Orissa Review July - 2008

Dhanwantari : The Incarnation of Lord

Dr. Dinabandhu Moharana

Dhanwantari, the God of is regarded In fact God Dhanwantari is the poineer of as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in many Hindu Ayurvedic science. His birthday is celebrated in Mythologies like Vishnupuran, Bhagabatpuran, the month of Kartika, all over the country. The Mahabharat, Agnipuran and Haribans - proficient Ayurvedist of India, earn their livelihood Vayupuran etc. One of these prominent following the advices of Dhanwantari written in mythological script Harivans Vayupuran reveals . that 'Dhanwa', the king of Kasi was a great The theory of the devotee of Lord Vishnu. He incarnation of Lord Vishnu as had no son. He worshipped Lord Dhanwantari is not Lord Vishnu for this purpose found in , but many and Lord Vishnu took birth as narrate this topic. the son of king Dhanwa and According to some Puranas was named 'Divodasa'. Divodasa, the king of Kasi Dhanwantari appeared in this surnamed Dhanwantari, the world at the time of "Samudra incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In Manthana". This is the Sushruta Samhita, one of the mythological fact about the most ancient encyclopedic creation of Lord and authoritative classical Dhanwantari. But if we go books of Indian medicine, i.e. back to the history there are Ayurveda, Dhanwantari is two Dhanwantaries in referred to as the teacher of different times. (1) Lord Salyatantra or science of Dhanwantari who appeared major and he before gods at the time of imported this knowledge to "Samudra Manthanam." Sushruta, the representive of an assembly of Rishis (2) Kasiraj Divodasa Dhanwantari who was born or sages. He said, "It was I who cured the disease at Kashi and was an eminent surgery specialist of the Gods and prevented their deaths and and advisor of Sushruta Samhita. decripitude. I have now come to this world to In Harivansa, Vayu Purana and teach Salyatantra and other divisions of Ayurveda Baivarta Purana, it has been described that Lord in detail. Vishnu sent Dhanwantari, as the son of king

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Dhanwa of Kashi. Dhanwantari was master of Sanjivani of animal as Dhanwantari knew healing all diseases. He was taught by Rishi Sanjivani Mantra of plant. But animals depend Bharadwaja and first time divided Ayurveda into upon trees for their survival. So trees accepted 8 parts and transferred it to his students. Dhanwantari as their . The moment, they get Many Hindu mythologies reveal his order from Dhanwantari, they immediately bear appearances that Lord Dhanwantari has four fruits, flowers and confer juice. Then Dhanwantari hands. In one hand, there is a nectar pot, in another collected juice from trees, palm trees and there is a Ayurvedic book, a medicinal herb in also from many other trees of Gandhamardan. the third hand and in the fourth hand there is a His descendants conferred it to Gods and demons. conch shell. Equipped with these things, he Drinking the juice of those trees they were cured appeared in this world to save mankind in their from their diseases and became strong and stout. adversity. But stupid demons concealed some of it. They drank making it bear at a secret place. No doubt Many things have been written about him they were cured from their diseases became in Hindu mythological books and scriptures. It is healthy, but there was no development of their known from mythological book that once there mental power. They became tyrant and arose a great problem to save the world from quarrelsome so long as they would not discard danger. The God was puzzled seeing this terrible drinking bear. situation. Trinnath Sabha was arranged. Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar considered the matter and In Vedic period Aswinis were expert told that great injustice has been done to Gods, medical practitioners and in Puranic period who have been deprived of getting nectar at the Dhanwantari became the same as Aswinis. time of churning of milk sea. If it will be churned Dhanwantari was master of all branches of again ordure will come out as a result of which Ayurveda. He was an eminent toxicologist. On the whole world will be annihilated. On the other the other hand he was also well-known physician hand immortal Gods are in the distress being of Horses (Ashwayurveda) and elephants wounded and caught by many diseases. For the (Hastyayurveda). Thus Dhanwantari developed settlement of peace, treatment and to save he 8 branches of Ayurveda at his period, especially world from danger, Dhanwantari was sent for. the surgery by the time Dhanwantari became the Accompanied by his colleagues he appeared in surgery specialist and Dhanwantari group widely the "Trinath Sabha". known as surgery specialist i.e. "Salya ". He proposed that "we can get nectar from the trees given by Laxmi, the daughter of sea However it is undoubtedly accepted that instead of churning the sea." We can get plenty of Dhanwantari was the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. it from the trees of mountain Gandhamardan. If We expect that till the end of this civilisation order will be given, my descendant will bring these Dhanwantari and his descendants will be threes. Drinking their nectar many people will be remembered. cured from their diseases. Although they will not be immortal, they will be long-lived. This Dr. Dinabandhu Moharana, Orissa Ayurveda proposal of Dhanwantari was unanimously Sebasadan, Room No.III, Municipality Market, OMP accepted. At that time Sukracharya knew Square, Cuttack-3.

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