Today is Dhanteras.
Dhanteras is the beginning of Diwali. We stand at the threshold of Dhanteras and look towards Diwali. That is why Dhanteras is associated with Lakshmi. Lakshmi is pleased by buying gold and silver on Dhantrayodashi i.e. Dhanteras. The path for their entry into the house is paved. Today is Dhanteras. Those who cannot buy gold and silver. They buy utensils. There is no reference to when this trend started.
The scriptures say that Dhanteras is a festival not only of wealth but also of health. Actually, Dhanteras is a festival of awareness between health and prosperity. We consider Dhanteras only as an opportunity to buy gold, silver and utensils. And consider it a means to please Goddess Lakshmi. But along with the rituals of Lakshmi Puja and buying new utensils, Dhanteras is also the birthday of Lord Dhanvantari, the founder of Ayurveda and the god of medicine. This is its importance in the scriptures. Because our scriptures consider health also as wealth.
Dhanvantari incarnation of Vishnu in Puranas
Dhanvantari is counted among the founders of Indian medical system. They are mentioned in the Vedas. In the Puranas he has been called an incarnation of Vishnu. Dhanvantari was one of the 14 gems that emerged during the churning of the ocean. He was the son of Kashi king Dhanya, hence he was called Dhanvantari.
According to the story of Samudra Manthan, on this very day Dhanvantari came out of Samudra Manthan carrying the nectar pot. He is one of the recognized gods in Hindu religion. He is considered the founder of Ayurveda and the god of medical science. He is mentioned in Mahabharata, Shrimad Bhagwat, Agnipuran, Vayupuran, Vishnapuran and Brahmapuran. Dhanvantari is the 12th incarnation among the 24 incarnations of Vishnu mentioned in Shrimad Bhagwat. During Samudra Manthan, Moon emerged on Sharad Purnima, Kamdhenu cow on Kartik Dwadashi, Dhanvantari on Trayodashi, Kali Mata on Chaturdashi and Goddess Lakshmi ji emerged from the ocean on Amavasya. That is why the birth of Dhanvantari is celebrated as Dhanteras, two days before Diwali. On this day he founded Ayurveda.
Dhanvantari has 4 arms like Vishnu
Like the form of Lord Vishnu, Dhanvantari also has four arms. The upper two arms are holding conch and chakra. While in the other two arms, one is holding Jaluka and medicine and the other is carrying nectar pot. Their favorite metal is considered to be brass. That is why there is a tradition of buying brass utensils etc. on Dhanteras. He is called the God of Health in Ayurveda – Ayurveda is the Upveda of Atharvaveda.
According to Sushruta Samhita, Brahma provach tath prajapatiradhijage, tasmadashvinau, asvibhyamindrah indradhamaya, tvih pradepmarthibhyah prajahithetoh. That is, Brahma composed Ayurveda of one lakh verses which had one thousand chapters. Prajapati studied from him, Ashwini Kumars studied from Prajapati, Indra studied from Ashwini Kumars and Dhanvantari studied from Indra. Sushruta Muni composed Ayurveda after hearing from Dhanvantari.
According to Nalanda Vishal Shabdsagar, “Dhanvantari based medical science and medical knowledge is Ayurveda. In Vayu and Brahman Puranas, Dhanvantari has been described as the savior of Ayurveda. In mythological times, Dhanvantari was worshiped as God – ‘Dhanvantari Bhagwan Patvapathyat’. Even in Charak Samhita, there is a provision to offer sacrifice to Dhanvantari.
People skilled in surgery were called Dhanvantari.
Dhanvantari was the king of Kashi. In the Puranas, one name of Kashiraj Divodas is called Dhanvantari. Sushruta had expressed his desire to study surgery, so Dhanvantari preached this part. In the five places of Sushruta (Sutra, Nidan, Physiotherapy and Kalpa) the subject of surgery is prominent, that is why some people have understood the meaning of the word Dhanvantari to be surgery. (Dhanuh Shalyam Tasya Antam Parmiyarti Gachchatiti Dhanvantarih)
Later Dhanvantari became a sect which is related to surgery. All those who were adept in surgery were called Dhanvantari. Due to this, the plural form Dhanvantariyaan is found in Charak Samhita. Obviously, the original preacher of this subject was Dhanvantari. This organ started running in his name. According to Garun and Markandeya Puranas: – According to ‘Garudapuran’ and ‘Markandeyapuran’, Dhanvantari was called Vaidya because he was blessed with Veda mantras.
According to Vishnu Purana :- Dhanvantari is said to be the son of Durgatha. It is said in this that Dhanvantari is the one who has a body and senses free from all kinds of disorders and knows all the scriptures in all the births. Lord Narayan had given him this boon in his previous birth that by being born in the lineage of Kashiraj, he would perform the eight parts of Ayurveda and become the enjoyer of the Yagya part.
According to Brahma Purana:- The great grandson of Kashi’s founder ‘Kash’, son of Kashiraj ‘Dhanva’, Dhanvantari was a great physician who attained the status of a god. King Dhanva worshiped Ajja Devta and pleased him and asked for a boon from him that O Lord, you should incarnate in the form of a son in our house. He was satisfied with his worship and fulfilled his wish, who was probably called Dhanvantari because of being the son of Dhanva and the incarnation of Dhanvantari. Who attained the status of God.
Amazing history of Kashi city
In his lineage was Divodas, who established the world’s first school of ‘surgery’ in Kashi, whose principal was Sushruta, a disciple of Divodas and son of sage Vishwamitra. ‘Sushruta Samhita’ written by him is still the standard text of surgery. Sushruta was the world’s first surgeon. In Banaras, Lord Dhanvantari is worshiped everywhere on Kartik Trayodashi-Dhanteras. What a wonderful history this city has. It was here that Shankar drank poison and Dhanvantari provided nectar. And Kashi became a timeless city.
There are three forms of Dhanvantari in our tradition. Dhanvantari first was born from the churning of the ocean. Dhanva’s sons Dhanvantari II and Kashiraj Divodas Dhanvantari III. Apart from the Puranas, the description of Dhanvantari I and II is also found in Ayurveda texts, in which they are mentioned in various forms in the ancient texts of Ayurveda, Susrutra Samhita, Charak Samhita, Kashyap Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya. Apart from this, the context of Ayurvedic incarnation is cited in other Ayurvedic texts like Bhava Prakash, Shargadhar and other contemporary texts. In this also light has been thrown regarding Dhanvantari.
The importance and place that Ashwini Kumar had in the Vedic period was given to Dhanvantari in the mythological period – where Ashwini had the honey pot in her hand, Dhanvantari got the nectar pot. Vishnu protects the world, hence Dhanvantari, who protects from diseases, was considered a part of Vishnu. The dialogue between Kashyap and Takshak regarding poison has been mentioned in Mahabharata, similar to that between Dhanvantari and Nagdevi Manasa has been mentioned in Brahmavaivarta Purana (3.51). He has been called the disciple of Garuda – ‘Sarvavedeshu Nishnato Mantratantra Visharadah, disciples hi vanateyasya Shankarosyopashishyak. (BR.Va.3.51)
Whom Vasudev calls Dhanvantari, who carries the pot of nectar, who destroys all fears, destroys all diseases, is the master of the three worlds and is their sustainer; May that Vishnu form Dhanvantari protect the health of all of you. Best wishes to all of you on Dhanteras.