Dhanteras
In many parts of India, Dipavali, a festival of lights , in fact begins on the thirteenth day (trayodashi ) of the dark fortnight ( krishnapaksha) in the month of Karttika and with the addition of Shuklapaksha dvitiya ( second day of white fortnight ), it is spread over five days. The festival normally falls during the last part of October and early part of November. The first day that is the thirteenth day is called Dhanteras, the fourteenth day ( chaturdashi) is called Narakacaturdashi, small Diwali or choti Diwali, then the next day amavasya or the new-moon day is the Dipavali devoted to the worship of Lakshmi and Kubera, then the following day Karttika shukla pratipada, the first day of bright fortnight is known by the name Balipratipada, devoted to the worship of Bali who was pushed into the netherworld by Lord Vishnu as the incarnation of Vamana. It is also known as Govardhan puja as cattle are worshiped on this day. On this day , the artisans, workers worship the divine architect Vishvakarma , who is credited with the creation of fabulous weapons and palaces of gods. So this day is popular as Vishvakarma day.Next day, the Karttika Shukla dvitiya , known as Yama dvitiya is celebrated Bhaiyaduj According to an ancient legend, yama, the god of death and the river goddess Yamuna, were brother and sister. On this day of Karttika Shukla dvitiya, goddess Yamuna is said to have invited her brother Yama to her house for dinner and honoured him. Hence, this day has become a day of reunion of brothers and sisters. Sometimes, the sisters worship god Yama and pray to him for the longevity of their brothers. people living on the banks of the Yamuna river take bath in the river on this day.
Most of the festivals carry a significance of their own. Facts of Nature and Science are embedded in the form of anecdotes and myths associated with them and these myths account for the perpetuity of celebration of the festivals from time immemorial.Dipavali is celebrated after the rainy season. After the rains, there is outbreak of diseases due to the growth and spread of germs, moths etc. That is why cleaning, whitewashing the house, lighting lamps,bursting crackers are done to get rid of them in a natural manner.Thus attention is paid to maintaining health.
dhanteras is composed of two words, dhan meaning wealth and prosperity and teras referring to the thirteenth day ( of the month of Karttika). This day is an auspicious one to buy utensils, jewellery. a new vessel is purchased and put it at the place of worship, to be used later during the Divali days . Keeping the whole house clean and polishing of all the vessels is another feature noticed on this day. Now a days people invest and buy consumer goods. Not only idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha of varying designs, sizes and shapes, but also utensils, silver coins, gold coins, jewellery and other decorative items, electronic goods, vehicles are in high demand on the occasion of Dhanteras.
People worship Dhan Kuber, the god of wealth and prosperity,on this day and light a lamp in the night to offer prayers to him for his blessings for prosperity, well-being and protection. People light lamps at the doorstep of their houses to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth on this day. A lamp is lighted in honour of Yama, the god of death. Dhanvantari, the divine doctor is also worshipped on this day.
Stories connected with this festival-
Once Yama, the god of death asked his messengers whether they felt unhappy over taking the lives of people on the earth. They replied " Your Highness ! our work is very hard and cruel. When we take any life from the young ones untimely , we are moved by the pitiable cries of the beloved people around there and we feel helpless. Once we had to take the life of a young prince on the fourth day of his marriage. Hearing the heart-rendering cries and seeing the pitiable condition of the new bride, we felt disgusted with our work. So, please suggest a means by which the untimely death can be avoided."
At this, Yama, the Lord of death said, " Whoever lights a lamp in my honour on Dhanteras day, he will never face untimely death."
A slight variation of the same story is also given in scriptures according to which there was an astrological prediction that the son of king Hima would die on the fourth day of his marriage. After the marriage was over,the young bride of the prince put all the coins of gold and silver and her jewellery on the doors and windows of her bed-room. At the same time she lit the entire palace with lamps everywhere. When the god of death came there in the form of a serpent to take away the life of the prince, it was blinded by the light of sparkling coins, jewellery and lamps and went away as the appointed time was over.Thus a wife's presence of mind and intelligence saved her husband's life. That day became Dhanteras and got associated with the worship of Yama. On Dhanteras day, a lamp lighted on a cup full of rice is kept facing the south at the door step of the house in the evening in honour of Yama.
This day is also celebrated as the birth festival of Dhanvantari. the physician of gods, the first physician in creation, an incarnation of Vishnu, the founder-preceptor of Ayurveda. Since he brought the amrtakalasha or the pot of ambrosia out of the milky ocean, by drinking which, gods became immortal.It is also believed that that he brought a pot of elixir meaning full of medcinal herbs for the cure of the diseases of the world on this day. So doctors of Ayurveda celebrate this day by worshiping the image of Dhanvantari and distributing prasad, praying for the welfare and long and healthy life of all people.
The sequence of the festivals is significant and scientific. The first day is devoted to the worship of Yama, Dhanvantari and Kubera. It is symbolic also.
After the rains, precautions are taken to get rid of diseases caused by the spread of germs to avoid untimely suffering of the human body and prayers to Dhanvantari for a healthy long life. Prayers are the easiest means to uplift the human mind. The man begins to experience peace and happiness. Then he is inspired to strive for prosperity, so the grace of Kubera is also needed.
When the body is strong and healthy and mind is peaceful and happy, there is a tendency to celebrate and enjoy festivals. On the day of Dipavali, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and bestower of wisdom, are worshiped.
When the body is healthy and mind is peaceful, one can make effort to achieve prosperity.
It is also said that sound health is the basis and means for achievement of good deeds, prosperity, enjoyment or fulfillment of desires and also for self-realization.
Lakshmi is supposed to be fickle. Ganesha stands for wisdom. It is figurative. If wealth stays permanently in one place, there is no need for effort on the part of the man. There is movement, effort and faith in the destiny because Lakshmi is chanchala, fickle.The scriptures state that she stays only in a clean house, body and mind. Stability of wealth depends on earning and preserving by wise means only.
After Dipavali, the cattle, the real wealth of an agricultural country and tools and machinery,the main means of livelihood of people are honoured to inculcate their value in prosperity of the nation. Once prosperity is achieved, there is a natural flow of love which is manifested in the natural bond of love between brother-sister relationship on the last day, bhaiyadooj festival.
