Legends of Dhanteras

Posted on September 9, 2007 in Latest News

Dhanteras is celebrated on the first day of the 5-days of Diwali festivities. Dhan stands for wealth and Teras signifies the 13th(Tera) lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik.

Dhanteras has evolved out of a very interesting legend. Once upon a time, 16 yr old son of King Hima was predicted, as per his horoscope, to die by snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. When the young prince’s wife came to know about this she did not allow him to sleep. She collected all her ornaments of gold and silver in a big heap and put it at the entrance of her husband’s bedroom. She lighted lamps all over the place and she went on singing hymns and prayers.

Yama, the god of Death as per the prediction came disguised as a snake to kill the young prince. But when he saw the brilliant lights and his eyes got dazzled by their brightness and he got blinded. He could not thus enter the Prince’s bedroom. He sat upon the heap of gold ornaments and spend the entire night listening to the melodious songs of the Princess. He went way quietly upon dawn. Because of this legend, Dhanteras is also known as Yamadeepdaan. In reverential adoration of Yama, lamps are kept burning throughout the night on Dhanteras.

On Dhanteras people decorate and renovate their homes. They adorn their entrances with lamps and colorful traditional motifs of Rangoli to welcome Goddess Lakshmi to bring them wealth and prosperity.

They consider it auspicious to purchase gold and silver and new utensils on Dhanteras. On the evenings they perform a Lakshmi pooja singing bhajans and light the Diyas/lamps to keep evil spirits and bad luck away. They also offer the Goddess a traditional sweet called Naivedya.

In some places Cows are also worshipped. They are believed to be incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.

On the whole, Dhanteras being the first day of the 5-day long Diwali festivities is celebrated with much pomp and grandeur.

Comments

One Response to “Legends of Dhanteras”

  1. Lalitha Says:
    May 28th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    good information

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