Dhanvantari (धन्वन्तरि)

Dhanvantari is revered as the divine physician and the deity of Ayurveda. He is believed to have emerged from the churni.

Ayurvedic Principles (Siddhanta Kosha) 1 min read
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Sanskrit Verse

History and Mythology

— (Puranas & Sushruta Samhita)

Explanation

Dhanvantari is revered as the divine physician and the deity of Ayurveda. He is believed to have emerged from the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan) holding a pot of Amrita (the nectar of immortality). He is considered the original source of the surgical tradition in Ayurveda, which was passed down to his disciple, Sushruta.

Clinical Importance

Lord Dhanvantari is worshipped by Ayurvedic practitioners as the source of all healing knowledge. He represents the divine aspect of medicine and is an inspiration for surgeons. The Sushruta Samhita, the foundational text of Ayurvedic surgery, begins by paying homage to him.