Dhanteras is the first of the five dazzling Diwali days exuberant with light, colour, energy and zest. Celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm, this day is believed to pack in all the 3 great benefits! Dhanteras promotes wealth and prosperity blessed by Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of wealth) and Kuber, Vitality blessed by Lord Dhanvantari (Vishnu avatar, God of Medicine/Ayurveda) and Long life gained from Lord Yama (God of Death). This post discusses the significance of Dhanteras , its meaning, puja and mantra, do’s and don’ts and legends/stories around the festival.
This day is also celebrated as a National Ayurveda Day in India.
The significance of Dhanteras as a festival is as follows:
1. Capital purchases:
It creates a flurry of activities especially personal purchases. Most Hindus prefer making significant purchase decisions on days where the stars are aligned auspiciously. Dhanteras thus is considered an ideal time to pick up expensive investments like gold, house, car apart from others. It is believed that all monetary investments made on this day will multiply manifold.
2. Boost to the economy:
The collective spending and manufacturing activity gives the economy a fillip. Dhanteras/ Diwali therefore is looked at a great business opportunity by all right from large corporates to small enterprises to the micro shop and establishments.
3. The spirit of giving (Dana) Infuses gaiety, optimism:
The general nudge by Dhanteras traditions to gift gold coins/silver coins/jewelry for self/loved ones infuses a sense of optimism, gaiety and zest. Shopping is a great mood lifter but shopping for loved ones feels even better
4. Reinforces that Dharma will always prevail:
As is the case with all festivals, Dhanteras too with its folk lore reinforces that no matter how strong Adharma seems, its victory is only temporary. Eventually Dharma and truth shall always prevail. Like in the case of Samudra manthan story where the Gods eventually overthrow the asuras.
5.God is always on the side of Good:
Another recurring theme in most Pauranic stories is that while the powerful Trinity may grant boons to anyone who with exceptional penance and devotion, implementing Dharma, is an impartial pragmatic affair for them. In the Samudra manthan story too, Lord Vishnu orchestrates the whole Amrit (elixir of immortality) extraction process but eventually helps the Gods win
6. Destiny is in one’s hands:
Many stories in Hindu folklore reiterate this. There may be something written in your fate. But through determination, selflessness and an attitude of service (right Karma) one can change one’s destiny. King’s Hima’s daughter-in-law proves this in her Dhanteras story.
7. Making way for the new:
The first step of cleaning up the house for Diwali ensures it is rid of old unused stuff plus the accompanying dust and grime. Spiritually it means clearing up our blocked energy channel by letting go of old emotional baggages . Buying fresh new things signify renewal and a reenergized relationship with Self and the World. This is inked with all the other auspicious rituals celebrated on Dhanteras .
Meaning of Dhanteras:
‘Dhan’ means wealth and ‘teras’ means 13th as in the 13th lunar day of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the Kartik month. This day is also known as Dhanwantriodashi or Dhanvantri Jayanti. Goddess Laxmi followed by God Dhanvantari are believed to have emerged out of the Samudra manthan on this day. It is also called Yamadeepdana or Yama Deepam as Yama is prayed to for protection by keeping diyas burning all night.
Dhanteras falls on the Trayodashi Tithi of Krishnapaksha in the Kartik Month. As per Drik Panchang Dhanteras 2022 will be celebrated on both days 22nd and 23rd of October.
Most Auspicious time (Shubh Muhurat)
Trayodashi Tithi begins: 06.02p.m (October’22)
Trayodashi Tithi ends: 6.03p.m (October’23)
Pradosh Kaal: 5.45p.m to 8.17p.m (October ’22)
Vrishabh Kaal: 7.01p.m to 8.56p.m (October ’22)
Pooja Mahurat : 7.01p.m to 8.17p.m (October’22)
As per the Times of India and Astrologer Nandini Sharma , Yamadeepam can be done on 22nd October’22 and Dhanteras Laxmi Pujan can be done on both days , 22nd as well as 23rd October’22.
On 23rd October ’22 Trayodashi will be Udaya Tithi, hence this year Dhanteras purchases can happen on 23rd October also.
Dhanteras Pooja Ritual
Dhanteras Pooja revolves around Goddess Laxmi and all her forms , Lord Ganesha , Lord Kuber, Dhanavantari and Yama.
The home-mandir or Home-shrine
Keep the home shrine spotlessly clean. The northern corner of the house is always related to wealth and prosperity especially during Dhanteras puja. Hence the shrine should be installed there or in the north-eastern corner.
Decoration of the home-shrine
Use marigold, lotus and rose flowers. Light chaumukhi diyas (square diyas with four wicks) and keep them lit overnight. Keep a kalash, fill it with clean water and drop a few coins inside it. Then keep a coconut on it mouth over mango leaves. Some keep a red cloth over it and decorate it with Kumkum and flowers and keep rice next to it.
Another variation in the kalash ritual is to fill a kalash with rice with 5 betel whole betel nuts and 21 lotus seeds and place it on a red cloth. Then top it with a pot filled with water from the Ganges (gangajal) and sugar. Drop some silver coins into the pot and decorate it with flowers.
