Dhanteras: Legend & Significance #Day13

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While Indians need no introduction to this auspicious day, for those of you who do not know, Dhanteras, also known as Dhantrayodashi is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishnapaksha in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik. In terms of the Gregorian calendar, this day is being observed on 13th November in 2020 which is today.  It is also the first day of the five-day-long Diwali celebrations.

Significance in Hinduism
This day marks the birth anniversary of God of Ayurveda, Lord Dhanvantri. He is called so for he is believed to have bestowed the wisdom of Ayurveda to mankind for curing diseases. He is, hence, worshipped on the day of Dhanteras and this day is also observed as "National Ayurveda Day" since 2016.

Lord Dhanvantri

Significance in Jainism
In Jainism, this day is celebrated as "Dhanyateras" instead of "Dhanteras". Legends say that on this day, Lord Mahavira was in the state of leaving everything in this world and meditating before attaining Moksha which makes this day "Dhanya" (Auspicious).

Lord Mahavir

Legend of Dhanteras 
There lies an interesting ancient legend behind this festival. The sixteen year old son of King Hima was predicted to be dead by the fourth day of his marriage. Acquainted of this prediction, that day, his wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid out heaps and heaps of ornaments and jewellery of gold and other precious metals. She lit diyas and lamps and sang to her husband and told him stories to prevent him from falling asleep. Next day when Yamaraja, the deity of death, came disguised as a serpent to take the prince away, he was bedazzled by brilliant shine of the jewellery and the blinding lights of the lamps and diyas. Allured by the songs of the prince's wife, Lord Yama lost the track of time. When the time to take the life of the boy elapsed, Lord Yama in the form of the serpent had to give up his mission. Thus the prince's life was saved by his wife due to her wittiness.
Due to the important role of having put jewellery and precious items to save the life of the prince, buying gold, silver and other precious metal utensils and ornaments is considered auspicious on this day.
In the modern era, it is also considered as a lucky day to buy electronic appliances and automobiles.

Bibliography:
1. wikipedia.org
2. drikpanchang.com
3. businessinsider.in
4. culturalindia.net


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