One of the first written references to the island is found in the Indian epic Ramayana, which provides details of a kingdom named Lanka that had been created by the divine sculptor Vishwakarma, for Kubera, the lord of wealth.

It is said that Kubera was overthrown by his demon stepbrother Ravana, the powerful Emperor who built a mythical flying machine named Dandu Monara.

Kubera (, Pali / later Sanskrit: Kuvera ) also spelt Kuber, is the Lord of wealth and the god-king of the semi-divine Yakshas in Hindu mythology.

Kubera is often depicted as a fat man, adorned with jewels and carrying a money-pot or money-bag, and a club.

In Buddhism, he is known as Vaisravana, the patronymic used of the Hindu Kubera and is also equated with Pañcika, while in Jainism, he is known as Sarvanubhuti.

Kubera is often depicted as a dwarf, with fair complexion and a big belly.

In the Vishnudharmottara Purana, Kubera is described as the embodiment of both Artha (" wealth, prosperity, glory ") and Arthashastras, the treatises related to it — and his iconography mirrors it.

His wife Riddhi, representing the journey of life, is seated on his left lap, with her left hand on the back of Kubera and the right holding a ratna-patra ( jewel-pot ).

In some sources, especially in Jain depictions, Kubera is depicted as a drunkard, signified by the " nectar vessel " in his hand.

As the son of Vishrava (" Fame "), Kubera is called Vaisravana ( in the Pali language, Vessavana ) and as the son of Ilavila, Ailavila.

Kubera usually is drawn by spirits or men ( nara ), so is called Nara-vahana, one whose vahana ( mount ) is nara.

Kubera is also called Guhyadhipa (" Lord of the hidden ").

In the Atharvaveda — where he first appears — and the Shatapatha Brahmana, Kubera is the chief of evil spirits or spirits of darkness, and son of Vaishravana.

In the epic Mahabharata, Kubera is described as the son of Prajapati Pulastya and his wife Idavida and the brother of sage Vishrava.

Kubera is described as born from a cow.

By this time, though still described as an asura ( demon ), Kubera is offered prayers at the end of all ritual sacrifices.

His titles, such as " best of kings " and " Lord of kings " ( Harivamsa indicate that Kubera is made " Lord of kings "), in contrast to the god-king of heaven, Indra, whose title of " best of gods " led to the later belief that Kubera was a man.

Kubera, the Lord of the North and wealth, carrying a mace and with a lion, is second from right

Kubera's status as a Loka-pala and a dik-pala is assured in the Ramayana, but in the Mahabharata, some lists do not include Kubera.

Kubera is worshipped with Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth during Diwali, which is primarily dedicated to her – usually on the Dhanteras day.

Jambhala, the Buddhist Kubera, depicted similar to Kubera

Some gods are associated with specific elements or functions: Indra ( the king of gods, the god of thunder and lightning ; he also rules the world of Swarga ), Varuna ( the god of the oceans ), Agni ( the god of fire ), Kubera ( the treasurer of the gods ), Surya ( the sun god ), Vayu ( the god of wind ), and Soma ( the moon god ).

Thus Indra, the chief of the devas, was regarded as the regent of the east ; Agni, the fire, was in the same way associated with the southeast ; Yama, lord of death and justice with the south ; Surya, the sun, with the southwest ; Varuna, originally the representative of the all-embracing heaven ( atmosphere ), now the god of the ocean, with the west ; Vayu ( or Pavana ), the wind, with the northwest ; Kubera, the god of wealth, with the north ; and Soma with the northeast.

Kubera had generously shared all that he owned with Ravana and the latter's siblings, who were Kubera's half-brothers and half-sister through his stepmother Kaikesi.

A bronze Matrika goddess group along with Ganesha ( left ) and Kubera ( right ) currently at the British Museum.

The Agni Purana states that Kubera should be installed in temples as seated on a goat, and with a club in his hand.

Once, Kubera looked at Shiva and his wife Parvati with jealousy, so he lost one of his eyes.

Brahma also conferred upon Kubera the riches of the world ( Nidhis ), " equality with gods ", and the Pushpaka Vimana, a flying chariot.

Kubera then ruled in the golden city of Lanka, identified with modern-day Sri Lanka.

The Mahabharata says that Brahma conferred upon Kubera the lordship of wealth, friendship with Shiva, godhood, status as a world-protector, a son called Nalakubera / Nalakubara, the Pushpaka Vimana and the lordship of the Nairrata demons.

The Rakshasas also serve Kubera, however, some cannibalistic Rakshasas are described to have sided with Ravana in the battle against Kubera.

Kubera also credited money to the god Venkateshwara ( a form of the god Vishnu ) for his marriage with Padmavati.

Kubera has also been assimilated into the Buddhist and Jain pantheons.

Kubera is a popular figure in Buddhist as well as Jain mythology.

The Buddhist Vaisravana, like the Hindu Kubera, is the reagent of the North, a Loka-pala and the Lord of Yakshas.

In Buddhist legends, Kubera is also equated with Pañcika, whose wife Hariti is the symbol of abundance.

He is related to the Buddhist Jambhala rather than the Hindu Kubera.

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.

In addition, Nalakubar ’ s father Kubera was eventually absorbed into the Buddhist pantheon as the Heavenly King Vaisravana.

The iconography of Kubera and Pancika is so similar that in certain cases, A. Getty comments, it is extremely difficult to distinguish between Pancika and Kubera.

* King Kubera rules Bhattiprolu in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

Kaikesi searched among the sages and finally chose Vishrava, the father of Kubera.

Ravana later conquered Sri Lanka from his half brother Kubera and became the King of Lanka.

Vishrava, their father, advised Kubera to give it up to him, as Ravana was now undefeatable.

Kubera at one point chastised Ravana for his cruelty and greed, greatly angering him.

Other Devas like Kubera, Yama, Varuna and Indra followed suit and blessed each of their potent weapons to Arjuna.

Originally described as the chief of evil spirits in Vedic-era texts, Kubera acquired the status of a Deva ( god ) only in the Puranas and the Hindu epics.

The scriptures describe that Kubera once ruled Lanka, but was overthrown by his demon stepbrother Ravana, later settling in the city of Alaka in the Himalayas.

Kubera holds a mace, a pomegranate or a money bag in his hand.

The exact origins of the name Kubera are unknown.

" Kubera " or " Kuvera " ( क ु व े र ) as spelt in later Sanskrit, means " deformed or monstrous " or " ill-shaped one "; indicating his deformities.