Celebrating Dhanateras

Dhanteras (Hindi: ??????), also known as Dhanatrayodash (Sanskrit: ??????????), is the first day that marks the festival of Diwali in India.

IT is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the Hindu calendar month of Kartika. Dhanvantari, who is also worshiped on the occasion of Dhanteras, is considered the God of Ayurveda who imparted the wisdom of Ayurveda for the betterment of mankind, and to help rid the disease sufferings. The Indian ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy, has decided to observe Dhanteras, as the "National Ayurveda Day"

It is believed that on the day of Dhantrayodashi, Goddess Lakshmi had come out from the ocean of milk during the churning of the Sea. Hence, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped on the day of Trayodashi.

According to a popular legend, when the devas and asuras performed the Samudra manthan (churning of the ocean) for Amrita(the divine nectar of immortality), Dhanvantari(the physician of the Gods and an incarnation of Vishnu) emerged carrying a jar of the elixir on the day of Dhanteras.

An ancient legend ascribes the occasion to an interesting story about the 16-year-old son of King Hima. His horoscope had predicted his death by snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that particular day, his newly-wed wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid out all her ornaments and many gold and silver coins in a heap at the entrance of the sleeping chamber and lit many lamps. Then she narrated stories and sang songs to keep her husband from falling asleep. Next day, when Yama, the god of Death arrived at the prince's doorstep in the guise of a serpent, his eyes were dazzled and blinded by the brilliance of the lamps and the jewellery. Yama could not enter the Prince's chamber, so he climbed on top of the heap of gold coins and sat there the entire night listening to the stories and songs. In the morning, he silently went away. Thus, the young prince was saved from the clutches of death by the cleverness of his new bride, and the day came to be celebrated as Dhanteras.

The following day came to be called Naraka Chaturdashi ('Naraka' means hell and Chaturdashi means 14th). It is also known as ‘Yamadeepdaan’ as the ladies of the house light earthen lamps or ‘deep’ and these are kept burning throughout the night glorifying Yama, the God of Death. Since this is the night before Diwali, it is also called 'Chhoti Diwali' or Minor Diwali. In Jainism, this day is celebrated as DHANYATERAS instead of DHANTERAS meaning auspicious day of thirteenth. It is said that on this day Mahavira was in the state of leaving everything in this world and meditating before Moksha which made this day auspicious or DHANYA." (Wiki.)

However, we need to ponder over the unidirectional pursuit and worship of material wealth, epitomised in the GDP syndrome, which has led to the climate change crisis, threatening life on the planet itself. In Hindu philosophy, Dharma ordains a balance of Arth, Kama and moksha and violation of this tenet is self destructive. The Covid pandemic has underlined, in no uncertain terms, that health is the biggest wealth we humans can aspire for and the mundane riches are not of much consequence.So let us celebrate and worship the festival within the confines of the Dharmic principal and not be carried away by the glitter of gold.

V P Jain