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The mongoose or "treasure mongoose" (Skt. nakula), Tib. ne'u-le), which
disgorges a shower of jewels from its open mouth, is a main left hand
attribute of wealth deities such as Jambhala, Vaishravana or Kubera.
It is also held in the left hand of the Arhat Bakula, who strokes and
squeezes it with his right hand as it vomits a stream of jewels.
The symbol of a jewel-raining or jewel-spitting mongoose, which produces
treasures when squeezed against a deity's left side, has its origin in
the old central Asian custom of using a mongoose's skin as a purse or
treasure bag, from which coins, precious stones or cowry shells could be
expelled through the creature's mouth. The mongoose is also a
traditional enemy of
nagas or
snakes, which are the guardians of
treasures and wealth. As a hand held attribute the mongoose
symbolizes generosity, the granting of desires, treasures and
accomplishments (Skt. siddhi). |
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