Dhanteras marks the beginning of the festival of Diwali. It is surrounded by 3 legends that are the reasons for the celebration of this festival. Khushneer Kaur reports more on its historical significance.
Dhanteras, also known as Dhanatrayodashi, falls on the first day that marks the beginning of the 5-day festival of Diwali in India. Celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin, people buy gold, silver, property, automobile, and other such precious goods.
The 3 legends of Dhanteras
- Dhanvantari imparted the wisdom of Ayurveda
Dhanvantari, considered to be the Hindu God of Ayurveda, was an avatar of Lord Vishnu who imparted the knowledge of Ayurveda for the betterment of mankind and helped to get rid of the suffering of the diseases.
According to the Hindu mythology, during the time of Samudra Manthan, when Gods, alongside demons, churned the elixir of life, or Amrit, in an ocean, Dhanvantari appeared carrying a jar full of the nectar in one hand and a sacred text about Ayurveda in the other.
He is also said to be the teacher of all the physicians, and is worshipped on this day to remember his wisdom.
- 16-year-old son of King Hima and his wife
The horoscope of the 16-year-old son of King Hima predicted his death by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. When the day came, his newly-wedded wife laid out all her ornaments and many gold and silver coins at the entrance of the sleeping chamber, and lit as many lamps as she could. She did not let her husband sleep, and kept him awake by narrating stories and singing songs.
When the lord of death – Yama arrived at their door in the guise of a serpent, he could not enter because of the heap, and was blinded by the brilliance of the ornaments. So, he climbed on the heap and sat there the entire night listening to the songs and the stories.
In the morning, he silently went away as the time to take the Prince had already gone. The Prince was saved by the intelligence of his wife, and the day came to be celebrated as Dhanteras.
Due to this, the ladies light lamps on this day that burn throughout the night, and wish for the long lives of their husbands.
- Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the ocean of milk
According to the Hindu mythology, in the ever continuing struggle between Gods and Demons, when both of them churned the ocean of milk, Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the sea holding a pot of gold in her hands, radiating youth and beauty. She was accompanied by Lord Kuber, and so, both of the deities are worshipped on this day.
