Mongoose

Mongooses are renowned for attacking highly venomous snakes like the cobra. The mongoose is able to kill these type of snakes by a systematic series of attacks that enable it to eventually crush the snakes skull. Mongooses are also known to crack eggs and other shelled animals by repeatedly smashing it against solid objects such as rock.

Buddhist Sanskrit texts offer explanation for the mongoose’s association with wealth.  It was said that wealthy people in ancient India carried a purse made of mongoose’s hide and  that when they gambled they often shook the purse.  The mongoose or mongoose’s hide then regurgitated gold coins and other precious things from its mouth.

This seems to be the reason why in Dzambhala’s iconography the mongoose is always shown vomiting jewels.  The mongoose that Dzambhala holds does not represent the actual creature but acts as a metaphor for his generosity.

One could place a jewel regurgitating mongoose in the wealth corner to activate the chi of wealth & abundance.