Lord Dhanvantari: God of Health

Lord Dhanvantari is incarnation of lord vishnu and physician of gods. He was founder of science of ayurveda. He is described as dispeller of all illness. Lord dhanvantari was born from churning of ocean. He carried water pot full of nectar in his hand. Then Dhanvantari, (a form of Vi??u) and founder of the (science of) Ayurveda rose up holding a water-pot full of ambrosia. Lord vishnu has given boon to lord dhanvantari that he will become god, would be worshipped by brahamans and would found ayurveda.

On being told thus, the lord said after review in the factual position, “The division of the Yaj?a has already been made by the sons of Diti as well as the Suras. The due performance of Homas etc. has been laid down in the Vedas by the great sages. It is not possible to get Homa performed unto you at any time. As you are born subsequent to Vedas O god, you have no Mantra (assignable to you). O lord, in your second incarnation you will earn reputation in the world. Then you will attain the super-natural powers like A?imā (minuteness) and others.

O lord, you will attain Deva-hood with this selfsame body. Brāhma?as (and other twice-born ones) shall worship you with Caturmantras (i.e. Mantras from the four Vedas), ghee offerings and Gavyas (materials of worship obtained from milk, milk products). You will once again reproduce the āyurveda (the Science of Medicine). These incidents and events are inevitable and have already been visualised by the lotus-born lord (Brahmā) earlier. Undoubtedly you will be born in the second Dvāpara Yuga”. Therefore, after granting the boon, Vi??u disappeared.

Ruler of kashi name dirghatapas obtaine boon from lord dhanvantari that lord dhanvantari will born as a son of dirghatapas. When the second Dvāpara arrived, king Dīrghatapas, the ruler of Kā?ī, a descendant of ?unahotra being desirous of a son, performed a penance. 21. The king desired to propitiate lord Dhanvantari for the sake of a son. Thereupon, Dhanvantari urged the king to choose a boon as he pleased. The king said:—22. “O lord, if you are pleased with me, be my son, bestower of my goal”. After saying “So be it”, the lord vanished there itself

To fulfill boon lord dhanvantari born as a son of dirghatapas in dwapar yuga. He learnt science of ayurveda along with its theraputics from rishi bharadvaja.Later he become ruler of kashi and was a good king. Lord dhanvantari divided ayurveda into eight sections and taught it to different people. Lord dhanvantari has a son name ketuman. Lord Dhanvantari was then born in his abode. He was a great king, the ruler of Kā?ī, the dispeller of all ailments. He learned the science of Medicine—āyurveda along with its therapeutics from Bharadvāja. He classified it into eight sections and taught them to different disciples.

The son of Dhanvantari became well known as Ketumān. Worship of lord dhanvantari along with asvini kumaras and brahman prevent foul death and cure our diseases. The worship of Brahman, Dhanvantari and of the twin deities—A?vins alleviates ailments, prevents foul death and suppresses all sickness instantaneously. During the battle between gods and demons, lord dhanvantari using his medicines revived gods who were killed in that battle.

Then Dhanvantari, the physician of gods, gladly moved on the battle-field with the speed of mind (carrying) medicines with him and employing them. Then the gods that were dead in the great war, again came back to life, were without any wound, endowed with power, and again fought very much. Source: Agni Purana, Padma Purana, Brahmanda Purana. Lord Dhanvantari is worshipped on Dhanteras Dhantrayodashi or the first day?of Diwali. Jay Shri Dhanvantari Maharaj