Dhanvantari, God of Ayurveda, appears as Vishnu, holding medical herbs in one hand

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. A detail from a miniature painting in the Rajastani style, made by the artist LaLa in Udipur, ordered pecially by User:F16. ... A detail from a miniature painting in the Rajastani style, made by the artist LaLa in Udipur, ordered pecially by User:F16. ... The ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, copyright BBT In Hindu philosophy, an avatar, avatara or avatarim (Sanskrit: , IAST: ), most commonly refers to the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of a higher being (deva), or the Supreme Being (God) onto planet Earth. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari , with honorific Shri Vishnu; , ), (also frequently referred to as Narayana) is the most popularly worshipped form of God in Hinduism [1]. Within the Vaishnava tradition he is viewed as the Ultimate Reality or Supreme God (similarly to Shiva within Shaivism). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Vedas (Sanskrit: वेद) are the main scriptural texts of Hinduism, also known as the Sanatana Dharma, and are a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. ... Purana (Sanskrit पुराण, purāṇa, meaning ancient or old) is the name of a genre (or a group of related genres) of Indian written literature (as distinct from oral literature). ... Deva (देव in Devanagari script, pronounced as dévÉ™) is the Sanskrit word for god, deity. It can be variously interpreted as a spirit, demi-god, celestial being, angel, deity or any supernatural being of high excellence. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Ama (Ayurveda). ...

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. It is astonishing to know that he also was the pioneer of modern medical practices like plastic surgery. Albeit his methods were a lot cruder and more painful and were used only in emergencies, like on the injuries of war victims to shield their injuries from the onslaught of nature.

All his surgeries were carried out without anaesthetics and were naturally very painful. 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 similarly named legend originated.

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. In Hindu mythology and Buddhist mythology, Amrita is the drink of the gods, which grants them immortality. ... // Overview In Hinduism, Samudra manthan or The churning of the ocean of milk is one of the most famous episodes in the Puranas and is celebrated in a major way every twelve years in the festival known as Kumbha Mela. ... The worlds oceans as seen from the South Pacific Ocean, before the definition of the Southern Ocean in 2000 Oceans (from Okeanos in Greek, the ancient Greeks noticing the strong current that flowed off Gibraltar and assuming it was a great river) cover almost three quarters (71%) of the... Mount Mandara is a mountain which appears in the Samudra manthan episode in the Hindu Puranas. ... Mohini is one of the 25 avatar of Vishnu found in the Puranas. ... In Hindu mythology, the Asura are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. ...

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.

Dhanvatari Mantra

The best chanting Mantra of Dhanvantari is:

• NAMANI DHANAWANTARY MAADIDEWAM, SAURASURAIR VANDIT PAD PADMAM,

LOKE JARA RUGBHAY MRITYU NASAHAM, DATARMEESHAM VIVIDHAUSHADHINAM,

that means "O Lord Dhanvantary, I bestow before you, in which all gods are consisting. Your Lotus like feet is worshipped both by the Shaitan/ Asur[Bad man] and good qualities man [Sainly man]. You have power to keep away the people of this world from Miseries, diseases, ailments, Oldness, fear of diseases. O God, give me many medicine and medicinal tactics to cure the sick huminity.

Some other mantras are :

• Shankham chakramuparyadhashcha karyordivyaushidham dakshine,

Vamenanyakaren sambhratsudhakumbham jalaukavalim

In North India side, 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 State and in TAMILNADU STATE,some temples of Lord Dhanvantari is present.

The Temples of Lord Dhanvantari in India

In Tamilnadu, in the courtyard of SHRI RANGAM SWAMI TEMPLE, here is one Dhanvantari Temple inside, where daily worshipping of the god is performed according to tradition. The Temple and the Pratima {statue]is very old. Before this Temple , there is an 'Ingraved Stone' stands, which is believed to be round about 12th Century. The writing of the ingraved stone containing the details that Garud Vahan Bhattarwho was a great AYURVEDIC PHYSICIAN, established this statue inside the temple. As a 'Prasad' or 'Teerth', a decoction of the herbs is given to the visitors. Peoples worship the lord for cure of their ailments. Similarly another Temple is in the KANCHIPURAM'S VARDARAJSWAMI TEMPLE. Inside this temple, a Dhanvantari Temple is present.

