Dhanteras (Dhanwantari Jayanti) is also known by the names of Dhantrayodashi and Dhanvantari Trayodashi. This festival that marks the beginning of the Diwali celebrations and therefore it is considered the first day of five-day long festivities of Diwali.
The term ‘Dhanteras’ consists of ‘dhan’ which literally means wealth and ‘teras’ which means thirteenth. Here thirteenth is meant to indicate the day ‘Trayodashi’, on which Dhanteras falls. Dhanvantari Trayodashi is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha, of the Hindu month of Kartik, that is two days before Diwali.
Legends
Legends have it that Lord Dhanvantari who is the physician of the Gods and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu came out of the ocean that was churned by the Gods and the demons on the day of Dhanteras. Lord Dhanvantari appeared with Ayurvedic for the welfare of the mankind.
Another interesting story famous about dhanteras is related to the son of King Hima and his intelligent wife. It was predicted about him that he would die on the fourth day of his marriage. And the reason behind his death would be snakebite. When his wife came to know about such a prediction she decided not to let her husband die and for this she made a plan.
On the fourth day of their marriage she collected all the jewellery and wealth at the entrance of her husband’s boudoir and lighted lamps all around the place. And she started telling stories and singing songs one after another in order to not let her husband sleep. In the mid night Lord Yama, the God of death arrived there in guise of a snake. The bright lights of the lamps lit by the wife of the king’s son blinded His eyes and he could not enter their chamber. Therefore Lord Yama found a place to make himself comfortable on top of the heap of the jewellery and wealth and kept sitting there for the whole night waiting to get a chance to bite the king’s son. But as the wife of the king’s son kept telling stories and singing songs for the whole night therefore he could not get any chance and in the morning he left the place quietly. Thus the wife saved her husband’s life from the cruel clutches of death.
Since then the day of Dhanteras is also known as the day of ‘Yamadeepdaan’ and it has become a tradition to light a diya on Dhanteras and to keep it burning throughout the night in reverential adoration of Lord Yama, the God of death.
Yama Deepam
The ritual of lighting the diya starts on this day. The people worship Lord Yamaraj, the God of death, on this day and light a ‘Yama-Diya’ in the night to offer prayers to Him to bless them with prosperity, well being and protection.
Dhanatrayodashi is celebrated in the form of a vowed religious observance (vrat) also. Dhanatrayodashi is a vowed religious observance (vrat) associated with Deity Yamadeva. If it is not possible to perform this vrat, offering a lamp is surely done in the evening for Yamadeva.
Dhanteras is also known as Yamadeepdaan and lamps are kept burning through the night in reverential adoration to Yama – and prayers offered to him to keep away death and despair.
Thirteen lamps made of wheat flour and lit with oil are placed outside the house, facing southwards (direction of Lord Yama), in the evening. A lamp is never kept facing southwards except on this day. Then, reciting the following mantra one should offer obeisance: “I offer these thirteen lamps to the son (Lord Yama) of the Sun deity (Surya), so that He liberates me from the clutches of death and bestows His blessings.”
Sloka to recite
कार्तिकस्यासिते पक्षे त्रयोदश्यां निशामुखे ।
यमदीपं बहिर्दद्यादपमृत्युर्विनिश्यति ।। – स्कंदपुराण
Significance of YamaDeepam
By placing a lamp outside the house for Yamadeva in the evening of Trayodashi of the dark fortnight of Kartik, the untimely death is averted. Yamadev gave an assurance to his attendants that those who performed dipadana on Dhanatrayodashi will not suffer untimely death.
With Deepadana a person gains radiance (Tej). By this his vital energy increases and he gains longevity. It is believed that on the day of Dhanatrayodashi the flows of Yama frequencies are active in the Universe hence lamps are offered to Yamadeva to sought his blessings.
Importance of lamps made of wheat flour
On Dhanatrayodashi the tama-dominant Energy frequencies and tama-dominant frequencies of Water Principle are active in higher proportion. These frequencies are responsible for the untimely death of a person. The lamp made of wheat flour has the ability to pacify these frequencies. So for the purpose of Yamadipadana the lamps made of wheat flour are used.
The lamp is placed in a copper platter to be taken out of the house. Then the lamp is taken out of the house. Outside the house, the lamp is placed facing south and prayer is offered to Yamadeva.
Sloka
मृत्युना पाशदंडाभ्यां कालेन श्यामयासह ।
त्रयोदश्यां दीपदानात् सूर्यज: प्रीयतां मम ।। – स्कंदपुराण
Meaning
On Trayodashi offer this lamp to the son of Sun, that is, Yamadeva. May He free me from the noose of death and look after your welfare.
Why Deepam should be South
It is believed that the frequencies of Yama are attracted and emitted in higher proportion from south. Deity of the place (Sthandevata) and Deity of the premise (Vastudevata) arrive in Principle form to take darshan of Yamadeva. All members residing in the premise benefit by the arrival of these Deities. As the Yama frequencies come closer, by offering the worshipped lamp to Yamadeva, it is acquired by Him in a short time and easily. Hence, the person is protected from the frequencies that cause untimely death.
Why is Gold and Silver bought
On Dhanatrayodashi, according to the legend it is believed that, the wealth in the form of Sri Lakshmi is invoked through the action of purchasing new vessels of gold or silver and the active Lakshmi principle is given momentum. This helps in accumulation of wealth in the treasury safe.
The people purchase a new utensil, silver or gold coin or some other precious metal as a sign of good luck on the day of Dhanteras. This is also a tradition related with celebrations of the festival of Dhanvantari Trayodashi. The day of Dhanteras has great importance for the mercantile community of Western India.
There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana to buy Corriander seeds on this day and also to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya.
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