English
The Appearance of Dhanvantari
Source: Shrimad Bhagavata Purana, Book 8 (chapters 5–9, the churning of the ocean)
There came a time when the gods, defeated in battle by the asuras, lost their strength and splendour. Troubled, they went with Brahma to take refuge in Lord Vishnu.
The Lord showed them a way: “Make peace with the asuras and together churn the Ocean of Milk. Nectar will come out of it, and drinking it you will be strong again.”
Mount Mandara was made the churning rod and Vasuki, king of serpents, the rope. When the mountain began to sink into the ocean, the Lord himself took the form of a giant tortoise and held it up on his back.
The churning began. First came the terrible halahala poison, whose fire scorched all three worlds. Then the compassionate Lord Shiva drank it and held it in his throat, and was called Neelkanth, the blue-throated one.
Then treasures rose one by one: Kamadhenu the wish-giving cow, the horse Uchchaihshravas, the elephant Airavata, the Kaustubha gem, the Parijata tree, the apsaras, and then Goddess Lakshmi herself, who chose Lord Vishnu.
But the nectar, the very thing gods and asuras were churning for, had still not appeared. Tired arms kept on churning…
Then the waves blazed with a wondrous light. From the middle of the waters a divine figure was rising: long arms, a dark radiant body, yellow robes, a garland at his neck… and in his hands, a pot.
He was Lord Dhanvantari. The Bhagavata says he appeared as a portion of Lord Vishnu himself, and the pot in his hands held the amrit, the nectar, for which the whole churning had been done.
The Bhagavata calls him the knower of Ayurveda and one who receives a share in the sacrifice. He is the healer who removes disease and pain and gives strength to life.
But the moment the asuras saw the pot of nectar, their patience snapped. They snatched it from Dhanvantari's hands and ran off with it. Now they began quarrelling among themselves: “I'll drink first!” The nectar the gods had toiled for was suddenly in the hands of others.
Disheartened, the gods again sought refuge in the Lord. Then Lord Vishnu took the enchanting form of Mohini. Charmed by her, the asuras themselves handed her the pot and said, “You share it out.”
Mohini seated the gods and asuras in separate rows and served the nectar to the gods. Having drunk it, the gods regained their strength and overcame the asuras.
So the appearance of Dhanvantari was the summit of the churning: a journey that began with poison ended with nectar. Dhanvantari, who appeared carrying the nectar, is also counted among the Lord's incarnations in the Bhagavata.
Later, in Book 9, the Bhagavata also describes a great soul named Dhanvantari in the royal line of Kashi, called a portion of the Lord and the founder of Ayurveda. That is why Dhanvantari is revered as the god of health and worshipped by healers.
What this story teaches
True wealth is good health. Like the churning, patient effort may first bring poison and hardship, but in the end it gives nectar.
In tradition, Kartik Krishna Trayodashi (Dhanteras) is celebrated as Dhanvantari Jayanti, and Lord Dhanvantari is worshipped that day for good health. This link between Dhanteras and Dhanvantari comes from popular tradition; the Bhagavata account names no date. The list and order of the treasures from the churning differ somewhat between Puranas.
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