Dhanvantari / Vishnu
Dhanteras
The first lamp of Diwali, and a prayer for health
Dhanteras opens the Diwali sequence and honours Dhanvantari, the physician who rose from the churning of the ocean bearing the vessel of amrita. Wealth is prayed for, but health is prayed for first — the older reading of what is worth having.
Add Dhanteras to calendar (downloads an .ics file)
A recommended mantra for this sacred day
Dhanvantari is counted among the forms of Vishnu, so the twelve-syllable salutation to Vasudeva keeps the day's prayer with the deity it belongs to.
Read the Sanskrit and meaning on the Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya page, or explore the full mantra library.
Date shown for New Delhi, India. Observance can differ by location because tithi, sunrise and timezone affect the applicable date — please confirm local temple or pañcāṅga timings if precise observance times matter to your practice.