The God of Wealth Was… Ravan’s Brother?
The God of Wealth Was… Ravan’s Brother?
The ancient era of the cosmos witnessed a time when the legendary city of gold was not in the hands of the demon king, but belonged entirely to the god of wealth, Kubera. Born to the sage Vishrava and his first wife Ilavida, Kubera had undergone severe penance for countless years, eventually earning the favor of Lord Brahma. Impressed by his lack of greed and pure dedication, Brahma blessed him with dominion over all worldly treasures, naming him Dhanpati, and bestowed upon him the magnificent golden flying chariot known as the Pushpak Viman, along with the glorious coastal kingdom of Lanka. This radiant city had once belonged to the demon king Sumali, who had lost it following a great war with Lord Vishnu, leaving it abandoned and waiting for a rightful ruler until Kubera took its throne.
However, the ambitions of the displaced demon lineage were far from extinguished, as Sumali sought to reclaim his lost glory by orchestrating a union between his daughter Kaikasi and the sage Vishrava. Despite the inauspicious timing of their meeting, the union resulted in the birth of powerful children destined to change the course of the world: Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana, and Shurpanakha. As these siblings grew, Kaikasi instilled a deep sense of grievance in Ravana, constantly reminding him that his brother Kubera possessed the magnificent Lanka, the divine Pushpak Viman, and endless wealth, while they had nothing. This planted the seeds of a deep-seated ambition in Ravana’s mind, driving him and his brothers to perform rigorous penance to gain immense power from the gods.
When Brahma finally appeared to grant their wishes, Ravana asked to become indestructible by gods, demons, Yakshas, Gandharvas, and snakes, while Vibhishana wisely requested unwavering righteousness. Armed with his newfound invulnerability, Ravana soon set his sights on what he believed was his ancestral birthright, the golden city of Lanka. Encouraged by his maternal grandfather Sumali, Ravana marched a formidable demon army to the gates of Lanka to challenge his own elder brother. Kubera attempted to reason with him, warning that true authority is rooted in righteousness and action rather than raw force, but Ravana dismissed his words, declaring that the outcome would be decided solely by power on the battlefield.
The clash between the Yaksha and demon armies was fierce, but the overwhelming blessings of Brahma granted to Ravana tipped the scales decisively, eventually casting Kubera to the ground in defeat. Seizing the city, Ravana declared Lanka as his own, while a heartbroken and displaced Kubera sought the counsel of Lord Brahma regarding his future. Brahma explained that Ravana’s power was the harvest of his intense devotion and could not be checked just yet, directing Kubera instead to establish his new residence and capital in the majestic city of Alkapuri near Mount Kailash. Seeking solace, Kubera later met with Mahadev Shiva, who advised him not to deviate from his sacred duty of protecting his people, allowing the god of wealth to slowly rebuild his life and realm.
Yet Ravana’s insatiable hunger for conquest was far from satisfied, as his eyes remained fixed on the magnificent Pushpak Vimana that still belonged to his brother. Returning to Alkapuri to claim the divine aerial chariot by force, Ravana confronted Kubera once again, mocking his inability to protect his possessions and ruthlessly casting him out of the vehicle as it plummeted toward the earth. Assuming absolute control of the golden aircraft, Ravana ordered the Pushpak Viman to turn northward toward Mount Kailash, intoxicated by his own invincible pride and utterly unaware that his journey was about to intersect with a cosmic power that would render all his divine boons completely meaningless.
