New Delhi: Every year the festival of Dhanteras falls in the month of Kartik, this year it is on 6th November. Kuber, the god of wealth, is worshiped on this day. Kuber is said to be the owner of the treasury of the gods. But one thing very few people know is that Kuber's vehicle is a human being, whereas the vehicle of other gods is an animal or bird.
Reason for Kuber's vehicle in the scriptures
According to Padma Purana and Linga Purana, Lord Kuber is considered the lord of wealth and opulence and his vehicle is male. The biggest reason for this is that it is humans who make the most actual use of money. No matter how powerful the gods and demons are, the importance and control of money is most important in human life. It is man who earns money on earth, accumulates it and spends it as per his needs, hence man is considered to be the vehicle of Kubera.
Life message of running after money
There is also another deep life message behind this. A person spends his entire life in earning money, raising a family and then becoming ambitious, starts running for more money. His needs and desires keep increasing. Many times this hunger for money makes a person its slave. The male vehicle of Lord Kuber indicates that the one who runs more after wealth will ultimately become a slave of wealth. If you don't control your need for money, money will control you. Therefore, it is not only important to earn and add money, but it is equally important to control its use and need.
Folk tale: Selection of vehicle by Shiva
There is also a story related to this in folk tradition. It is said that when Lord Shiva made Kuber the king of Yakshas and the lord of wealth, he thought about his vehicle. Then it was decided that it is humans who use wealth the most on earth, hence man was considered to be the most suitable vehicle for Kubera.