Dhanvantari, the Hindu god of Ayurveda, rose from the Kshirasagara with Amrit in his hands. He is an avatar of Vishnu, holds a Shankha, Chakra, pot of Amrita and Jalauka – a leech in his four hands and is worshipped on Dhanteras.
*Leeches were used in India 3500 years back too to remove clotted blood from the bodies of wounded soldiers and to reattach severed limbs. But these lesser-known stories about Dhanvantari are worth reflecting upon too.
The story of Dhanvantari
After Dhanvantari emerges from the Kshirasagara, he bows before Vishnu and says, “Please make me a part of some Vedic ritual for I wish to reside beneath your lotus feet.” Vishnu says, “None of the 14 jewels that emerged from the Samudra Manthan has been assigned the status of a God. Even the moon that emerged along with Lakshmi is just an aspect of the moon God Soma.
I can bestow godly powers on you only after you are born as a human being. You will have eight yogic powers in your foetal stage itself. Disease will plague mankind towards the end of the Dwapara Yuga. And you will compile the Ayurveda Samhita and segregate it into eight categories so that humans can understand it easily.
After this, you will become the god of potions, hymns, meditation, rites and rituals and the physician of Devas.
The story of Kashi
The Rig Veda says Divodasa, a king of Kashi has the surname of Dhanvantari and is the founder of Ayurveda. Through this story, Annapurna simplifies the concept of Dhanvantari’s Amrit for us and tells us how we can begin our journey towards Moksha through Anna – food.
After Parvati marries Shiva she asks him to live in Himavan’s house for some time along with his ganas. Shiva agrees. Now all the ganas do is sing the praises of their lord and dance for and along with him. And they continue doing this in Himavan’s house too much to the delight of Parvati.
But Mena, Parvati’s wife is repulsed by their crude behaviour. She admonishes Parvati sharply and says, “Your husband, Maheshwara is a good for nothing fellow who sings and dances with his ugly companions whenever he pleases. Who can teach such an uncouth man etiquette?”
Parvati gets hurt by Mena’s remarks. She remembers how her father Daksha had insulted Shiva in her previous life. She does not want to part with Shiva this time. So she approaches Shiva and says, “I wish to live with you alone for 1000 years O Shiva. Please take me to my marital home now.”
And so Shiva combs through the earth to find a suitable place for them to live in. When he comes across the city of Kashi, which lies in the kingdom of Divodasa, he knows it is the perfect place for their home.
He summons Nikumbha, his gana and says, “Parvati wishes to live with me in isolation for 1000 years. And Kashi will be our new home. So ensure that this city has no people. Be careful though. For Divodasa Dhanvantari is a mighty king.”
So Nikumbha appears in the dream of a barber called Kanduka. He says, “I wish to live in the form of an idol at the entrance of Kashi. Please ask your king to fulfil my desire.” The barber narrates the details of his dream to Dhanvantari who agrees to install Nikumbha’s idol at the entrance of Kashi. Soon the people of Kashi worship Nikumbha’s idol regularly because he fulfils all their wishes.
Dhanvantari and his queen Suyasha too offer their prayers to Nikumbha’s idol. They have no son despite being married for several years and yearn for one. But Nikumbha does not fulfil their wishes so Suyasha fails to conceive. Nikumbha, obviously, is following Shiva’s instructions. He wants Dhanvantari to lose his temper so that he can curse him and fulfil Shiva’s mission.
When Dhanvantari’s patience wears down, he succumbs to rage. He looks at the idol of Nikumbha and says, “You fulfil the wishes of the people who live in my kingdom. But refuse to answer the ardent prayers of their king and queen. Of what use is a god if he cannot take care of his devotees. Your idol symbolises the futility of prayers.” And in a fit of rage Dhanvantari pulls down the idol of Nikumbha with utter disrespect.
Nikumbha, the demigod instantly emerges out of the idol and curses Dhanvantari saying, “You have turned out the god of homes and good intentions from your city. I curse you O Divodasa Dhanvantari. You are a king and your kingdom is your home. Your people too will forsake your home and leave Kashi for a thousand years to come.” Nikumbha returns to Shiva after fulfilling his mission. The people of Kashi flee in all directions. Dhanvantari has no choice. He too leaves the kingdom and settles down on the banks of the river Gomti. And Kashi becomes desolate.
Annapurna
Shiva assumes that Parvati will love her new home and the privacy it offers them. But Parvati is aghast when she sees that her new home is as dry as dust. She wonders how Shiva could even consider setting up their home in a barren place like Kashi. It looked like a crematorium and had an eerie silence. Parvati says, “I cannot stay here O Shiva. Take me someplace else.”
Shiva looks at her quizzically and says, “I Shiva am Avimukta. And the souls of people who come to Kashi gain Mukti. So I will reside in Kashi for the next three yugas. And that is that. ”
Parvati shoots daggers at Shiva with her eyes and says, “Of what use are your incomprehensible philosophies if there is no one to grasp its essence. You say this place is an Avimukta Kshetram – where even the ineligible get Mukti. But only the walls, pillars and empty homes will get Mukti here. How can you become a Data, a donor of Mukti when there are no recipients?
I am Adi Shakti, the primal Goddess – the mother of my earthly children. Bring my children back to my home and make Kashi a liveable place first. For a house becomes a home only with children and family in it.
And my children are Manavas. Not Devas. Like Divodasa Dhanvantari they have to live through their earthly lives, cleanse themselves of their sins and clear their karmic accounts first. And in order to all this, they have to sustain themselves. And I am their mother. I provide them with Anna – food and enable them to do all this.
Understand this O Shiva – Only if my children nourish their bodies can they nurture their souls. And only after that can they even think of concepts like Mukti and Amrita. So do what I say, NOW, else I will return to my mother’s place this very instant.”
Shiva chuckles and says, “But you said you wanted to live with me alone for a 1000 years! And I, as a good husband followed your instructions perfectly. Yet you threaten to leave me. But don’t you worry my beloved. A thousand years have already passed on earth. And Kashi is repopulating itself…”
Parvati’s joy knows no bounds when she sees her children returning home. She transforms into Annapurna, infuses her Prana into Anna and transforms all her children into food-oriented living beings.
Shiva realizes his folly and transforms into Vishvanatha, the lord of the universe. And as Vishvanatha he supports Annapurna in her endeavour and enables all of us to take the journey from Anna to Mukti and Amrita.
Click here to read more stories about Vishnu.
Click here to read more stories about the Goddess.