There is a saying in Sanskrit language, ‘Sharir Madyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam’. That means the body is the medium for performing all types of religions. Explaining this in more detail, it is said in a verse that if money is lost, then understand that nothing is lost, if health is lost, then understand that half of the wealth is lost, but if religion and character are lost, then understand that everything is gone. In this verse, wealth is not only being said to be money, but health and character i.e. conduct are also being said to be the biggest wealth.
It is the day of the blessing of immortality Dhanteras
Along with the creation of the universe, advanced ideas necessary for human life are established in the Sanatan tradition. From time to time, a tradition of festivals was developed to remind these ideas and to maintain their establishment in the society. The biggest center of these traditions is Diwali – the festival of lights. This festival is not only a festival of external light, but also a festival of awakening the inner consciousness.
It starts from Trayodashi of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month, which is also called Dhantrayodashi and Dhanteras. This day is called Dhanteras in the name of Lord Dhanvantari, who gives the boon of immortality in Ayurveda, but due to the word ‘Dhan’ in the beginning of his name, this festival is dedicated only to wealth.
The first day of Diwali is also the day of purification.
Actually Dhanteras, or Dhan Trayodashi is not just a festival or celebration of accumulation of wealth, rather this day is a celebration of promoting prosperity and fortune, Goddess Lakshmi is seen as its representative and Kuber is its presiding deity and Dhanvantari who appeared with the nectar pot is also the deity of this date. Dhanteras is a day of physical, ideological and mental purification.
On this day, Dhanvantari is also worshiped along with Goddess Lakshmi. According to mythology, Dhanvantari appeared during the churning of the ocean. He had the holy book of Ayurveda and an urn filled with Amrit, Amrit is the drink which is an Ayurvedic herbal mixture and grants immortality. Thus Dhanvantari is considered the physician of the gods.
Health tradition of South India
In the south of India, especially in Tamil Nadu, on the eve of Naraka Chaturdashi, or Dhanvantari Trayodashi, Brahmin women make “Marundhu”, which means medicine. On Naraka Chaturdashi, Marundhu is offered during prayers and eaten in the early morning before sunrise. Marundhu recipes are in fact often handed down from families to daughters and daughters-in-law.
Marundhu is taken to correct the imbalance in the body caused by the Tridoshas. However, there are many stories related to the origin of Dhanteras, which dominate the folk beliefs. There is also a dominant belief in the South that Mahadev Shiva had taken Vaidyanath incarnation on the same day of Dhanteras, hence this day is very special for Vaidyas and Shaiva tradition celebrates it with enthusiasm.
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