Dhanvantari
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Dhanvantari (also Dhanwantari, Dhanvanthari) is an avatar of Vishnu from the Hindu tradition. He appears in the Vedas and Puranas as the physician of the gods (devas), and the controller (god) of Ayurvedic medicine. It is common practice within Hinduism for worshippers to pray to Dhanvantari asking him for improved or good health for themselves and/or others.
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[edit] Danvantri: The earliest practitioner
Dhanvantari was an early Indian medical practitioner and one of the world’s first surgeons. He perfected many herbal based cures and natural remedies. He discovered the antiseptic properties of turmeric and the preservative properties of salt and incorporated them in his cures.
He was also a very skilled surgeon. He also was the pioneer of modern medical practices like plastic surgery[citation needed]. Albeit his methods were a lot cruder and more painful and were used only in emergencies, like on the injuries of war victims.
All his surgeries were carried out without anaesthetic but in spite of his crude methods he had a very high success rate.
For his brilliance and achievements in the field of medicine he was chosen as one of the nine gems in early Indian ruler Vikramaditya’s court.
It is after him that the similarly named legend originated.
[edit] Dhanvantari: The Legend
Dhanvantari is depicted as Vishnu with four hands, holding medical herbs in one hand and a pot containing rejuvenating nectar called amrita in another. The Puranas state that Dhanavantari emerged from the 'Ocean of Milk' and appeared with the pot of nectar during the story of the Samudra or Sagar manthan whilst the ocean was being churned using the Mandara mountain. After this event another avatar, Mohini, appears and takes the nectar back from the Asuras.
[edit] Dhanvantri Jayanthi : Birthday celebration
Birth day celebration of Lord Dhanavantari, the God of health, healing and cure, is celebrated with great enthuiasm and happy environment, by the practitioners of the Ayurveda every year, day before yesterday on DHAN TERAS, two days before DEEPAWALI, the Hindu festival of Lights. It is said that Lord Dhanawantary is the elder brother of Goddess LAXAMI, the goddess of wealth and in the Samudra Manthan, Lord Dhanvantari appeared with the keeping AMRIT POT, SHANKHA,CHAKRRA and JALAUKA eachone in his four hands.
In Northern India no permanent temple is established for LORD DHANVANTARI. The reason is yet not known, but in VARANASEY SANSAKRIT VISHVAVIDYALAYA, VARANASI, Uttar Pradesh State, one statue of Lord Dhanvantari is present in the Museum of the University. One Big and one small statue is in the head-quarter of the Central council for Research in Aurveda and Siddha at New Delhi. One big statue is inside the premises of Ayurveda Maha Sammelan office, Dhanawantari Bhawan at New Delhi. However in South India, in Kerala and in Tamil Nadu some temples dedicated to Lord Dhanvantari are present.
[edit] The Temples of Lord Dhanvantari in India
In Tamilnadu, in the courtyard of SHRI RANGAM SWAMI TEMPLE, is the Dhanvantari Temple where daily worshipping of the diety is performed. In the front of this temple there is an engraved stone believed to date around the 12th Century. The writing on the stone contains the details that Garud Vahan Bhattarwho was a great AYURVEDIC PHYSICIAN, established the statue inside the temple. As a 'Prasad' or 'Teerth', a decoction of the herbs is given to the visitors.
In Northern India Ayurvedic practitioners worship Lord Dhanavantary.
[edit] Ashta Vaidya of Kerala
In Kerala, the family of "Ashta Vaidya" is famous and traditionally provide Ayurvedic and Siddha treatment to the sick. The forefathers of these Asta vaidyas are still today serving in the same manner as centuries ago. This family worships Lord Dhanvantari. Some family members have built temples inside their houses while others have built proper temples in his honour. Near Kotakkalat Pulamantol village, here is a family of ASHTA VAIDYA. This family has a temple of Lord Dhanvantari. Vaidya Madam is near Vadakkancheri. Here the Ashta Vaidya Matra dattan have a statue of Dhanvantri, made of a mixture of five metals. In trishura's Perungva, a big temple is here built by Ashta vaidya. The Ashta Vaidya families are in the following places.
1- Aalyittur 2- Kuttancheri 3- Taikkad 4- Vayaskara 5- Vellod 6- Chirattaman.
It seems that tradition of Lord Dhanwantri worshpping is regularly persisting in the families to families in Kerala.
See also: Ayurveda
[edit] Reference
- Kalyan Hindi monthly magazine,March 2001 issue, Geeta Press,Gorakhpur, UP
[edit] External links
- Lord Dhanvantari
- Hindu God Dhanwantari: The promulgator of Ayurveda.
- Does Ayurveda begin with Dhanvantari, the ancient physician? By D.P. Agrawal
- Dhanvantari in the Bhagavata Purana
| Hinduism | Dashavatara of Vishnu |  |
|---|---|
| Matsya | Kurma | Varaha | Narasimha | Vamana | Parashurama | Rama | Krishna | Balarama | Buddha | Kalki |
| Hinduism | Hindu mythology | Itihasa |  |
|---|---|
| Female Deities: Gayatri | Saraswati | Lakshmi | Dakshayani | Parvati | Durga | Shakti | Kali | Sita | Devi | Radha | Mahavidya | more... | |
| Male Deities: Brahma | Vishnu | Shiva | Rama | Krishna | Ganesha | Kartikeya | Hanuman | Lakshmana | Indra | Surya | more... | |
| Texts: Vedas | Upanishads | Puranas | Ramayana | Mahabharata | |
