Dhanteras -The Most Auspicious Day For Wealth & Prosperity And Worshiping 2024
Dhanteras -The Most Auspicious Day For Wealth , Prosperity & Worshiping Goddess Laxmi
Dhanteras is the first day of five-day-long Indian Diwali Festival Celeberations. Dhanteras, also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari Triodasi, is on the auspicious thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh in the Hindu month of Kartik (November). In the word Dhanteras, “Dhan” stands for wealth and “teras” means the thirteen lunar day. On Dhanteras Goddess Laxmi (Wife of Lord Vishnu) is worshiped to provide prosperity and well being. Hence Dhanteras holds a lot more significance for wealth and prosperity seekers and the business community.
Dhanteras Legends
A very interesting story about Dhanteras Festival says that once the sixteen year old son of King Hima was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage as per his horoscope. On that particular fourth day of his marriage his newly wed wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all her ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins and utensits in a big heap at the entrance of her room and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. And she went on telling stories and singing songs.
When Yama (Yamraaj), the god of Death arrived there in the guise of a Serpent his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those jewels and ornaments and innumerable brilliant lights and he could not enter the Prince’s chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening to the interesting stories and melodious songs. In the morning he quietly went away. Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of “Yamadeepdaan” and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam, the god of Death.
According to another popular legend, when the gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrit (nectar), Dhanavantri (the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu) emerged carrying a jar of the elixir on the day of Dhanteras.
Dhanteras Preparations
On this auspicious day, houses and business premises are renovated and decorated. At the entrances lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs are made to welcome (Laxmi) the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses. Oil lamps are kept burning all through the nights.
Dhanteras Traditions
On Dhanteras Hindus consider it very auspicious to purchase gold or silver articles or at least one or two new utensils. It is believed that new “Dhan” or some form of precious metal is a sign of good luck. “Laxmi-Puja” is performed in the evenings when tiny Diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. “Bhajans”-devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are also sung.
Dhanteras Celebrations
Dhanteras is celebrated with gusto and lots of enthusiasm. “Lakshmi-Puja” is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits and negative energies. Bhajans or devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung and “Naivedya” of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya.
In the villages cattle are adorned and worshiped by farmers as they are the form of the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshiped on this day. PureVedicGems
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