my home too. Despite this I have failed to appease his hunger. I fear he might want to eat me next. Please, please help me Lord.”
Lord Shiva laughed and said, “Kubera, do you know why my son is still hungry? All that you served him you served with the purpose of showing-off. You had no genuine concern for him or for serving him. You merely wanted him to admire your wealth and your lavish feast.”
Kubera knowing this to be true, once again, fell at Lord Shiva’s feet. Shivering with fear and with tears in his eyes he begged, “Lord, please forgive me. I have been proud and boastful. I have made others around me feel they were less than me. I have been arrogant and unkind. I know now that you sent Ganesha to teach me a lesson. I am truly sorry for all that I have done. Please tell me what will satisfy Ganesha’s hunger. I had thought my wealth was enough to satisfy all my needs but Ganesha has taught me how worthless my wealth really is. Please save me Lord.”
Lord Shiva smiled and said, “Now that you are repentant let me explain to you that wealth is meaningless unless you use it wisely. Your wealth could never quench Ganesha’s thirst nor satisfy his hunger. It would have been enough if you had offered him love.”
Lord Shiva then handed over to Kubera a small bowl of puffed rice and said, “Give this to Ganesha. It is made by his mother. It will more than satisfy his hunger.”
Kubera looked at the small bowl and the very ordinary offering. Some doubts did cross his mind as to whether this tiny bowl of rice would be sufficient for the ravenous Ganesha. After all Kubera had seen Ganesha consume food, gold, ornaments and even dishes and still remain hungry. But all Kubera’s pride had left him. In genuine humility he accepted Lord Shiva word and carried the bowl of rice back with him to Ganesha.
As he neared his palace he once agin began to shiver with fear. Very nervously, Kubera entered his palace to face the still hungry Ganesha. He bent down before Ganesha and offered him the bowl of rice.
A smile appeared on Ganesha face as he saw the bowl and its contents. Slowly and with enormous relish Ganesha ate the puffed rice, enjoying each morsel. Once the bowl was empty Ganesha beamed with happiness at having eaten a truly tasty meal. Ganesha was no longer hungry.
Ganesha turned to Kubera and said, “This small, simple dish from my mother, given and prepared with love, was all that I needed to satisfy my hunger. You came to me with greed and pride which is why nothing you offered could satisfy me.”
Kubera fell at Ganesha’s feet and said, “Forgive me. I have been selfish and greedy, hoarding my wealth and showing it off to everyone. I never gave anything to anyone and I was filled with pride. You have taught me that no amount of wealth can bring satisfaction. In future I will share my wealth and never be so boastful and proud of my possessions.”
Ganesha blessed him. Then the little Ganesha lay down and went to sleep. After all he had had a hearty meal.
LESSON
We should never be proud, vain and boastful like Kubera.
When we share we bring happiness to ourselves and others.
When we offer a gift we must offer it with love.
The most expensive gifts are not necessarily the ones most cherished by the receiver. Ganesha was not satisfied even with the most lavish banquet.
Kubera has taught us that we must treat everyone with respect and not look down on those who have less than us.
Remember always that God only expects you to love Him, nothing else matters.
Amazing storytelling ! Loved the detailed description!!