Idols of Goddess Laxmi, Saraswati and Lord Ganesh
Preferably use clay or silver or any other metal sitting idols of Laxmi, Saraswati and Ganesha. Never use plastic or glass or idols made of other synthetic materials. Clean and dress up the idols in finery. Then place the Laxmi idol or image in the centre, the Saraswati to the right and the Ganesha Idol to the left.
In case of a joint image of the three divinities maintain the order and the position.
Family Aarti for Dhanteras:
Perform evening aarati, sing hymns and mantras. Perform Shodashopachara (traditional 16-step pooja) to the Goddess . Ringing of bells and blowing of conch eliminates negative energies. Get the entire family to sit together to do the Dhanteras puja. Burn incense, camphor, dhoop or incense. Guggal dhoop is famously used for creating a peaceful environment.
Offerings for Dhanteras Puja:
Offer Naivedya or prasad, a homemade sweet, fruits, sweetmeat, laddoos or dry fruits etc. Panchamrit (made from milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar) is popularly offered to Gods during aarati and then distributed as prasad. Kheel (puffed rice) batasha (sugar candy) is another widely used naivedya in Laxmi Puja. Offer jewellery/gold coins as well.
Puja outside of the home- shrine:
Worship the holy Tulsi plant in the evening and light a diya next to it. Put Rangoli outside the House to welcome the goddess. Make swastiks at the entrance with rice and turmeric paste. Rice stands for positivity and turmeric for prosperity. Make rice and vermillion paste and make small footsteps of Goddess Laxmi from the door to the puja shrine indicating that he has graced the house with her presence.
Dhanteras Pooja Mantras:
Ganpati mantra
Ganesh Beej mantra: ‘Om Gam Ganpataye Namah’
Laxmi mantras
Laxmi Beej mantra: Om Hreem Shreem Laxmibhayo Namah
Laxmi Gayatri mantra : Om Shree Mahalaxmyai cha vidmahe Vishnu patnyai cha dheemahi tanno laxmi prachodayat om.’
Combined Laxmi Vinayaka mantra
- Om Shreem Gam Saumyaya Ganpataye Vara Varada, Sarvajanam me vashamanaya svaha’
Saraswati Mantras
- Saraswati Beej mantra: Om Aim Kleem Sauh
- Maha Saraswati mantra: Om Aim Mahasaraswataye namah
- Saraswati Gayatri mantra :Om Aim Vagdeviai Vidmahe Kamarajaya dhimahi. Tanno devi Prachodayat.
Dhanvantari mantra
Generally we don’t have the image/idol of Dhanvantari or Kuber in which case the following procedure may be adopted for their puja.
Take a small stool (chowki) clean it and draw a swastik on the centre of it with kumkum paste . Then place a large diya on the swastik. Put a cowrie shell (signifying prosperity) inside the diya. Drop a coin and some rice inside the diya. Offer flowers to the diya. Apply haldi Kumkum. Post this keep this diya right outside the main entrance of the house and pray to Lord Dhanvantari with the mantra Worship Dhanvantari with the mantra
- ‘Aum DhanDhanvantaraye Namah’
Kuber Mantras
For Kuber puja, one can simply bring out the jewelry and cash and keep in on a thali and worship with the mantra,
- Kuber Mantra : ‘Om Hreem Kuberaya Namah’
- Kuber Dhanaprapti mantra: ‘Om Yakshaya Kuberaya Vaishravanaya Dhanadhanyadhipataye, Dhanadhanyasamriddhim Me Dehi Dapaya Svaha.
Yama Mantras
For Yama Pooja light lamps of sesame oil. Face South and pray to Lord Yama for protection from untimely death for anyone in the family. Keep these lamps on through the might.
Yama Mantra for Yamadeepam, Dhanteras
- Mrityunaa dandpashbhayam kalen shyamayaa sah. Tryodashyam deedanaat suryajah pritataam mam.
Do’s and Don’ts of Dhanteras Celebration, Puja and Rituals
The recommended Do’s for Dhanteras celebrations:
Keep every corner of the house spotlessly clean
Clean the home spic and span for providence to flow in. Prepare for Dhanteras in advance. Keep the house clean, get rid of the old, make way for the new. If needed repaint the house. Goddess Laxmi is believed to bless clean, welcome homes with her presence.
Decorate the house.
Put up a toran on the entrance as it restricts negative energies from entering the house. If needed repaint the house. Generously use marigold, rose, mogra flowers in decorating the home. Put a beautiful rangoli and swastika at the entrance. Maintain a fragrant atmosphere by lighting dhoop, incense etc.
Go all out on Dhanteras/Diwali Diyas:
Light diyas at every exit point except the washrooms. These diyas are believed to welcome and show the Goddess the way to your home. They also keep bad luck and ward off any danger to lives. It is believed that 13 diyas must be lit at various points in the house for wealth, prosperity, good health, knowledge, long life and success. In many places diyas are lit in the name of each family member and floated in the pond.
Buy Precious metals:
Buy Gold, Silver, brass and copperware, idols of Goddess Laxmi/ Ganesha in silver. Those who can’t spend on precious metals may even buy utensils, but do not keep them empty. Fill them with rice or water. Gold, silver, property bought on Dhanteras is expected to multiply manifold.
