UNFOLDED TRUTH ABOUT LORD DHANVANTRI

Author : Dr Santhosh Kumar S, B.A.M.S, D.N.H.E, D.H.H.M 

1.Lord Dhanvantari was one of the 14 great jewels that emerged upon churning of the primitive cosmic life substance of the ocean.

2.Physician Dhanvantari was the one who trained the  Sushruta sages, the very first surgeons in the world.

3.He is the one who treats heavenly beings from death, disease and old age,also known as Divodasa and Kasiraja in the ‘Mahabharata’.

4.Many Hindus celebrate his birthday every year on Dhanteras, which falls two days before Diwali.Ayurveda practitioners celebrate his birthday with vigor and joy.

5.There are no temples of Dhanvantari in North        India.However, there are temples dedicated to him in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where Ayurveda is still patronized and preached.

6. The oldest shrine dedicated to Dhanvantari dates back to the12th century; it is in the courtyard of the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.Visitors here are offered a herbal concoction as prasaad.

7. Dhanvantari incarnated as Prince of Kashi (Banaras ) to set masses free from their physical sufferings.Besides being an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the patron of all branches of medical science, he is also revered as the Prince of Kashi.

8. Search for the oldest books written on Ayurveda and you will come across ‘Dhanvantari Nighantu’ – a book written by the physician of gods himself.

 This book is one of the oldest medical glossaries in the world. It was believed to have three sections originally. The present day section is based on one of them and has details on about 373 medicines and herbs.