Dhanatrayodashi (or Dhanteras), first Day of Deepavali is celebrated in 2 different ways
Dhan means that aspect due to which our life runs smoothly. Dhanteras is very important for business men, who worship their treasuries on this day. Their commercial year is from Diwali to next yearтАЩs Diwali. They consider this day to be a beginning of a new accounting year for their business.
- Dhanvantari Jayanti
Deity Dhanvantari is one of the twenty four Incarnations of Deity Vishnu. He has four hands like Deity Vishnu, which carry Sudarshan Chakra, Conch, Jalouka and pot of Amrut (Nectar). Deity Dhanvantari is the founder of ─Аyurv─Уda.
According to the Ayurveda, the birthday of the Deity Dhanvantari falls on this day. ─Аyurv─Уdic doctors (vaidyas) worship Him on this day. They give pr─Бsad (Holy food item) of small pieces of neem leaves and sugar to the visitors. This has great significance because the neem fruit has originated from Divine Nectar (Amrut) and Dhanvantari is the Deity who bestows immortality. It is said that if one chews five to six neem leaves everyday then the likelihood of suffering from any disease is highly unlikely. One should pray to Deity Dhanvantari for the effectiveness of the medicine before taking medicines.
Preparing prasad of neem leaves
- A few flowers of neem
- 10-12 tenderleaves of neem
- 4 spoons soaked chana daal or soaked chana
- 1 spoon honey
- 1 spoon jeera
- Pinch of Asafoetida
Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl and add salt to taste. Then grind it till it becomes a soft paste. Then we offer it to God and pray with devotion that God partakes this Naivedya (food item offered to God). Once we have offered it to God we can distribute it to others.
- Yamadipadan
In the Dipavali period, offering of a lamp (dipadana) is done on the three days of Dhanatrayodashi, Narakachaturdashi and Yamadwitiya.
Deity Yama (Yamaraj, Deity of Death) is allotted the task of taking oneтАЩs life (praс╣Зa) away at the destined time. One can never escape death. To prevent untimely death, the Deity of death Yamadharma is worshipped on the days of Dhantrayodashi, Narak Chaturdashi and Yamadwitiya. In the evening, an oil lamp (or thirteen oil lamps) made of wheat flour are lit. These lamps are kept outside the house with its flame facing southwards. Generally, a lit lampтАЩs flame is never kept facing southwards except on this day.
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рдпрдорджреАрдкрдВ┬ардмрд╣рд┐рд░реНрджрджреНрдпрд╛рджрдкрдореГрддреНрдпреБрд░реНрд╡рд┐рдирд┐рд╢реНрдпрддрд┐┬аредред┬атАУ┬ард╕реНрдХрдВрджрдкреБрд░рд╛рдг
Meaning:┬аBy placing a lamp outside the house for Yamadeva in the evening of Trayodashi of the dark fortnight of┬аKartik, the untimely death is averted. Yamadev gave an assurance to his attendants that those who performed┬аdipadana┬аon Dhanatrayodashi will not suffer untimely death.