Today – Surya Grahanam! Any prayer, any pooja, gains 1000X benefit! Time to place requests to your Ishtadeivam. At home, we have this idol of Lord Dhanvantari. I have always wondered about His origin. Was He a human? Was He creator of Ayurveda? The Divine Physician? A thread. 
The beauty of Sanatana Dharma is stories contain many layers and levels of insights, revealed to the seeker! During times such as this, when we need health, strength & protecting from disease, let us know the story of Dhanvantari. And it appears that there are 3 Dhanvantaris!
Dhanvantari - 1
Once, Lord Indra the leader of the Devas, drew the ire of Sage Durvasa, as a result all Devas were cursed to lose their energy & vitality. Seeing this, Asuras - the arch enemies of the Devas, quickly began attacking their domain & inflicting pain and torture.
Once, Lord Indra the leader of the Devas, drew the ire of Sage Durvasa, as a result all Devas were cursed to lose their energy & vitality. Seeing this, Asuras - the arch enemies of the Devas, quickly began attacking their domain & inflicting pain and torture.
The Devas prayed to Lord Mahavishnu for a soln & were told to obtain & partake of Amrit (Nectar) which would restore their strength. The Amrit lay at the bottom of the Milky Ocean. But this could only be churned BOTH, by Devas & Asuras. Calling a semi-truce the two clans worked
The Amrit-manthan – churning for Nectar was done with the Mandara mountain as the churner & the serpent Vasuki as a rope. The churning yielded several items, including the Halahala poison, which the divine Lord Shiva consumed to become “Neelakanta” (more on this later)
Finally, the nectar appeared, held in the hands of a young man, wearing a yellow robe and who carried herbs, leeches and the Chakra of Lord Mahavishnu. This form – the 11th avatar of Mahavishnu was proclaimed as Lord Dhanvantari – the celestial healer and physician of the Gods.
Dhanvantari - 2
Bhagavata Purana speaks about another Dhanvantari – a human - who the son of Dhirgatama in the Pururava dynasty. It was this Dhanvatari who created a 5th Veda – Ayurveda & divided it into 8 divisions for practice.
Bhagavata Purana speaks about another Dhanvantari – a human - who the son of Dhirgatama in the Pururava dynasty. It was this Dhanvatari who created a 5th Veda – Ayurveda & divided it into 8 divisions for practice.
The 8 were Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine), Kaumarabhrtya (Pediatrics), Bhutavidya (Psychiatry), Salakyatantra (Ortho-Rhino-Laryngology & Ophthalmology), Salyatantra (Surgery), Visatantra (Toxicology), Rasayanatantra (Geriatrics), Vajikaranatantra (The therapy for sterility)
Dhanvatari - 3
Divodasa Dhanvantari is believed to have lived around 3000 BC & was the teacher of Susruta, the famous Ayurvedic physician and is prominently mentioned in the Susruta-Samhita. He was responsible for the definition of Ayurvedic surgery recorded by Susruta.
Divodasa Dhanvantari is believed to have lived around 3000 BC & was the teacher of Susruta, the famous Ayurvedic physician and is prominently mentioned in the Susruta-Samhita. He was responsible for the definition of Ayurvedic surgery recorded by Susruta.
Thus, there were 3 Dhanvantri’s! The concept of Lord Dhanvantari represents the twin aspects of a) curing of diseases and b) of long life and even immortality. Dhanvantari is the 1st pathologist, surgeon and wellness specialist!
There is a beautiful story of Lord Dhanvantari set in the 11th C during Sri Ramanujacharya’s time. Once Ramanujar aka Ilayazhvar was visiting Sri Ranganathaswamy at SriRangam. That day, the Lord had a turban (thalaipaagai) upon his head & looked ill as he lay in the Sayanam.
“Oh Lord, are you unwell?” asked Ilayazhvar. “Yes, I am”, replied the Lord. “How did this happen?”. “Oh, I was given curd rice and gooseberries (Nellikkai) for prasadam. Since I don’t refuse any prasadam, I consumed it and I seem to have caught a cold”, replied the Lord.
Hearing this response, Ramanujar was saddened. “If you were a human, I would have a doctor come and cure you, but you are divine, what will I do?” he asked, with deep concern. “Oh, I would be happy if the Divine Physician Dhanvantari could give me a check-up” replied the Lord.
“How do I bring Dhanvantari to you, Oh Lord. He is a Divine physician!” asked Ramanujar. “Oh, that is simple” replied the Lord. “Just have a Dhanvantri idol set up in this temple. Perform poojas regularly for Him. He will take care of me”.
Sri Ramanujar immediately organized for an idol of Lord Dhanvantari to be installed at Sri Rangam. From that day, all prasadams being offered to the Lord are first given to Dhanvantari who is also the royal taster! Thus, Dhanvantari became the physician even during Kali Yuga
On this Surya Grahanam day, let us offer special prayers to Lord Dhanvantari, who symbolizes good health, strength & vitality. May the world be rid of the disease which plagues it & emerge healthier, stronger! #LokaSamasthaSukhinoBhavanthu (StorySource - Dinamalar, pics - Google)
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