In Hindu mythology, the reason chameleons can change their color is rooted in an ancient and divine event that took place during the great Maheshwara Yajna performed by King Marutta of Ushirabi. This sacred ritual was attended by numerous deities, including Indra, Yama, Varuna, and Kubera.
During the ceremony, an unexpected visitor arrived — Ravana, the powerful king of Lanka, who had been granted near-invincibility by Brahma, the creator god. The sudden appearance of Ravana caused great alarm among the gods, compelling them to disguise themselves to avoid confrontation.
To escape his attention, each god transformed into a different animal or bird:
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Indra became a peacock,
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Yama turned into a crow,
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Varuna took the form of a swan,
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and Kubera — the god of wealth — chose to become a chameleon.
These transformations were not mere acts of camouflage, but strategic efforts to remain unnoticed and protect themselves from Ravana’s formidable power. The plan worked — Ravana, unaware of the divine presence, eventually left the scene.
In gratitude for the animals whose forms they had borrowed, each god offered a divine blessing. Kubera, in his chameleon form, bestowed upon the creature a unique and lasting gift — the ability to change its color at will.
This sacred blessing ensured that the chameleon would forever possess this extraordinary ability, allowing it to blend with its surroundings and shield itself from danger.
Thus, according to Hindu tradition, the chameleon’s color-changing ability is not merely a biological trait, but a divine gift — a sacred symbol of adaptability and survival, granted in recognition of its role in protecting the gods during a time of great peril.
