Dhanteras is an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated on the teras (thirteenth day) in krishnapaksh of Kartik masa (month). Lord Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi, and Lord Yama are worshipped on this day. Homes are cleaned for the festival. Clay diyas (oil lamps with wick) are lit on the doorsteps in the evening. Households purchase gold, silver, and utensils that represent dhan (wealth) to bring in good luck. There are many legends associated with this festival and here are a few of them.
During sagarmanthan when devas and asuras churned the oceans and many treasures came out of it. Dhanavantri was one of them. He came out of the ocean with a pot of amrit (nectar of life for immortality) in one hand and the book of Ayurveda in the other. He is also called the father of Ayurveda (a medical system with roots in India) and was also the king of Varanasi. Worshipers pray to him for good health for themselves and others.
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| Calendar print by Ravi Verma (Source:Wiki) |
The sagarmanthan churned out many other treasures of the universe from the oceans. Another one was Goddess Lakshmi herself. She is also known as Shri. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, and prosperity. She is the consort of Lord Vishnu. Whenever Vishnu descended to Earth in his various avatars, goddess Lakshmi accompanied him as Sita with Rama and as Rukmini with Krishna. She is worshiped on her birthday, on this day.
Another legend is that of King Hima. His son had a prediction in his horoscope that he will be killed on the 4th night of his marriage by a serpent in his sleep. He married at age of sixteen on Sharad Purnima. His newlywed wife was aware of this prediction. On the 4th day of his marriage, his wife made sure her husband didn't sleep. She sang and narrated stories to keep him awake. She lighted up the room with bright lamps. All the gold ornaments, coins, and utensils were put in a heap at the entrance of their chamber to block it. Lord Yama, God of Death, came in disguise as a snake that night. Yama was blinded by all the glitter and could not enter the chamber. The serpent climbed the heap, coiled itself, and listened to the narration of stories by the wife. The serpent was fully engrossed in the narration, and when the sun rose, it simply wriggled out sparing the prince’s life. Thus Lord Yama is worshiped on this day.
Diwali is a five-day festival starting with Dhanteras, Narakchaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Duj. Jains celebrate the liberation of Mahavira, Sikhs celebrate the release of Guru Hargobind from Mughal prison Bandi Chhor Diwas on Diwali. In the eastern part of India, they celebrate Kali puja on Diwali.