Chameleon

A being which has the ability to change the color of its skin. It is believed to have got this as a blessing from Kuber.

The king Marutta was once conducting a Maheshwarasatra in the forest. Indra and the other devas came to the hermitage to receive the offerings. This was the time that Ravana had begun his campaign. On hearing that the devas were present at the hermitage, Ravana reached there with his forces. Indra and the other devas immediately took the form of animals and birds in order to escape. Indra became a peacock, Yama became a crow, Kuber became a chameleon and Varuna became a swan. Ravana and his forces left when they couldn’t find the devas. The devas blessed all the animals whose forms they had taken. Indra gave the peacock’s feathers multiple colours, and made its eyes beautiful. He also blessed that they would be free of illnesses and when it rained, they’d be able to do a beautiful dance. Yama blessed that the crows would now receive the offerings that humans made for their forefathers. Varuna blessed that the swans, who had a black and white plumage, would now be purely white. Kuber blessed that chameleons would be able to change their colours whenever they desired and that their cheeks would appear golden. The devas then left the hermitage as per Uttararamayana.