Lesser-known Stories of Dhanteras
It is time when the entire country will light up to celebrate Dhanteras and Diwali. But, are we aware of the significance of the festival, what it means and how the celebrations started?
According to the Hindu mythology, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped through a puja throughout the Pradosh Kaal. The Puja can be started after sunset. Dhanteras puja is also known as Dhanwantari Triodasi, Dhanvantri Jayanti Puja, Yamadeep and Dhantrayodashi.
Why Is Dhanteras Celebrated?
Dhanteras marks the beginning of the five-day Diwali celebrations. It is celebrated on the 13th day of the Kartik month as per Hindu calendar. ‘Dhan' translates to wealth and ‘tera' means thirteenth. On this day, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in all households and puja is carried out. It is believed to bring home a lot of good luck, peace, destiny, and prosperity.
Dhanteras Decorations
People clean their houses, undertake house repair tasks and decorate their houses. Ranglios are made at the doorstep and candles and diyas are lighted up. Many People put footprints of Goddess Lakshmi at the home’s entrance to welcome wealth and prosperity. After sunset, people offer puja to please Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh. They ask for prosperity, wisdom, and wellbeing for their house. People chant mantras, bhakti songs and arti for the deity. The offerings include rose and marigold flowers, ghee diya, dhoop, incense, camphor and more.
Traditions Followed
As per Hindu mythology, Hindus follow many customs and traditions celebrate Dhanteras will full zeal and enthusiasm. It is regarded as propitious to buy gold or silver coins, jewelry items, new utensils, and other new things. Bringing new articles and things home is a sign of welcoming Goddess Lakshmi home and seek her blessings throughout the year.
While villages decorate and worship their cattle as they are their major source of income, south Indians offer decorated cows as a manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi. In some places, seven kinds of cereal including wheat, gram, barley, urad, moong, and masoor dal are worshipped during the puja. Different types of flowers and sweets are offered to Mata Lakshmi.
Dhanteras Stories You Must Know
Gracious, Audacious and Ostentatious, Gold is much more than just a precious metal. It is the fundament of Dhanteras. People worship ‘Dhan’, Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, as well as the God of Death to seek blessings of good health and wealth.
Most of us know that buying gold on this day is lucky, and flock to the stores for coins and jewelry. Purchasing metals is a way of welcoming Goddess Lakshmi to your home. But, do you know that Dhanteras celebrations have some interesting stories attached to it?
So, as you prep up for the big day, which is knocking your door, here are five lesser-known stories about Dhanteras celebrations.
- Gold – The Savior
King Hima’s sixteen-year-old son was predicted to die due to snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On an unfortunate night, the young prince’s wife recited stories and songs to him all night to keep him wide awake. Also, she kept a big heap of gold and silver at the entrance of the room and lit many lamps all over the room. When Yamraj entered the room in the guise of a snake to complete his prediction, the strong sparkle of the light blinded his eyes. With so much distraction, he went back without taking the prince’s life. This is why it is considered auspicious to buy gold and silver on Dhanteras.
- Return of Goddess Lakshmi
Sage Durvasa once cursed Lord Indra that Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, power, success and prosperity, will leave him for his egotistic attitude. Taking this opportunity, the demons got into a war with Lord Indra and other Gods and defeated them all. Considering Lord Vishnu’s suggestion, the Gods joined hands with the demons and began churning the Sea of Milk for Amrit (Nectar of Eternal Life). During this churning process, many celestial and magical bodies were thrown out of the. Among these appeared Goddess Lakshmi holding a lotus, marking her reemergence. In the presence of Goddess Lakshmi, prosperity was achieved, and the Gods soon achieved the Amrita also. On the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped as the herald of prosperity and wealth.
- Lakshmi - The Laborer
On a visit to earth once, Goddess Lakshmi was mesmerized by pretty mustard flowers, juicy sugarcanes, and other earthly temptations. She did not pay any heed to Lord Vishnu’s rules and regulations. Hence, Lord Vishnu pronounced a strict punishment to her and commanded her to work on the fields of the farmer whose flowers and sugarcane she had enjoyed, for the next 12 years. Goddess Lakshmi took the form of a laborer and toiled in his fields as penance. During this time, the farmer prospered and became wealthy. After completing her 12 years of punishment, when Goddess Lakshmi wanted to bid adieu, the farmer refused to let his good laborer leave and offered to pay her better wages. Ultimately, when the farmer realized that the laborer was none other than the Goddess of wealth, Maa Lakshmi told him that she will leave, but with a promise to return on Dhanteras every year. She asked the farmer to keep the house clean and light earthen lamps on this day every year. The dazzle of the lights and the scent of a clean house will guide her to his house. The farmer followed these religiously, which made him prosperous. Soon after, other people started following him, thus leading to celebrations of Dhanteras.
- Emergence of Dhanwantari
After getting defeated by the demons, the Gods decided to do Samudra-Manthan, that is, the churning of the Sea of Milk for Amrit or the eternal nectar. They were in dire need of the nectar as it would them immortal and invincible. Thus, they would get a chance to defeat the demons once more. At the end of the rigorous process of Samudra-Manthan, Dhanwantari, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu emerged. She was carrying the elixir of life in an urn. This day is marked as Dhanteras because Amrit was nothing less than an ultimate wealth for all the Gods. Also, it is said that Ayurveda, the science of healing using natural medicines was discovered on this day.
- Lighting Lamps to please Yama Deva
An interesting ritual that takes place on Dhanteras is ‘Yamadeepdaan’. During this ritual, the women of the house lighting lamps for the God of Death ‘Yama’. Yamaraj is offered lighted ‘diyas’ or earthen lamps to cancel any premature death he might have on his mind. On Dhanteras, people seek blessings from Yamadev, and a lamp is lit at the entrance of the south-facing door, along with some coins. It is believed that this ritual protects the members of the family from untimely deaths or sudden fatal incidents.
Apeksha News Network Wishes You All A Very Happy & Prosperous Dhanteras!
