As is commonly seen, a word in Sanskrit may have many meanings. So while DHAN commonly means WEALTH, there are other root words for DHAN.
So Dhanteras has different meanings depending on the way of looking at.
DHAN - Wealth
TRAYODASHI - Thirteen (Trayodashi is now called Teras in Hindi, so DHAN TRAYODASHI became DHAN TERAS).
DHANUS may mean a bow but it also has links with surgery and DHANYAN means desert.
So the word DHANTRYODASHI has many meanings. The thirteenth day , day of wealth.
This is also called as the birthday of DHANVANTARI - God of Medicine. The one who has seen the end (anta) of DHANUS (Surgery) is DHANVANTARI.
The word dhanvan means a desert - dhanvachara meaning, he who moves in a desert). DHANVANTARI is like the oasis in the desert of worldly existence.
Many meanings and many legends.
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Once there was a young prince and his death was predicted by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage, which happened to be two days before the new moon, on the thirteenth day, or a trayodashi.. On that particular day, his newly-wed wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid out all her ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a heap near the entrance of their sleeping chamber and lit lamps all over the place. Then she narrated stories and sang songs to keep her husband from falling asleep.
At the stroke of midnight, Yama, the God of Death, reached the palace in the guise of a snake to kill the prince. But Yamraj’s eyes were blinded by the dazzle of the Diyas. This prevented him from entering the room of the prince
When the attempts to enter the room failed, Yama hid near the ornaments and coins, thinking that the prince might come there to look at the valuables.
But the clever young bride did not allow the prince to venture out. Instead she said interesting stories and songs. The prince was glued to the stories and did not move from the place. Yama also forgot about his mission listening to the songs and stories. Soon the sun appeared and Yama returned disappointed.
This incident is celebrated as Yamdeepdaan. The tradition of burning lamps through the night on the day is dedicated to Yama.
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Dhantrayodashi is also considered the birthday of Dhanvantari. This is the day when is supposed to have arisen , when the cosmic ocean was churned for nectar. Considered an incarnation of Vishnu, he is depicted, clad in bright yellow silk, He is depicted with four hands- the upper pair of hands carrying sankha and chakra, and the lower pair, a leech and pitcher. Interestingly, the leech was part of the doctor’s kit in olden days since it was used to suck out impure blood from the patient‘s body. Even now, extract from its saliva is used to prevent clotting.
People start preparing for this day few weeks in advance. Houses and shops get cleaned and decorated. The special colorful patterns are laid out near the entrance of the house. In some regions, lamps lit are dedicated to dead ancestors and floated down a river or pond.
On this day, Hindus purchase gold, silver and other utensils. Many people begin the purchase for Diwali celebrations on this day. Crackers, candles, lamps and other items needed for Diwali are purchased on this day.
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Some also celebrate this day as the birthday of Lord Kubera, who is the God of Wealth.
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Dhan is wealth. Life is wealth.
So lets cherish the life we have, the wealth of life.
Happy Dhanteras.
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