All About Dhanteras

Dhanteras, also called Dhanatrayodashi and Dhanvantari Trayodashi, is the first day of the five-day-long Diwali festivities. It is viewed as a pious day to purchase gold ornaments and new utensils. According to the Vikram Samvat Hindu schedule, in the long stretch of Karthik, the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha, is observed as Dhanteras. It is a Sanskrit word in which ‘Dhan’, means riches, and ‘Teras’, means thirteen. 

Dhanteras Puja 2020

This year the Dhantrayodashi falls on – Friday, 13 November 2020

Dhanteras Puja Muhurat – Evening 05:25 to 05:59 pm

Pradosh Kaal – Evening 05:25 to 08:06 pm

Vrishabha Kaal – Evening 05:33 to 07:29 pm

Legend of Dhanteras

There are many legends about the Dhanteras, one famous story is that of the son of King Hima. According to this Legend, King Hima had a son who was destined to die due to a snake bite as soon as he turned 16 years old as per the predictions made by the learned astrologer. Saddened and heartbroken after hearing this, the King thought of various ideas and even visited many astrologers to find a way to save his son from his ill fate. The King once visited a very well-known astrologer who suggested him to get his son married to a girl who had a good horoscope. The King followed his instructions and got his son married to a girl with a strong and lucky horoscope. The day came when the King’s son was about to turn 16. The witty wife of the King’s son came up with an idea, she lit many lamps all around the house and covered the main entrance of the door with a heap of sparkling gold and silver jewellery.

She stood awake the entire night and sang melodious songs as the time came Lord Yama appeared in the front of the house and took the form of a snake. The dazzle of the Gold ornaments blinded Yama and he couldn’t get inside the door, He also got engrossed in the melodious voice of the King’s daughter-in-law who was singing songs. The time of danger when the King’s son was about to die had already passed. Yama left from there without taking the life of the boy. Thus, this day is also celebrated as Yamadeepdaan and Yama are also worshipped. 

According to another legend, during Samudra Manthan, the demigods and gods were churning the ocean to get the Amrit (the nectar of immortal life). A lot of precious things emerged out of the ocean during the churning. On the day of Dhantrayodashi, Goddess Lakshmi came out of the sea. As Goddess Lakshmi emerged on the tithi of Trayodashi, She is worshipped on this day.  

Preparations on Dhanteras

Before the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras, people clean their house and decorate the house beautifully. People shop for new clothes, utensils and buy colours known as rangoli, earthen lamps, kandil, torans and other decorative things. 

Dhanteras Puja Vidhi

On the eve of Dhanteras Lord Ganesh, Lord Kuber, Goddess Lakshmi, God Yama and Lord Dhanvantari are worshipped. Begin by cleaning the place where the Puja is supposed to be organised. Keep all the Puja samagri handy so that you do not miss any of it while performing the puja. Place a red cloth on the surface where the deity idols and photographs are to be worshipped. Light ghee diya incense sticks and dhoop. 

• Begin the puja by first worshipping Lord Ganesha. Give a holy bath to the idol of Lord Ganesha with Panchamrut and then anoint the idol with sandal paste. Now offer sweets to Ganesha idols. Once this is done chant the Ganesh mantra

“Vakra-Tunnda Maha-Kaaya Suurya-Kotti Samaprabha

Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryessu Sarvadaa”

• Once this is done get ready to perform the Dhanvantari Puja Vidhi. Perform the Holy bathing ritual of Lord Dhanwantari and then anoint His idol with kumkum. Pray to Him to bless the entire family with good health and to keep diseases away. Once this is done offer Navadhanya (nine types of grains) to the Lord and chant

“Om Namo Bhagavate Maha Sudharshana Vasudevaya Dhanvantaraye;

Amrutha Kalasa Hasthaaya Sarva Bhaya Vinasaya Sarva Roka Nivaranaya

Thri Lokya Pathaye Thri Lokya Nithaye Sri Maha Vishnu Swarupa Sri Dhanvantri Swarupa  

Sri Sri Sri Aoushata Chakra Narayana Swaha”

 

• Once worshipping Lord Dhanvantatri prepared to worship Lord Kuber. Begin by offering fresh flowers to Lord Kuber and offer aromatic fumes of incense sticks, Offer fruits and sweets to the deity, and now chant the following mantra to invoke Lord Kuber’s blessings.

 

“Om Yakshaya Kuberaya Vaishravanaya Dhanadhanyadhipataye

Dhanadhanyasamriddhim Me Dehi Dapaya Svaha”

• Now comes the time to perform the Lakshmi Puja Vidhi, On a new raised platform place a clean cloth. The most preferred time to perform the Lakshmi Pujan is during the Pradosh Kaal which begins after sunset.  In order to begin the worship take a handful of grains and place them in the middle of the arrangement where the pujas are performed. Place a Kalash made of Gold or silver metal over it. You can also place copper Kalash or Kalash made of other metal over this. Make sure you fill this Kalash with three-fourth water which is mixed with Gangajal. Put a betel nut, a flower, a few coins, and some Akshat in the Kalash. On top of the Kalash place, five mango leaves in the Kalash water and place a metal dish over it and spread rice grains over it. Now draw a lotus with turmeric powder (Haldi) over the rice grains and place the idol of Goddess Lakshmi over it. Also, place some coins or gold coins around the feet of Goddess Lakshmi. Install the idol of Lord Ganesha in front of the Kalash, on the right (South-West) direction. Place a Mahalakshmi Yantra and energize it. Now place ink and books related to your profession at one side of this platform. Light a ghee lamp and begin the puja by offering haldi, kumkum, and fresh flowers to the Kalash and recite the Mahalakshmi mantra.

||Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamale Kamalaleyi Praseed Praseed

Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Mahalaxmiyei Namaha|| 

Offer the flowers to the idol. Now place the idol of Lakshmi on a plate and perform the Holy bath ritual of Lakshmi idol. Bathe the idol with panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curd, ghee or clarified butter, honey and sugar). Now pour water on it and wipe the idol clean and place it back on the Kalash. Once this is done offer sandal paste, perfume, saffron paste, abhir, gulaal and haldi along with a garland of cotton beads to the Goddess idol. 

Now offer fresh marigold flowers and Bel leaves and light incense sticks. Offer coconut, fruits and some sweets. Offer puffed rice and batasha. After this is done pour some puffed rice, batasha, coriander seeds and cumin seeds over the idol. Worship the locker or the place where you keep money and jewellery as a symbol of Lord Kuber. Finally, perform the goddess Lakshmi Aarti. 

Now do the Yama Deepam Daan by worshipping the Lord Yama, the God of death. For Deepam Daan light 13 lamps filled with sesame oil facing southwards. Generally, a lamp is never kept in this direction except for this auspicious day. Now recite the Lord Yama mantra.

“मृत्युना दण्डपाशाभ्यां कालेन श्यामया सह।
त्रयोदश्यां दीपदाना सूर्यजः प्रीयतां मम॥“

This is how the Dhanteras Puja is performed.