Manimantha Humbled

Once upon a time, the gods planned to perform Satrayagam (a type of yaga) on the banks of a river called Kusavathi. They invited all the Dikpalakas (rulers of the eight directions).

Kubera, who rules the north direction left along with his relatives and a close friend named Manimantha, in his Pushpak Vimana. The Vimana was going over the river Kusavathi when Manimantha spat out his spittle. The spittle fell on sage Agastya, who was at that time performing Surya Namaskars on the bank of the river.

Kubera saw that and stopped the Vimana and came to the sage and fell at his feet and requested him to forgive his friend. Sage Agastya however was not mollified and cursed Manimantha, an Yaksha (demi-god) to meet his end at the hands of a human being. Manimantha also fell at the feet of the sage and requested him to forgive his mistake. The sage was pacified but said to the Yaksha, “Manimantha! One has to reap the fruits of one’s actions, whether they are performed knowingly or unknowingly. Thus you have to meet your punishment. Bhima will come to the Yaksha Sarovar for collecting the Saugandhika Flower and at that time a fierce war will take place and you will meet your end at his hand. However, you will regain your life later when Kubera pacifies Bhima.”