In the Vedic culture and tradition, every aspect of life and the cosmos is related to a personal form of a deity who is believed to have control over it. For example – the Sun planet is maintained by Surya Dev, Lord Varun is the presiding deity of the water bodies, and Goddess Lakshmi is the giver of wealth. Similarly, when it comes to the department of health and medicine, the name Lord Dhanvantari comes to mind. Several Puranas and Upanishads mention the innumerable incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Lord. One such incarnation of Vishnu God is Bhagwan Dhanvantari who appeared and taught the infallible medical science, Ayurveda, to the suffering mankind. Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health that balances and heals humans physically and mentally, thereby providing a purified consciousness for spiritual well-being.
Dhanvantari Avatar did not appear only once but twice during this Kalpa (one Kalpa contains 1000 cycles of Chatur Yuga – Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapar Yuga, and Kali Yuga).
In the current Kalpa, Vishnu Dhanvantari appeared during the churning of the cosmic Ocean of Milk and delivered the nectar of elixir to all the demigods of heaven. This episode is mentioned in many Puranas, and it is elaborately explained in the Bhagavata Purana. The story goes like this:
Once, the great leader of the demigods Indra was riding on his divine elephant Airavata when he came across Durvasa Muni. Seeing the great demigod, Durvasa Muni offered him a special flower garland. Lord Indra accepted the garland and put it on the trunk of Airavata. The elephant threw the garland onto the floor, thus enraging Durvasa Muni who is known for his short temperament. In a great rage, the sage explained that the garland was the dwelling of the Goddess of Fortune (Lakshmi) and was therefore to be treated as Prasada. He cursed Indra and all the demigods to be bereft of all strength, prosperity, and fortune.
This resulted in a battle with demons which the demigods lost. The demons were headed by Bali Maharaj who gained control over the entire material world. The demigods who are always surrendered at the Lotus Feet of Lord Vishnu sought out His help, who instructed them in the art of diplomacy. Following the plan of the Lord, the demigods then allied with the demons to jointly churn the milk ocean for the nectar of immortality and to share it among them. Of course, the demigods were told by Lord Vishnu that He would arrange for them alone to obtain the nectar, which would empower them to defeat the demons.
All kinds of herbs were cast into the milk ocean and the Mandara mountain was used as the churning rod and Vasuki (the serpent King) as the cord. The demons and the demigods thus proceeded to churn the ocean. During the churning, Lord Vishnu Himself interceded in many ways to aid the demigods: He was present as Lord Ajita pulling on the side of the gods, as Lord Kurma who supported the great Mandara mountain which was in danger of sinking, and Lord Vishnu Himself sat atop the Mountain infusing the demigods and the serpent Vasuki with energy. Many great beings and objects were produced from the ocean and were accepted by various demigods as offerings. Laksmi Devi, the eternal consort of Lord Vishnu, appeared from the ocean and Vishnu and Her were reunited as husband and wife after having been separated for many ages.
As they continued the churning activity, a very wonderful divine being appeared. The Bhagavat Purana states His characteristic features:
dīrgha-pīvara-dor-daṇḍaḥ
kambu-grīvo ’ruṇekṣaṇaḥ
śyāmalas taruṇaḥ sragvī
sarvābharaṇa-bhūṣitaḥ
(8.8.32)
“He was strongly built; His arms were very long, stout and strong; His eyes were reddish, and His complexion was black. He was very young, He was garlanded with flowers, and His entire body was fully decorated with various ornaments.”
pīta-vāsā mahoraskaḥ
sumṛṣṭa-maṇi-kuṇḍalaḥ
snigdha-kuñcita-keśānta-
subhagaḥ siṁha-vikramaḥ
amṛtāpūrṇa-kalasaṁ
bibhrad valaya-bhūṣitaḥ
(8.8.33)
“He was dressed in yellow garments and wore brightly polished earrings made of pearl. The tips of His hair were anointed with oil and His chest was very broad. His body had all good features, and He was stout and strong as a lion. In His hand, He carried a jug of nectar.”
Greedy for the nectar of Ambrosia, the demons stole the jug. Lord Vishnu appeared in His Mohini Avatar, a beautiful woman, who fascinated the demons and recovered the nectar from them. The demigods took the nectar and drank it and gained back their power and energy. Thereafter, the demigods fought the demons and turned out victorious. They greatly rejoiced and worshiped Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi Devi and resumed their positions in the heavens as servants of the Lord.
The second time that Lord Dhanvantari appeared on the earth occurred at the beginning of the reign of the current Manu in the second Dwapara Yuga, around two billion years ago. Lord Vishnu had foretold at the time of Samudra Manthan that He would again appear in the form of Dhanvantari in human society and would be worshiped by humans. He would teach them the science of Ayurveda. Lord Dhanvantari at that time was residing in the heavens. Lord Indra saw the misery of human beings afflicted by various diseases on earth and requested the Lord to teach medical science to the human race to relieve them of their sufferings.
At that time, the King Dirghatamas of Kashi (Varanasi) was engaged in severe penance and austerities, desiring a son. The king desired to appease Lord Dhanvantari for the sake of a son. Thereupon, Dhanvantari appeared to him and urged the king to ask Him for any boon. The king said, “O Lord if You are pleased with me, be my son, bestower of my goal.” The Lord replied, “So be it” and He disappeared.
Lord Dhanvantari then appeared as the son of King Dirghatamas. He was a beautiful boy and from a very early age, He performed severe austerities and possessed great knowledge. Lord Brahma with great difficulty persuaded Him to accept lordship over the city of Kashi and since then He came to be known as Kashi-Raja. As a king, He prepared the Samhitas on Ayurveda in eight divisions for the benefit of humanity.
Lord Dhanvantari’s Ayurvedic teachings are recorded in various places in the Vedic literature – Atharva Veda, Garuda Purana, Vishnu Purana, Sushruta Samhita, and Charaka Samhita. The Srimad Bhagavatam states “smrta-matrarti-nasanah”- “One who remembers the name of Dhanvantari can be released from all disease.”
Diwali is a 5-day festival which is celebrated by Hindus with utmost enthusiasm and devotion, every day having its own spiritual significance. The first day marks the Dhanteras celebration. It is usually celebrated for worshiping Lakshmi Devi, the giver of material prosperity. However, in true means, it is the day on which Lord Dhanvantari appeared from the ocean milk with a pot of ambrosia in one of His hands. Dhanteras is also known as Dhan Trayodashi which is the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha.
On this day, people light a lamp at the doorstep of their house to welcome Lord Dhanvantari. Devotees seek Lord’s blessings for good health, prosperity, and overall happiness in life. Lord Dhanvantari, a merciful incarnation of Vishnu, destroys all sorts of negativity and gives auspicious results to His devotees.
The Supreme Lord is the well-wisher and friend of everyone. Out of His causeless mercy, He comes again and again in this material world to claim the conditioned souls and reciprocates with His loving devotees. Lord Dhanvantari appeared to relieve the suffering mankind of all their diseases. His Ayurvedic teachings are praised all over the world for they are inclusive of preventive as well as curative systems of health care. Today, when the world is turning away from this ancient and authorized medical science and taking the shelter of the modern system of medicine, Ayurveda remains infallible in the eyes of those who have firm faith in the teachings of Dhanvantari.
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