HAPPY DHANTERAS 2017 - Dhan Triyodashi, Yamdeep Daan, Kuber Puja, Dhanwantri Puja/Dhanwantri Jayanti - Right way to worship, shubh muhurat for gaining thirteen times benefit

I would like to wish our readers Happy Dhanteras in advance. Dhanteras in 2017 is going to be celebrated on 17^th October 2017, i.e Tuesday.

In this post I would extensively deal with astrological and spiritual significance of this festival along with the right method of doing pooja and most suitable muhurat for pooja.

Significance of this festival and manner of celebrating it

Dhanteras the festival of wealth and prosperity is celebrated two days before Diwali festival in India. Dhanteras is also known as Dhantrayodashi, and takes place two days before Diwali, in honour of Dhanavantri, the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu. Dhanteras marks the beginning of Diwali festival. Dhan means “wealth” and Teras denotes “trayodashi”. The festival is observed on the 13th lunar day of dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in the month of Kartik.

On this day, the main doors of houses and offices are decorated with flowers lights and rangolis. An extensive pooja is organized in all households where people worship Goddess Laxmi with their purchase of the day (utensil/Jewellery).

Legends Associated with Dhan Teras

1. Yamadeep Daan
There are two legends associated with this festival. The first is that there was a 16 year old son of King Hima whose horoscope predicted his early death by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his wedding. On that particular fourth day of his marriage, his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband’s boudoir and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. And she went on telling stories and singing songs. When Yam, the god of death arrived there in the guise of a serpent his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the prince’s chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening to the melodious songs. In the morning he quietly went away. Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "YAMADEEPDAAN" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam, the god of death.
2. Legend of Samudramanthan or Sea Churning
Another legend of Samudramanthan shows that at the time of sea churning or samudramanthan, Lord Dhanwantri appeared in sea with an urn, hence, there is a tradition of buying utensils of this day. It is believed buying utensils or silver increases their count by 13 times. Also, buying seeds of dried coriander and keeping them in house increases wealth. On the day of Diwali, these seeds are sown in garden or farms. These seeds are the symbol of growth and wealth increment in a person’s life.

What to purchase on Dhanteras/Simple remedies that can be done on Dhan Teras

In the past few years, the tradition of purchasing utensils and jewellery has become popular on this day. The real significance of Dhan Teras lies in worshipping Lord Dhanvantri so that good health is bestowed on the worshipper and ultimately “Health is Wealth.” The best way to celebrate Dhan Teras apart from worshipping Maa Lakshmi, Kuber Ji, Lord Yama and Lord Dhanvantri is to give any gift to your family doctor or physician.

In addition you can purchase small utensil/s of silver/steel/copper as per your need and budget. Please remember that do not purchase a utensil with holes like tea filter. You can purchase a copper/silver bowl and after puja you can use it for drinking water. If it is a copper utensil you can dip five mukhi rudraksha in it in night and early morning have this water and it will solve your diabetes and blood pressure problem. Alternatively you can bring home the silver idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha which increases wealth, success and growth at house, offices and business organisation.

You can also install 11 Abhimantrit Gomati Chakras on this day and keep them in your locker.

You can visit Yantra Link in our website http://lalkitabastro.com/yantra.php to know about Gomati Chakras

Dhanteras Pujan
The worship on Dhanteras should be done in Subh Muhurat. First of all 13 lamps should be lighted and Lord Kuber in the Locker should be worshipped. Lord Kuber is worshipped and offered flowers and it is said that “I worship you Lord Kuber who sits on the best plane similar to Garudamani, holding Gadha in both the hands and wearing crown on head, dear friend of lord Shiva”. After this worship with incense sticks, lamps, Nevedha (sweets) and chant the following mantra
'यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धन-धान्य अधिपतये
धन-धान्य समृद्धि मे देहि दापय स्वाहा ।'
Auspicious Muhurat for Puja in the Evening

07:19 pm to 8:17 pm

Method of Deep Daan

In the evening have 13 mitti ke Deepak (mud lamp) and fill it with Til oil. Have new cotton in it and lit it. Lit an incense stick also and recite following mantra looking at South Direction:
‘मृत्युना दण्डपाशाभ्यां कालेन श्यामया सह ।
त्रयोदश्यां दीपदानात्‌ सूर्यजः प्रीयतां मम ॥’
Now do deep daan and release diyas into water or leave them at pipal tree.
                                               

HAPPY DHAN TERAS

Hari Om Tat Sat
Acharya Vikas Malhotra
Lal Kitab Astro Centre (LKAC)
lalkitabastro.com