The name is a derivative of the Sanskritproper name from the root "hear distinctly", "become famous". The name is derived from the Sanskrit ' which means "son of Vishrava", a usual epithet of the Hindu godKubera. is also known as Kubera and Jambhala in Sanskrit and Kuvera in Pāli. Other names include:
. This was a loanword from into Middle Chinese with the addition of the word "heaven, god"
, THL Namthöse, "Prince All-Hearing", a calque of Sanskrit
Баян Намсрай bajn namsrɛ is a loan from Tibetan thos sras, a short form of Tibetan rnam thos sras with the addition of an honorific
ท้าวกุเวร Thao Kuwen or ท้าวเวสสุวรรณ Thao Wetsuwan is an honorific plus the modern pronunciation of PaliVessavaṇa.
Characteristics
The character of is founded upon the Hindu deity Kubera, but although the Buddhist and Hindu deities share some characteristics and epithets, each of them has different functions and associated myths. Although brought into East Asia as a Buddhist deity, has become a character in folk religion and has acquired an identity that is partially independent of the Buddhist tradition. is the guardian of the northern direction, and his home is in the northern quadrant of the topmost tier of the lower half of Sumeru. He is the leader of all the yaksha| who dwell on the Sumeru's slopes. He is often portrayed with a yellow face. He carries an umbrella or parasol as a symbol of his sovereignty. He is also sometimes displayed with a mongoose, often shown ejecting jewels from its mouth. The mongoose is the enemy of the snake, a symbol of greed or hatred; the ejection of jewels represents generosity.
In Theravāda tradition
In the Pāli Canon of Theravāda Buddhism, is called. is one of the Cāturmahārājika deva or "Four Great Heavenly Kings", each of whom rules over a specific direction. 's realm is the northern quadrant of the world, including the land of Uttarakuru. According to some suttas, he takes his name from a region there called ; he also has a city there called Ālakamandā which is a byword for wealth. governs the yakshas – beings with a nature between 'fairy' and 'ogre'. 's wife is named Bhuñjatī, and he has five daughters, Latā, Sajjā, Pavarā, Acchimatī, and Sutā. He has a nephew called, a yakkha, husband of the nāga woman Irandatī. He has a chariot called Nārīvāhana. He is called gadāvudha "armed with a club", but he only used it before he became a follower of the Buddha. has the name "Kuvera" from a name he had from a past life as a rich Brahmin mill-owner from Sri Lanka, who gave all the produce of one of his seven mills to charity, and provided alms to the needy for 20,000 years. He was reborn in the Cātummahārājikā heaven as a result of this good karma. As with all the Buddhist deities, is properly the name of an office rather than a permanent individual. Each is mortal, and when he dies, he will be replaced by a new. Like other beings of the Cātummahārājika world, his lifespan is 90,000 years. has the authority to grant the yakkhas particular areas to protect, and these are usually assigned at the beginning of a 's reign. When Gautama Buddha was born, became his follower, and eventually attained the stage of sotāpanna, one who has only seven more lives before enlightenment. He often brought the Buddha and his followers messages from the gods and other humans, and protected them. He presented to the Buddha the verses, which Buddhists meditating in the forest could use to ward off the attacks of wild yakkhas or other supernatural beings who do not have faith in the Buddha. These verses are an early form of paritta chanting. Bimbisāra, King ofMagadha, after his death was reborn as a yakkha called Janavasabha in the retinue of. In the early years of Buddhism, was worshipped at trees dedicated to him as shrines. Some people appealed to him to grant them children.
In Japan
In Japan, Bishamonten, or just Bishamon is thought of as an armor-clad god of war or warriors and a punisher of evildoers. Bishamon is portrayed holding a spear in one hand and a small pagoda in the other hand, the latter symbolizing the divine treasure house, whose contents he both guards and gives away. In Japanese folklore, he is one of the Seven Lucky Gods. Bishamon is also called Tamonten because he is seen as the guardian of the places where the Buddha preaches. He is believed to live halfway down Mount Sumeru. He is also associated with Hachiman. Especially in the Shingon tradition that gives some place and worth to this hybrid character of Bishamon although most Mahayana temples have Bishamon and his counterpart as guardians at the entrance gate.
In Tibet
In Tibet, is considered a lokapāla or dharmapāla in the retinue of Ratnasambhava. He is also known as the King of the North. As guardian of the north, he is often depicted on temple murals outside the main door. He is also thought of as a god of wealth. As such, is sometimes portrayed carrying a citron, the fruit of the jambhara tree, a pun on another name of his, Jambhala. The fruit helps distinguish him iconically from depictions of Kuvera. He is sometimes represented as corpulent and covered with jewels. When shown seated, his right foot is generally pendant and supported by a lotus-flower on which is a conch shell. His mount is a snow lion. Tibetan Buddhists consider Jambhala's sentiment regarding wealth to be providing freedom by way of bestowing prosperity, so that one may focus on the path or spirituality rather than on the materiality and temporality of that wealth.
