Legends behind Dhanteras

October 31, 2018 Incredible India Valli Sarvani No comments

Diwali is ahead. It is celebrated with joy for five days. Dhanteras is the first day of this five-day festival.

As Diwali is mainly associated with worshipping of Goddess Lakshmi, Dhanteras involved with purchasing of precious things like gold and silver, and new appliances.

People believe that buying precious things means welcoming Goddess Lakshmi to the home.

It is also believed that if a girl child is born on Dhanteras, it is the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi.

Dhanteras is a significant festival for all Hindus in the country. Dhan means wealth or riches and Teras means the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight).

There are several legends associated with Dhanteras.

The first and foremost is the son of King Hima. His son was a sixteen-year-old prince. As per his horoscope, he was predicted to die due to a snakebite on the fourth day of his marriage.

His wife was a clever girl. On that particular day after their marriage, his newlywed wife decorated his room and entrance of the door with gold and silver coins. She illuminated their home with full lights.

When, Yama, the God of Death arrived to take the life of the prince in the guise of a serpent, he could not see due to dazzling of lights. He could not even enter into the room of prince due to a heap of gold coins.

Then, he tried to enter the room by climbing on the top of the heap of the coins, but could not do it as he was impressed by melodious songs sung by the prince’s wife and kept listening to them.

The next day, he quietly went away. The prince was thus saved from the clutches of death. Since that day, Dhanteras is being celebrated as ‘Yamadeepdaan’ by keeping the lamps burning throughout the night.

Another legend says that Dhanvantari, the physician of the Gods emerged on this day in the churning process of ocean of milk for nectar by Gods and demons.

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