There is a tradition to worship Lord Kubera, Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi on Dhanteras Tithi. Dhanteras, also called as Dhanthrayodashi or Dhanvantari Trayodashi, falls on the favorable thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November). Dhanteras is the first day of five days long Diwali festival.
Who is Lord Dhanvantari and reason to worship him on Dhanteras festival day?
Lord Dhanvantari is divine physician and the father of Ayurveda. He is the god of health and medicines. Puja should be done by Shodashopachara method with the help of mantra, as a result of which the family will have long life and health. People chants ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Dhanvantaraya Vishnurupaya Namo Namah’. So, worship Dhanvantari on Dhanthrayodashi for a healthy body for you and your family, because a healthy body is the greatest wealth in the world. According to Ayurveda, the attainment of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha is possible only with a healthy body and longevity
The Story of Lord Dhanvantari
There is an important story behind the celebration of Dhanvantari Jayanti or Dhanteras festival. According to Vishnu Purana, as a result of deva king Indra’s rude behavior, Maharishi Durvasa cursed him and all the devas to be bereft of all strength, energy, and fortune. Following the incident, the asuras defeated the devas in the battles and gained control over the three worlds. To obtain Sri (fortune) in the three worlds, the devas went to Lord Vishnu to seek help. Lord Vishnu advised the devas formed an alliance with the asuras to jointly churn the ocean for the Amrit and to share it among themselves. The Amrit is the divine nectar and antidote to death, which would make them immortal. To get Amrit, the devas and Asuras joined hands during Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean). They used Mount Mandara as the churning pole and the hundred headed serpent king Vasuki as the churning rope. Vasuki’s face was given to the Asuras and the tail was held by the devas.
On Dhanteras, Lord Dhanvantari appeared from Samudra Manthan, holding a Kalash full (a pot) of Amrit (Nectar) in one hand and the sacred text about Ayurveda in the other hand. Lord Vishnu appointed him as the physician of deities and lord of plants and medicines. As a gift of these, all the trees and plants got healing power. Dhanteras is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Dhanvantari. Samudra Manthan story is narrated in the Bhagavata Purana, in the Mahabharata, and in the Vishnu Purana.
