Dhanvantari and divine energies

Vishu

Opening your eyes to what is divine,

Opening your eyes to yourself in it;

Fruits, flowers, colors, the new feminine,

Music and prayers, as just one unit;

That’s the miracle, the profound bounty,

That’s what’s most precious, eternal and real.

Drink to your healing, that does sets you free,

Elevate your self so you can unveil.

Opening your eyes to a brand new you,

Gods and goddesses of transformation,

Manifesting love and profound healing,

Chanting and praying to the sky all blue,

Dancing symphonies of reconnection,

The one miracle, living through being.

Divine energies

Across time and places, cells and channels,

Throughout rivers and sea, air and fire,

Enlightened, alive, you are the marvels

The gems of the gems we all admire.

The mother goddess protecting you all,

With immense power and nurturing strength;

The creative force taking up the call

To transform the world in beauty at length.

The abundant spring sourcing all the truth,

Spreading gratitude and pure miracles

To all that is felt from the heart and soil;

The goodness alive, true hope for the youth,

The trunk remover of all obstacles

Connecting nature with body and soul.

Dhanvantari

In my four hands, I hold the worlds of health:

The world of Chakras, wheels of energy,

The world of Shankha, sweet ear from the Earth,

Amrita, the source of eternity,

Jauluka, all blessed leeches turned healer.

The plants are the guides, the immunity,

Chanting for the colors of the elders,

Living with the power of verity.

Dancing along the ocean of milk,

Mothering the art of Ayurveda,

My eyes see nature as just one body

As soft and strong as the river of silk,

As alive and bright as the Om mantra

The one body living for harmony.

Notes:

Dhanvantari is the Hindu god of medicine and an avatar of Lord Vishnu. He has been the king of Varanasi (also called Benares on the banks of the river Ganges). He is mentioned in the Puranas* as the god of Ayurveda. He, during the Samudramanthan arose from the Ocean of Milk with the nectar of immortality. It is common practice in Hinduism for worshipers to pray to Dhanvantari seeking his blessings for sound health for themselves and/or others.

Dhanvantari emerged from the Ocean of Milk and appeared with the pot of amrita* during the story of the Samudra whilst the ocean was being churned by the Devas* and Asuras*, using the Mandara mountain and the serpent Vasuki. The pot of Amrita was snatched by the Asuras, and after this event another avatar, Mohini, appears and takes the nectar back from the Asuras. It is also believed that Dhanvantari promulgated the practice of Ayurveda.

Dhanvantari is depicted as Vishnu with four hands, holding Shankha, Chakra*, Jalauka* and a pot containing Amrita*. He is often shown with a leech in his hand rather than the scriptures. Some texts describe him as holding a conch, Amrita, medicinal herbs and a book of Ayurveda.

Sources:

• Treatise of Dhanvantari-Nighantu summarizing Dhanvantari's medicinal plants

Glossary:

• Shankha: conch shell of ritual and religious importance in Hinduism. It is the shell of a large predatory sea snail, Turbinella pyrum, found in the Indian Ocean.

• Chakra: literally refers as "wheel, circle". Chakras are various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices.

• Jalauka or leech: leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that belong to the phylum Annelida.

• Puranas: old texts

• Dhanteras: Diwali

• Dhanwantari Trayodashi: "National Ayurveda Day"

• Amrita: elixir for immortality

• Devas: divine

• Asuras: power seeking

• Ayurveda treatments: possess herbal, mineral, animal origin products