24 JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. Ill, 



Rdksho, or a distinguished member of a demoiiaic race. 

 As a deity in whose hands are the destinies of mankind, 

 he receives the appellation Siri-dd, " the promoter of 

 prosperity." Unlike other deities, who are represented 

 as being seated on brute-beasts, Kuvera is said to ride 

 on a human being, a circumstance by which he receives 

 the name of Ndrdyana. He is attended by Kinnaras, 

 the musicians of Heaven, and is thence called Kindurindu. 

 He is esteemed very powerful, and is thence called Raja- 

 raja, " the king of kings." Like the Roman Dis, of whom 

 it is said by Cicero, that he is so called, because " all the 

 natural powers and faculties of the earth are under his 

 direction," Kuvera is the Master of the inestimable treasures 

 of the earth, and more especially of the nine gems, (of 

 which we shall speak hereafter,) — and is therefore called 

 Ni indu ' chief of treasures.' 



Seialihini'Sandesaya. 



He is the Regent of the North, and is thence called 

 Uttiru-nd. Mount Kailasha is his abode jointly with 

 Sira, who is said to be Kuvera's friend— thence the 

 appellation Rudu-saha. But Alaka is his principal city, 

 which is therefore received by our bards as the centre of 

 all those regions which teem with wealth : 



Parawi Sandesaya 

 The nine Nidhi or ' treasures' are enumerated in the fol- 

 lowing stanza given in several Sanscrit works : — 



§^^4333^ *8(33G9© 6)£>GS3£> *8 5) ©as .fro© 



They are translated by Professor Wilson to be the " lotus,'' 

 <' large lotus," " shell" or " conch," " fish, 1 ' " tortoise," " crest," 



a mathematical figure used by the Jains," nida " colour" and 

 " dwarf." But, evidently gems are meant : and I may here 

 give Mr. Kindersley's translation of the passage, through the 