Some Statues of Lord Dhanawantary is in the Collection of THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA MUSEUM.

The biggest, beautiful and great Temple is in the KERALA STATE in Nelluvayi. Nelluvayi is situated in between Palakkad and Trishur and is away 15 Kilometers from Vadkanchery. The main Lord of this Temple is Dhanvantri. From very remote areas and remote places of the country, the sick and ailed peoples come here,stay for weeks and months, serve the Lord and when get cured, returns to their native places. In this temple, people chanting these two mantras:

• ACHYUTANANTGOVIND VISHNO NARAYANAMRAT,

ROGAN ME NASHYASHESHANASHU DHANAVANTAREY HARE

and

• VISHNOH KRISHNA JANARDNACHYUT HARE NARAYAN SHRIPATE , VAIKUNTHAMRATRAMKESHAVMUKUNDANAND DAMODRAH // SHAUREMADHAVPADMANABHA BHAGAVAN GOVIND DHANAVANTARE, ROGAN ME NITRAM NIVARYATU TE NAMAMRATAM SAMPRATAM

It is believed by the sick person that by visiting, seeing and worshiping Lord Dhanavantary inside the Temple, they will be certainly get cure /relived from their ailments and diseases. A large number of visiters every day visits to these temples.

In North India side, only the Ayurvedic Practitioners, worship Lord Dhanavantary Photo, keeping inside their clinic.

Ashta Vaidya of Kerala

In Kerala, an Indian State, the family of "Ashta Vaidya" is very famous and traditionally are providing Ayurvedic and Siddha treatment to the sick. The forefathers of these Asta vaidyas are still today serving in the same manner as it was centuries ago. This family have a familiar tradition of worshipping Lord Dhanvantari for centuries in the same way. Some family members have built temples inside their home, while some have built proper Temples and thus worshipping Lord Dhanwantari. Near Kotakkalat Pulamantol village, here is a family of ASHTA VAIDYA. This family have a temple of Lord Dhanvantari. Vaidya Madam is near to Vadakkancheri. Hear the Ashta Vaidya Matra dattan have a statue of Dhanvantri, made of mixture of five metals. In trishura's Perungva, a big temple is here built by Ashta vaidya. The Ashta Vaidya families are in the folloeing 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 It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Ama (Ayurveda). ...

Reference

• Kalyan Hindi monthly magazine,March 2001 issue, Geeta Press,Gorakhpur, UP

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 (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... The ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, copyright BBT In Hindu philosophy, an avatar, avatara or avatarim (Sanskrit: , IAST: ), most commonly refers to the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of a higher being (deva), or the Supreme Being (God) onto planet Earth. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari , with honorific Shri Vishnu; , ), (also frequently referred to as Narayana) is the most popularly worshipped form of God in Hinduism [1]. Within the Vaishnava tradition he is viewed as the Ultimate Reality or Supreme God (similarly to Shiva within Shaivism). ... Image File history File links HinduSwastika. ... Incarnation of Vishnu as a Fish, from a devotional text. ... A carving of the Kurma avatar on a pillar at the Vittala Temple, Hampi, India Kurma is also an alternative transliteration of korma. ... Varaha is the third avatar of Vishnu, a boar sent to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth (prthivi) and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean in the story. ... A monolithic statue of Narasimha at Vijayanagara. ... In Hinduism, Vamana is the fifth avatar of Vishnu, a dwarf. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Bhargava Rama and Parshuram (Discuss) Parashurama Bhargava or Parasurama (Axe-wielding Rama), according to Hindu mythology is the Sixth avatar of Vishnu, belongs to the Treta yuga, and is the son of Jamadagni & Renuka. ... Lord Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. ... Krishna with Radharani, 18th C Rajasthani painting Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari, in IAST ), according to various Hindu traditions, is the eighth avatar of Vishnu. ... Balarama (left) with his brother Krishna Krishna-Balarama Mandir, Vrindavan, India // Introduction In mainstream Hindu tradition, Balarama (phonetically Balarāma - his other names include Baladeva, Balabhadra and Halayudha) is the name of the elder brother of Sri Krishna. ... Standing Buddha sculpture, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE, Musée Guimet. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...