Kubera is the god of wealth as per Hindu mythology. He is a semi-divine being, a Yaksha, and also a god-king. He is a Dik-pala or the regent of the North, as well as a Lokapala or protector of the world. In this form, he rides an elephant.
 
As the overlord of many semi-divine beings and the owner of the world’s treasures, including minerals and jewels found underground and the riches owned by human beings, Kubera is not a deity to be ignored.

According to early Vedic texts, he was the chief of evil spirits. But in the Puranas and Hindu epics, he is a Deva. Though he ruled Lanka, his half-brother Ravana overthrew him. Later, he settled down in Alaka, a city in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. His many virtues are praised in many scriptures that also speak highly of his glorious city. Other scriptures claim that he now lives in a beautiful mountain near Shiva’s abode, Kailasa.
 
The Puranas and the Mahabharata say that Kubera married Bhadra or Kauberi, a Yakshi who was the daughter of Mura, a demon. They had a daughter called Meenakshi, and three sons, Nalakubara, Manigriva (or Varna-Kavi). His wife, Riddhi, is described as the embodiment of prosperity.
 
Kubera also features in Buddhism and Jainism. He is Vaisravana and Jambhala in the former and is associated with Panchika. In Buddhist sculptures, he is often seen with a mongoose. The mongoose is seen as a symbol of Kubera’s victory over the Nagas, who are the guardians of treasures in Tibet.
 
In Jainism, he is Sarvanubhuti, meaning ‘One who has experienced it all’.

Kubera is often depicted as a plump, dwarfish man with a large paunch. His complexion resembles lotus leaves, and he wears many jewels. He also carries a money bag (symbolizing wealth) or a pomegranate and a club. His left eye is yellow in color, and he also wears armor and a long necklace, which reaches right down to his stomach. Sometimes, he is shown riding on a man.

Kubera attained the status of a God from the time of the Puranas and the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Around this time, he began to be seen the Lord of Riches, a Dik-pala, and Lokapala. The Ramayana says that Brahma gave him this exalted status as a reward for his rigorous penance and austerities. Brahma also gave him all the riches of the world, equal status with the Gods, and also the Pushpaka Vimana (a flying chariot). After acquiring them, Kubera returned to Lanka and ruled the Kingdom.
 
Kubera is also the guardian deity of travelers and one who gives wealth to his devotees. Sometimes, he is called Lord Kameshwara and, at weddings, is invoked along with Shiva. 

As Kubera and Goddess Lakshmi are both associated with wealth, it is not unusual to find them both in the same temple. 

This Lakshmi Kuberar temple is in Rathinamangalam village, near Chennai. 

It was the Raja Lakshmi Kubera Trust which built this temple. It occupies 4,000 sq ft. Devotees visit the temple during the weekends, seeking the blessings of both Lakshmi and Kubera.

There is another Lakshmi Kuberar temple near Pillayarpatti in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu.

Major Festivals: The major festivals celebrated here are Deepavali, Akshaya Tritiya, and Vaikunta Ekadasi.

Temple Timings: One can visit the temple between 5:30 am and 12:00 pm. The temple reopens for Darshan again in the evenings at 4:00 pm. It closes at 8:00 pm.

Interesting Features: There is a pond with some special/Vastu fish in this temple. These Vastu fish supposedly bring good luck. The Pooja items here are currency notes and coins. Currency notes are used for adorning the main deity and the main shrine.

The Deities at the temple

There are many shrines here. Lord Kubera and his wife are in the main shrine. Inside the shrine, we can see Mahalakshmi blessing Kubera, who holds two pots, one in each hand. One pot is the Sanganidhi, and the other is the Padmanidhi. These are two types of wealth.

One can find a shrine at a lower level, and devotees need to bend down to touch it. This is Pathala Kubera or Kubera Lingam. The Kan Drishti Ganapathy shrine here provides protection against the evil eye.

Swarnakarshana Bhairava has a shrine too. Bhairava is a form of Shiva and also the guardian deity of Shiva temples. Here, he is a deity who helps one to attract gold (wealth). Deities like Ayyappa, Hanuman, Murugan, and the Navagrahas also have shrines in this temple. Another unique feature of this Lakshmi Kuberar Temple is the shrine for Brahma and Saraswati. An idol of Shankaracharya is found above the pond with the Vastu Fish. An idol of the Laughing Buddha who bestows good luck is present, too.

Kubera once went to Kailasa. There, he unwittingly insulted Parvati Devi. She cursed him to lose one eye, but later she restored it, but it became smaller than the other one. 

It was Lord Shiva who appointed Kubera as the guardian of the Northern direction. Goddess Mahalakshmi made him the custodian of wealth and food grains. When Kubera flew on his Pushpaka Vimana, he would rain down jewels and gold coins.

How to Reach:

It is rather easy to reach this temple from Chennai, as there are many bus services. Or you can take a train to Vandalur railway station and then get a bus or auto-rickshaw to the temple.