Why Lord Dhanvantari is worshipped on Dhanteras: the legend of the churning of the ocean

In Hinduism, Lord Dhanvantari is regarded as the god of health, the originator of Ayurveda and the physician of the gods. A healthy life is highly valued in Hindu culture, and Dhanvantari is worshipped as the presiding deity of that health. Why he is worshipped on Dhanteras, who he is, how he came into being and what legend is linked to him are explained below.

First, the name. The word "Dhanvantari" is formed from "dhanvan" and "ari". "Dhanvan" means a bow or surgery, while "ari" means adept. One who has complete knowledge of the medical sciences, especially surgery, is called Dhanvantari.

Dhanvantari is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In his four hands he holds a conch, a discus, a medicinal plant (or a leech) and, most distinctively, a pot full of nectar. As the original propounder of Ayurveda, he holds great importance.

The best-known legend of his origin is linked to the churning of the ocean, found in the Shrimad Bhagavata Purana, the Vishnu Purana and the Mahabharata. According to the legend, a curse from the sage Durvasa left Indra, king of the gods, and all the gods with him stripped of prosperity and power. The demons defeated the gods. To escape this crisis, all the gods went to Lord Vishnu.

Vishnu advised them to churn the ocean together with the asuras and drink the nectar that emerged, so that they would become immortal. The gods and the demons then began churning the ocean of milk, using Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as the rope.

Fourteen jewels emerged from the churning. After Lakshmi, the wish-granting cow Kamadhenu, the elephant Airavata and the wish-fulfilling tree Kalpavriksha, a radiant man appeared from the ocean last of all, on the trayodashi tithi of the Krishna paksha of the month of Kartik.

This radiant form was Lord Dhanvantari. He was very handsome, broad-chested and four-armed. As he appeared, he held a golden pot full of nectar. His emergence with this pot made it possible for the gods to attain immortality.

The day Dhanvantari emerged from the churning of the ocean is celebrated as Dhanteras, the first day of Diwali. On this day it is not wealth and property alone that are worshipped; in the truest sense it is "the wealth of good health" that is honoured. The Government of India has declared the day National Ayurveda Day. People worship Dhanvantari on this day for good health and freedom from illness, and light lamps in offering.

According to the Puranas, after emerging from the churning, Dhanvantari asked Vishnu what his place in the world would be. Vishnu replied, "You will be born again on earth to remove people's suffering and disease." Accordingly, in the Dwapara Yuga, Dhanvantari was born as Divodasa to Dhanva, the king of Kashi. He imparted the knowledge of Ayurveda to sages and ordinary people alike.

The sage Sushruta, author of the Sushruta Samhita, was a disciple of King Divodasa (Dhanvantari). Divodasa taught him surgery, the world's first advanced knowledge of the subject.

In Hindu culture, "the first happiness is a healthy body" is a well-known saying. Lord Dhanvantari is the symbol of that health. So that people may be kept safe from disease, he gave the great science of Ayurveda. This is why Lord Dhanvantari is still remembered at the start of any treatment or medicine.