Exploring the Untold Tales and Incredible Secrets of Dhanteras

Dhanteras is an Indian festival that marks the beginning of the five-day celebration of Diwali. This festival is thus known as Dhanatrayodahi or Dhanavantri Trayodashi. The festival falls on the 13th Trayodashi Tithi, or Lunar Day of Krishna Paksha (Dark Fortnight). “Dhan” means prosperity or wealth, and “Teras” is Trayodashi. People worship the goddesses Lakshmi and Kubera for material abundance such as happiness, wealth, and prosperity. Meanwhile, let’s explore the untold secrets of Dhanteras in Vedic Story.

Dhanteras Legends

Vedic Story 1: Goddess Lakshmi and a Farmer

According to a legend, once, the goddess Lakshmi desired to accompany Lord Vishnu during one of his visits to the earth. Lord Vishnu agreed to take her with him, but on a condition: she must not fall for earthly beauty and its temptations; she must not look in the south direction.

Sri Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, agreed to the conditions. However, when she visited the earth with her consort, goddess Lakshmi fell for the earthly beauty due to her curious and playful nature and looked southward.

Due to her irresistible urge to look in the south direction because of mesmerizing nature and its captivating charm, she broke her pledge and moved in the south direction.

Goddess Lakshmi was so tempted to see the beauty of yellow mustard flowers and their rhythmic dance when the air touched them. She conquered her thirst for sugarcane and drank a lot on its field.

Devi Lakshmi decorated herself with charming mustard flowers, fell for the material temptations, and started enjoying her time alone.

Twelve Years of Penance for Goddess Lakshmi

Lord Vishnu found out about the goddess Lakshmi’s broken pledge and saw her relishing material goods. He got annoyed and thus asked her to spend the next twelve years serving at the field of a poor farmer as a penance, where she enjoyed sugarcane juice.

A Farmer Did Not Want to Return Goddess Lakshmi to Lord Vishnu

The penance of goddess Lakshmi turned fruitful for the farmer. He became wealthy and prosperous overnight. Years passed. Lord Vishnu came again to the earth as an ordinary man to take Goddess Lakshmi to Vaikuntha. However, in his ignorance, the farmer refused to relieve goddess Lakshmi of her miraculous service.

Lord Vishnu tried everything to relieve the goddess of wealth from the farmer; however, he failed. Finally, without having any other option, the goddess Lakshmi revealed her identity and told him that she was providing her service as penance on earth. Now, she must return to Vaikuntha.

Thereafter, goddess Lakshmi also promised him that she would visit every year during the night of Krishna Trayodashi, a day before Diwali.

Slowly, people learned about this Vedic story and began worshipping Goddess Lakshmi with Kubera on the night of Krishna Trayodashi.

Vedic Story 2: Yamadepdaan—Lord Yamaraj

Indian mythology has a vast ocean of ancient texts and legends; one such epic story about the secrets of Dhanteras is linked with Yamaraj.

According to the Sanatan Dharma and its interesting story, once King Hima desired to predict his son’s horoscope, his future, life, and marriage, he found out that on the 4th day of his son’s marriage, he would die of a snake bite.

Hearing about the devastating end of her son, the King and his family began to mourn because they could not do anything to save the life of a loved one. However, King Hima’s daughter-in-law decided to overcome her husband’s fate.

She ensured that her husband did not sleep that night and narrated several stories to keep him awake.

A Plan is Made to Deceive Yamaraj as the Snake

The wife of King Hima’s son decided to deceive the snake and save her husband’s life. She collected her ornaments and coins, turned them into a pile at the bedroom entrance, and lit up many diyas.

Yamaraj, the god of death, arrived as a snake to bite her husband. However, due to her plan to deceive Yamaraj, the snake couldn’t see anything due to the blazing light of diyas and metals.

Thereafter, the wife of King Hima’s son started to sing melodious songs. It is believed that the songs captivated Yamaraj, and he fell for the charming voice of the girl, who stayed outside her sleeping chamber and left without killing Hima’s son.

That is why the secrets of Dhanteras are also known as Yamadepdaan. People offer earthen diyas to Lord Yamraj and worship him for the longevity of their family.

Vedic Story 3: Dhanvantri—Lord of Ayurveda and Medicine

According to Hindu mythology, Dhanvantri is the Lord of Ayurveda and Medicine. He is a physician of the Hindu gods, and it is believed that he churned out the knowledge of Ayurveda for mankind while coming out of the Samudra Manthan. He helps people get rid of illness and diseases through his knowledge of Ayurveda and medicine.

Ancient Hindu mythology texts and puranas also claim that Lord Dhanvantri is the manifestation of Lord Vishnu and was born during the churning of the ocean with a book, Amrit pot, sponge, and disc in his four hands.

On Dhanteras, people worship Lord Dhanvantri for curing chronic health issues through Ayurveda.

Vedic Story 4: Kubera: The Hindu Myth of the Lord of Wealth

Worshiping Lord Kubera on Dhanteras is auspicious, as he provides one with abundant financial prosperity. Kubera puja is performed with Goddess Lakshmi and Ganesha during Diwali.

He is considered the chief of wealth and kin of the Yakshas, a Dikpal, the protector of the North, and a Lokpal of people. Kubera Dev is also worshiped in Greha Parvesh, as he is an important deity in the Vastu Shastra.

Once, Ravana attacked Kubera in Treta Yuga and snatched all his wealth and Pushpak Viman. He visited his grandfather, Lord Brahma, to seek his advice. Lord Brahma advised him to worship Lord Shiva.

Kubera and his sons, Nalakubara and Manigreeva, began their penance on Mount Himalayas to please Mahadev.

In the middle of penance, Kubera saw Lord Shiva and Parvati. He looked at Parvati with his left eye turning yellow due to the divine power and lost it. This event did not break his penance, and he continued. Lord Shiva was pleased, and thus he gave him a boon to become a lord of wealth and named him “Ekakshipingal” (one with an only eye or one with his eye gets destroyed). He also gave him the status of “Dhanesh.”

Hence, we at Vedic Story believe that you have surely gathered quite amazing information on untold stories and secrets of Dhanteras through our blog.