IN HONOUR OF LORD DHANVANTRI, THE PHYSICIAN OF THE GODS AND THE LORD OF MEDICINE

‘यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धन-धान्य अधिपतये

धन-धान्य समृद्धि मे देहि दापय स्वाहा।’

हमारे अंतस को परिमार्जित कर सुख-समृद्धि के योग्य बनाने वाले धन्वंतरि हमें धन एवं ऐश्वर्य की देवी लक्ष्मी और शुभ-लाभ ‘श्री’ के देव गणेशजी की आराधना को प्रेरित करते हैं...

This is the first day that is marked as the start of the most awaited festival of the year Dipoutsav’. Dhanteras or Dhanatrayodashi is dedicated to Dhanvantri: the god of Ayurveda. This day is also dedicated to god and goddess of wealth and prosperity Lakshmi, Kuber and Ganesh.

नमः समस्त भूतानामादिभूताय भूभृते।

अनेकरूपरूपाय विष्णवे प्रभविष्णवे

।।

Dhanteras falls on the 13th lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Ashwin the goddess of wealth Lakshmi,  god of wealth Kuber ,god of knowledge Ganesh  and  Dhanvantari the god who imparted the wisdom of Ayurveda  are worshiped on this day.

Kuber(God of wealth)Chalukya Dynasty Virupaksha Temple Pattadakal Bagalkot dist Karnataka

On Dhanteras ---lord Kuber from the walls of Prambanan temple in Java https://t.co/SCjouxnWuC in Indonesia java

👉"Dhanteras" has nothing to do with 'Dhan' or 'Wealth' as we generally believe.

👉Dhanvantari Trayodashi is observed two days before Deepawali (not Diwali) .

👉It is observed during Trayodashi Tithi of Krishna Paksha.

Dhanteras or Dhanvantri Trayodashi, is a very ancient festival celebrated in honour of Lord Dhanvantri, the physician of the gods and the lord of traditional medicine. 

An amsa-avatara of Lord Vishnu, he was born on Aswiyuja Bahula Trayodasi during the churning of the ocean.

During the Samudra Manthanam, in search of the nectar of immortality, or Amritam, the devas and asuras churned for years and years. Dhanvantri arose from this churning holding a Kamandalam and danda in his hands. (31/45, Bala Kanda, Valmiki Ramayana)

In the 29th chapter of Harivamsa we have another description of Dhanvantri.

Dhanvantri arose from the churning paying his obesance to lord Vishnu who was in his Kurma Avatara then. He was named Abja. He requested a Yagnabhaaga but was denied. But Vishnu grants him a boon.

Since portions of the Yagna were already allotted to Devas, Dhanvantri would have a second life in Dwapara yuga. In this life, he would have knowledge of Animaa and Garimaa from the womb itself. He would author in eight portions, a treatise on medicine.

In the 2nd Dwapara, in the lineage of King Suhotra, came King Dhanvaa. Being childless he performed a penance to Abjadeva. Dhanvantri was born as his son.

In the Krishnajanma Khanda of Brahmavaivarta Purana, we find a fascinating little story of Dhanvantri connected to Manasadevi, the serpent goddess. But that is for another time!

Back to the Deva-Asura Sangramam, in one version of this story, when Lord Shiva drank the poisonous Haalahala that emanated, it was lord Dhanvantri that cured him. Shiva blessed Dhanvantri with extraordinary powers to be able to cure every disease.

The iconography of lord Dhanvantri can be seen in varied ways. In calendar art, he is shown with four hands, two holding Sudarsana Chakra, Panchajanya, a Amrita Kalasa in the third and a leech in the fourth. Yes, a leech! One of the earliest references to depicting any worm!

In the 8th-century Kailasanatha temple in Kanchi, we find a little Dhanvantri with the Amrita Kalasa who has emerged from the churning. 

In the beautiful Hoysala temples of Karnataka, we find two different Dhanvantri sculptures. One below is seen seated and the other above one is standing. 

धन्यार्तासंसुकर्तव्यरमैंप: प्रियदर्शन: ।

करद्वयगतश्चास्य सामृत: कलशो भवेत् ।

Dhanvantari from Lakshmi-Nārāyana temple in Hosaholalu

He holds Kalasha, Chakra etc.

See the details of ornaments. Asana is VajraPadma.

VishnuDharmottara Purana thus describes attributes

There are many temples dedicated to lord Dhanvantri. One of the oldest exclusive Sannidhis is in the holy complex of Ranganathaswamy in Srirangam.

A little ancient temple dedicated to Lord Dhanvantri is in Bhubaneshwar.

About 20 Kms from Guruvayur in Kerala is the beautiful temple of Nelluvai dedicated to Lord Dhanvantri. Many practitioners of Ayurveda begin with prayers here. It is considered auspicious. Many patients after getting cured visit here and offer their gratitude.

There are temples dedicated to Lord Dhanvantri in other parts of Kerala like the Rudra-Dhanvantri temple in Mallapuram and in Peringavu outside of Thrissur. 

In Tamil Nadu, we find Dhanvantri temples in Walajapet and in Coimbatore.

We also have temples dedicated to Lord Dhanvanri in the ancient city of Varanasi, in Jamnagar in Gujarat, in Madhya Pradesh and in Bihar.

Continuing the thread, lord Dhanvantri has been portrayed in different traditional schools of visual art. Take a look at this Samudra Manthan from Kangra school dated to 1700. 

This traditional Mysore school painting on board in the British Musem is dated a little later. Dhanvantri can be seen with the other auspicious  beings that emerged out of the churning. The vibrant colours are so  south Indian! 

Wish someone can re-create it now! 

And a more recent lithograph by Raja Ravi Varma depicting the samudra manthan and lord Dhanvantri who emerged out of it.

It is not too wrong to worship goddess Lakshmi today on Dhanteras . She also emerged during the Samudra Manthan. However, in the traditional parlance, there are different meanings. There is money, wealth, prosperity, abundance. Dhan, Aishwaryam, Shri etc.

But a better understanding of 'dhan' as wealth is good health. For without that, you can't accomplish anything in life. A healthy body and mind makes you do better and attract positive energies into your life. Hence Dhanvantri's blessings are important.

So finishing with prayers and wishing everyone good health! 😊🙏 

ॐ शंखं चक्रं जलौकां दधिदमृतघटं चारुदोर्भिश्चतुर्मिः। 

सूक्ष्मस्वच्छातिहृद्यांशुक परिविलसन्मौलिमंभोजनेत्रम॥ 

कालाम्भोदोज्ज्वलांगं कटितटविलसच्चारूपीतांबराढ्यम। 

वन्दे धन्वंतरिं तं निखिलगदवनप्रौढ़दावाग्निलीलम। 

Let me add, in the last 25 yrs or more if I have managed without ever needing to pop a chemical (allopathic) pill or medicine, it is the blessings of lord Dhanvantri through the magic of Ayurveda! It is indeed a Veda for one's Ayuh! 🙂🙏

Om Shanti shanti shanti!