Karunaphala

The Legend

Karunaphala

Karunaphala, the four-eared and five-eyed creature, is an auspicious deity of Lanna legend — believed to be the god Indra in disguise, descended to test the hearts of mortals. To those of mercy and faith he grants fortune, wealth, flourishing trade, and abundance. As the legend tells, the creature feeds on burning charcoal and excretes pure gold — a symbol of treasure that grows hand in hand with virtue. The four ears are the Four Brahmavihāras — loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity — to hear the world with dharma. The five eyes are the Five Precepts — to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxication — to see the world with virtue. So the devotee receives both wealth and the way: prosperity that arrives together with wisdom and goodness.