Donate medicines to the poor:
Buy and donate to the poor and needy dedicating it to Lord Dhanavantri, the physician of the Gods, The God of Medicine and Ayurveda also considered an avatar of Lord Vishnu.
More Special things to buy on Dhanteras:
Buy Gomti chakra, 11 in number as these are dear to Goddess Laxmi. Wrap these in a yellow cloth and keep them in a locker for good luck.
Buy salt as it is considered auspicious to do so on Dhanteras. Use this very salt to cook on Diwali days. Some even spray salt water mildly in the corners of the room as it absorbs negativity.
Buy coriander seeds, believed to signify wealth. Offer it in Puja to the Goddess and later keep a few of these seeds in the locker.
Buy a broom, it is believed that it is symbolic of sweeping away all negativity, toxicity and financial/ emotional/ health troubles.
Worship cows:
Worship and feeding of cows with jaggery and fodder is also considered auspicious. Farmers in towns and villages lovingly decorate and worship their cattle expressing their gratitude for being a major source of income.
Start something new
A great day to start a business venture or a shop. Write ‘Shubh Labh’ on a piece of white paper and keep it near the Laxmi Idol for good luck.
Refrain from these Don’ts for Dhanteras celebrations:
Abstain from
1.Do not consume non vegetarian food, liquor.
- Avoid buying sharp objects like knives scissors etc. Avoid buying iron or glass items.
- While this day is great for booking a house or a car, do not plan a housewarming on this day.
- Do not keep utensils empty on Dhanteras.
- Think, talk and act in good ways. Do not criticize others or talk ill about them.
- Avoid borrowing or lending money or paying bills on this day. Do not go out and do purchases for anyone beyond immediate family on this day. Finish your Diwali gift shopping before Dhanteras. It is believed money should not leave the house on both Dhanteras and Laxmi Puja
- Skip the colour black. Instead go for gold, orange, yellow, red etc.
Legends/ Stories Around Dhanteras
Legend of Yamadeepam:
Once a king named Hima was warned by an astrologer that his son would die on the 4th day of his marriage. When his daughter in law came to know of this she decided to fight death and save her husband.
On that fateful night she lit bright diyas all around the house and piled up all the gold, jewellery and utensils on the entrance of the house. The she began to narrate interesting stories and recite melodious songs to keep her husband awake.
When Yama came to their doorstep in the form of a snake his eyes were blinded by the dazzle of the gold and precious jewellery reflected by the diyas. He somehow slid to the top of the pile but was mesmerized by the stories and the songs sung by the prince’s wife. Soon it was morning and he slid away sparing the prince’s life.
Legend of Goddess Laxmi:
Once on Goddess Laxmi’s insistence, Lord Vishnu allowed her to accompany him on his regular tours of Earth. His only condition was that the Goddess must not look in the southern direction. But when the Goddess descended on Earth, she was swept away by the beauty of the mustard fields. Completely forgetting her companion she took to the pretty fields and soon started enjoying the sugarcanes.
Lord Vishnu was annoyed that she gave in so easily to human temptations. So, he advised her to spend 12 years on Earth in the same farm assisting the farmer as a part of her penance. She agreed and the farmer became prosperous and wealthy overnight.
After 12 years when the time came for her to return to Vaikuntha, she bade the farmer goodbye. But the farmer having developed a great regard for the divinely lady, refused to let her go. Upon this she revealed her real identity and promised to visit him every year on Dhanteras before Diwali.
Legend of Samudra Manthan and Dhanavantari :
Once sage Durvasa took offense on some unintended insult by Lord Indra. He cursed him that ‘Laxmi’ (as in wealth) must leave him as he had become too proud. As a result, Indra was not only impoverished but also weakened so much that he was overthrown by the demons and the heavens were seized.
Upon Lord Vishnu’s advice, the Samudra (ocean of milk) believed to have great treasures was churned for a holy elixir that would strengthen the Gods. The mighty mountain Mandara was mounted on a gigantic tortoise (Kurma- a Lord Vishnu incarnation) and with Vasuki (king of serpents) for a rope the ocean was churned. Soon, the beautiful Goddess Laxmi emerged from it. The Gods and sages prayed to her and soon Dhanvantri (The God of Medicine) emerged with the Amrita-Kalash (Pot of elixir) that Vishnu promptly gave to the Gods. Renewed with its power the gods reclaimed the heaven from the asuras.
That’s why the day is also celebrated as Dhanvantari Jayanti. Dhanvantri (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) a physician of Gods is believed to be blessing to humanity by showering good health and banishing diseases.
Legend of Shiva – Parvati:
Another story says that on this day Goddess Parvati played a game of dice with Shiva and won. That’s why its tradition especially for businessmen to gamble on this night, so that prosperity and wealth stays with them.
Some schools of philosophy also believe that at the end of Kaliyuga Lord Shiva will reincarnate to teach men the true path of realizing their inner godliness through Shiva Rajayoga on this day. Since he will be helping men realize the golden godliness within, this day when he will reincarnate is celebrate as Dhanteras.
