The names of these 13 daughters and their spouse, according to the Vishnu Purana, are: Sraddha, Lakshmi, Dhriti, Thushti, Pushti, Medha, Kriya, Buddhi, Lajja, Vapu, Shanti, Siddhi and Kirti married the God Dharmadeva.
Khyati was married to Bhrigu
Sambhuti to Marichi
Smriti married Angiras
Priti to Pulastya
Kshama was married to Pulaha
Sannati to Kratu
Anasuya married Atri
Urjja was married to Vashishtha
Swaha married Agni
Swadha to Pitrs
Sati chose Shiva as her husband
Another listing is found in many texts including the Mahabharata (Harivamsa), the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana and the Vishnu Purana. According to this version, Daksha had 60 daughters with Asikni who were the progenitors of various species.
10 (Maruvati, Vasu, Jami, Lamba, Bhanu, Urjja, Sankalp, Mahurath, Sadhya, Vishva) of those daughters were married to Dharma
13 (Aditi, Diti, Danu, Arishta, Surasa, Surabhi, Vinata, Tamra, Krodhavasha, Ira, Kadru, Vishva, Muni) to sage Kashyapa.
27 (Ashvini, Bharani, Krttika, Rohini, Mrigashira, Tarakam or Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Janakam or Magha, Phalguni, Uttarphalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Svati, Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyestha, Mula, Purvashadha, Uttarasadha, Srona or Shravana, Dhanistha or Shatabhisha, Abhijit or Prachetas, Purvabhadrapada, Uttarabhadrapada and Revati) to Chandra.
4 to Arishtanemi
2 to Bahuputra
2 to sage Angiras
2 to Krisasva
According to Mahabharata, these daughters are announced Puttrikas since all his thousand sons became the disciples of Narada, who taught them the philosophy of Sankhya (for which they abstained themselves from reproduction). This meant that the sons of these daughters would be the kings of Daksha's territory.
After losing Tara, Chandra's lust for union grew. To satisfy his lust, he married twenty-seven daughter of Daksha, who are the twenty-seven Nakshatras or Constellations on the Moon's orbit.
Of his 27 wives, Chandra fell in love with his chief wife, Rohini. He spent most of his time with her. This enraged the other wives of Chandra and they complained this to their father. Daksha realised Chandra's intentions and cursed him to lose his glory. Chandra felt guilty of his act and asked for forgiveness. Shiva, later partially restored Chandra's glory.
One of the daughters of Daksha (often said to be the youngest) was Sati (Dakshayani), who had always wished to marry Shiva. Daksha forbade it, but later reluctantly allowed her and she married Shiva. She found in Shiva a doting and loving husband.
Reference from Shiv Purana, Sati Khanda, Chapter 14 to 18;
Devi Swaha is married to Agni. Devtas will remain hungry if this devi does not provide them food through havi.
Devi Swadha is married to Pittra's. If one forgets to chant her name while offering food to Pittra's, the whole exercise is fruitless.
Devi Swasti is married to Vayu. Any type of exchange is useless without her.
Devi Tushti is married to Anant. No one can be satisfied without her grace.
Devi Sampati is married to Ishaan. If she is not there everyone will live in the state of poverty.
Dhruti is married to Kapil Muni. In her absence we will loose patience.
Kshama is married to Yum. In her absence everyone will remain angry.
Rati is married to Kamdev. She is necessary for fulfilling Love.
Mukti is married to Satya. Without her there will be no brotherhood amongst us.
Daya is married to Moha. We would all become cruel in her absence.
Pratishtha is married to Punya. Without her world would be lifeless.
Kirti is married to Sukarma. Without her we cannot achieve fame.
Kriya is married to Udyog. We would all be idle without her.
Mithya is married to Adharma. All sinners worship her. Her brother is Kapat.
Shanti and Lajja are married to Sushil. We will become wild in her absence.
Budhhi, Medha and Smriti are married to Gyan. We would be crooks in their absence.
Dharma is married to Murti. Without her we would never have known as to what the dieties look like.
Rudra is married to Kalagni. She is known as Yognidra as she is the one responsible for our sleep.
Sandhya, Ratri and Din are married to Kaal. We follow the time because of them.
Kshudha and Pipaasa are married to Lobh. They are the cause of worry for us.
