Ayurveda is considered to be one of the oldest medical systems in the world. The main aim of Ayurveda is prevention of disease and promotion of health. Bhagwan Dhanwantari is known as the God of Ayurveda and believed to be one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
As per the Hindu calendar, the birthday of Dhanwantri is celebrated on Kartika Krishna Trayodashi usually in the month of October or November. It is believed that on this day, Lord Dhanwantari emerged with Amrita Kalasa. Bhagwan Dhanvantari is often depicted as Vishnu with four hands, holding Shankha, Chakra, Jalouka (leech) and a pot containing Nectar. He is conferred with the virtues of granting health and wealth.
Dhanwantari Jayanti is also known as Dhanteras, which is celebrated two days before Diwali. This year, it falls on November 2, which is celebrated as the 6th Ayurveda Day. Since 2016, the Union Ministry of AYUSH started observing Dhanwantari Jayanti as the Ayurveda Day with an aim to nationalise this system of medicine with an objective to make it global, i.e., exploring the potential of Ayurveda to contribute towards the national health policy and national health programmes.
In Odisha, a Dhanwantari temple is situated at the campus of the Gopabandhu Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya at Puri and a statue of Lord Dhanwantari is installed at the building of the Government Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Balangir.
The theme for the occasion for year 2021 is “Ayurveda for Poshana (Nutrition)”.
(Dr Dash is a Lecturer, Dept. of Panchakarma, Govt. Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Balangir, Odisha. E-mail: drbiswajitdash@yahoo.com, Mob: 9437218747)