The festival of Dhanteras was celebrated with pomp across the country on Tuesday 29 October. On this occasion, the 326 year old tradition of Kashi was repeated once again. People reach Kashi only once a year to have darshan of Lord Dhanvantari. During this time people asked for blessings of health. For 326 years, people have been waiting to see Lord Dhanvantari on Dhanteras. This temple is established in Sudiya of Chowk area of Varanasi.
Rasa medicines and wooden medicines brought from the Himalayas were offered to Lord Dhanvantari. Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Agar, Musli, Tagar and many rare herbs were offered. These medicines are used in medicines made throughout the year.
four-armed statue
The four-armed statue of Lord Dhanvantari with a charming image of one and a half mana made of eight metals gives an easy glimpse of Ayurveda and health science. Lord Dhanvantari has a conch in one hand, through which he distributes Ayurvedic Prasad, while in the other hand he has a Kalash, from which the medicine in the form of nectar spills. There is a leech in the third hand which is a symbol of blood circulation while the chakra in the fourth hand is a symbol of surgery.
People came to see Lord Dhanvantari
There was a competition among the people who came to have darshan of Lord Dhanvantari to apply medicinal attar and to collect the flowers offered to the idol. It is believed that the fragrance of attar with medicinal properties refreshes a person from within, while keeping the flowers in the house blesses the family with good health.
Many diseases are treated
Ayurvedic treatment has been started for the same number of years in Dhanvantari Niwas located next to the temple of Lord Dhanvantari. Where incurable diseases are treated. Cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and many complex neuro diseases are treated here through Ayurveda. Vaidya Raj Kanhaiya Lal ji installed the statue of Lord Dhanvantari and built the temple 326 years ago and since then the tenth generation has been doing this work.
Presently Pandit Sameer Kumar Shastri, Ram Kumar Shastri and Nand Kumar Shastri are taking this generation forward. He claims that he has been the royal physician of the Kashi royal family for ten generations and with the blessings of Lord Dhanvantari, this tradition has treated nine Bharat Ratna personalities including Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and Indira Gandhi. It is said that whenever the situation appears unfavorable to human civilization and a major calamity occurs, Lord Dhanvantari brings out some medicinal miracle from his nectar pot. In the days of Covid, Ayurvedic decoction was such a miracle.
