Anoop Verma's Diary: Itihasa & Darshana: Lord Dhanvantari: The World’s First Physician

Friday, 18 November 2022

Lord Dhanvantari: The World’s First Physician

Dhanavantri’s Sculpture

Somanathapura temple, Karnataka

Dhanvantari, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was the first physician on earth. According to the Vedic tradition, in the primordial universe, at the time of churning of the kshir-sagara (the ocean of milk) by the devas (Gods) and the asuras (demons), Dhanvantari emerged from the ocean carrying the vessel of amrita, the divine drink of immortality.

During his incarnation on earth, Dhanvantari reigned as the king of Kashi (today’s Varanasi). The Puranas mention him as the God of the therapeutic practice of Ayurveda. He mastered Ayurveda from Sage Bharadvaja. Dhanvantari conducted further study of Ayurveda and classified the science of healing into eight parts. He taught his system of Ayurveda to numerous disciples who were sent to various regions of the world to serve as physicians.

Hindus worship Dhanvantari, especially on the occasion of the festival of Dhanteras (observed two days before Diwali puja), for good health, happiness, and long life. The Vishnu Purana identifies Dhanvantari as the great-grandfather of Divodasa, the legendary king mentioned in the Rig Veda who is protected by Indra and the Ashvins.

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Nirad C. Chaudhuri

“In the south the temples have survived, and in the north they have not. Over seven centuries from the eleventh to the end of the seventeenth all the great cities of northern India dating from Hindu times were sacked by the Muslim invaders and conquerors of India. All the temples there and in all other centres of Hinduism were systematically destroyed. None were left standing at Ujjain, Ajmere, Delhi, Mathura, Brindaban, Kanauj, Prayag, or Benares—which were the centres of the political, cultural, and religious life of the Hindus. In most of these places mosques were built on the sites of the temples, and in some with pillars taken from them. This religious vandalism also worked its fury on the Buddhist centres. Moreover, it was not simply that the great temples in the cities were destroyed; so were the village temples. For most of the period of Muslim rule, there was a ban on building new temples and rebuilding the old in the regions the Muslims controlled.” ~ Nirad C. Chaudhuri

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“Think you're escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home.” ~ James Joyce