Festival of Lights* *Series: Part 2* *Dhanatrayodashi — Health is the Truest Wealth*

🌿

On Vasu Baras, we celebrated nourishment and gratitude —

honoring all the forces that sustain life.

Now, on the second day of Diwali,

we step into Dhanatrayodashi — the festival of well-being and balance.

Just as Vasu Baras nourished the body and the earth,

Dhanatrayodashi reminds us to balance the mind, the breath, and the consciousness.

🪔

*The True Meaning of Wealth — Health*

Today when we say “wealth,” we think of money.

But in the Indian worldview, wealth means that which sustains life.

Health, vitality, and balance — these are the real treasures.

The day of Ashwin Krishna Trayodashi is celebrated as Dhanvantari Trayodashi —

the day when Lord Dhanvantari, the father of Ayurveda,

emerged from the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra-Manthan) holding the pot of nectar — Amrit Kalash.

“Dhan” means health.

“Trayodashi” means the thirteenth phase of energy balance.

Together they signify Dhanatrayodashi — the festival of holistic well-being.

🌿

*Dhanvantari — Not Just a Healer, But the Sustainer of Life*

Today, the word Dhanvantari is associated with “doctor,”

but its original meaning is far deeper.

The Sanskrit word Dhanvantari comes from “Dhanu” (life energy) and “Antari” (one who holds within).

Hence, Dhanvantari literally means —

“The one who holds and nourishes the energy of life.”

He was not merely a physician;

he was a philosopher of life, a master of balance.

His Amrit Kalash is a symbol of awareness and vitality.

“Health is not just the absence of disease;

it is the harmony of body, peace of mind, and bliss of the soul.”

🌸

*The Ocean of Churning — A Metaphor for Balance*

In the legend of Samudra-Manthan,

the Devas and Asuras churned the ocean in search of nectar.

And the very first to emerge was Lord Dhanvantari,

holding a golden pot filled with Amrit — the essence of balanced life.

That Amrit represents the rhythm of health,

the inner harmony that sustains all creation.

Thus, Dhanatrayodashi reminds us —

Preserve your health; for it is the truest form of wealth.

🌞

*The Health of the Seasons*

This is the time when autumn fades and winter approaches.

Days grow shorter, nights longer.

Sunlight and warmth decrease.

The Vata dosha (air element) rises, digestion slows, and the mind tends to fatigue.

Hence, from Dhanatrayodashi onward,

the ancient sages advised a change in seasonal regimen (Ritucharya):

warm food, ghee, oil massage, hot baths, and mild detox —

not as rituals, but as natural ways to fortify the body.

The lamps lit on Dhanatrayodashi are not just to dispel outer darkness —

they awaken the bio-energy centers within us,

keeping the mind bright and the life-force vibrant.

💫

*The Subtle Relationship between Health and Wealth*

The West says — Health is Wealth.

But in our tradition, this wisdom was lived, not just spoken.

“Your body is a temple; your breath, the divine within.

Protect that divinity.”

The true blessing of Dhanvantari is balance, awareness, and harmony.

🌺

*Ayurvedic Principles from Dhanvantari*

The timeless guidance still holds true:

1. Balanced Diet — Eat mindfully, seasonally, joyfully.

2. Body Purification — Maintain rhythm through movement, rest, and cleanliness.

3. Mental Purity — Cultivate contentment, compassion, and gratitude — nature’s finest medicines.

4. Vital Energy — Breathe consciously to awaken inner peace.

🌞

Today, we are busy accumulating external wealth,

while our account of health keeps running low.

*Dhanatrayodashi whispers —*

“Invest in yourself — for your body is your first and final home.”

Spend a few moments daily with your breath, your body, and your mind.

Keep the lamp of awareness burning.

It illuminates not just the house — but the whole being.

✨

Dhanatrayodashi marks not the worship of riches,

but the awakening of health.

Health is the true Amrit — the nectar of life.

*Dhanvantari’s message:*

Be your own healer.

Let the light awaken the Dhanvantari within.

🌿

Tomorrow — Naraka Chaturdashi: The End of Darkness and the Dawn of Consciousness.

We’ll explore the science of purification, awareness, and inner illumination.

🪔

Diwali Reflections — *Jayant Joshi*