Prabha and Daahika are married to Tej. They make the work of Brahma easy.
Jara and Mrityu are married to Jwar. They are daughters of Kaal. They are necessary to maintain the system.
Nidra is married to Tandra. They too are necessary.
Shradha and Bhakti are married to Vairagya. We experience Mukti because of them.
Rohini is married to Chandrama. Sangya is married to Surya. Shatrupa is married to Manu. Sachi is married to Indra. Tara is married to Brahanaspati. Arundhati is married to Vashishtha. Ahilya is married to Gautam. Devhuti to Kardam, Prasuti is married to Daksh. And Anusuya is married to Atri.
Today Dhantrayodashi - Significance
The festival of Dhanateras is associated with the incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Dhanvantari, the Lord of Ayurveda and all medicine. The "Dhan" is the Jeevandhan, health. This is the upasana of achieving Arogya from Roga. A devotee who acknowledges the dhana not as mere money but also as gnana/knowledge as his/her inner wealth, and worships the Goddess with a desire to attain such tatva gnana/experiential knowledge becomes dearer to Mother Goddess.
Dhanva in Sanskrit is known as a desert and antari means who stays till the end. Desert is a symbol of being dull and represents our ignorance which lacks the intelligence required for innovation and new discoveries. During the episode of Samudra Manthana, where the churning of the great ocean occurred between the devas and asuras, Lord Dhanvantari appeared with a pot of nectar/amrita.
यो धन्वन्तरिसंज्ञया निगदितः क्षीराब्धितो निःसृतो हस्ताभ्यां जनजीवनाय कलशं पीयूषपूर्णं दधत् ।
आयुर्वेदमरीरचज्जनरुजां नाशाय स त्वं मुदा संसिच्यामृतशीकरैर्हर महारिष्टं चिरं जीवय ॥ ५॥ (Sudarshana Samhita)
He rose from the ocean of milk , which was churned with the name Dhanvantari, Holding in his hand a pot full of lives of people and gave it to us, And with great joy he gave the science of Ayurveda for destroying sickness of people, And by sprinkling nectar all over he destroyed the great sufferings and made us live longer.
क्षीरोदमथनोद्भूतं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपिनम्।
सुधाकलशहस्तं तं वन्दे धन्वन्तरिं हरिम्॥ (धन्वन्तरिस्तोत्रम्)
The one who emerged from the churning of the ocean, who is smeared with divine fragrances and has a pot of amṛita in his hands, I bow down to that Dhanvantari. Today as per Aitihyam Dhanvantari emerged from Kshera Sagara, the ocean of milk with Amrta kumbha as a result of the chrning of the Milky Ocean. Dhanvantari I (11220 BCE) appeared with a pot of Amrit during Samudra Manthan.
Devraj Indra made him the Vaidhya of Devas as he gives ayurveda to the world. Goddess Lakshmi too emerged with him from the Ksheera Sagara with all the wealth and opulance. Amrta here is the potion of immortality. This Amrta represent all kinds of medicines that extend life (Ayus) and hence Dhanvantari is the basis of Ayurveda, our traditional system of medicine, that still save many patients with incurable ailments who are otherwise given up by modern medicine.
The Asurari (killer of Asuras) had appeared from the sea with the nectar pot, for which the asuras run after him and the omnipotent God, who had the power to cut every asur in a moment with his Sudarshan Chakra, the same Gadadhara Bhagwan fled for the welfare of the world. Where the drops of nectar fell after their escape, even after millions of years, Kumbh Mela is organized where even today the largest gathering of Sanatanis takes place. These places emerged as the holy places of Sanatanis (Prayag, Ujjain, Haridwar and Nashik) and holy rivers took place at the holy confluence, in which a man attains Vaikuntha by drinking divine water in the divine time.
There is a legend regarding the celebration. 16 year old king Hima was prophesized to die from a snake bite on the forth night of his marriage. His newly-wed wife didn't allow him to sleep that night. She laid out all of her gold ornaments at the entrance of the room and lit hundreds of lamps. Then she started telling wonderful stories to the king to discard off his fear. At midnight, Yamaraj came in the form of a snake. His eyes were dazzled and blinded by the brilliance of the lamps and the jewelries. He sat there and listened to the stories entire night.
At morning, pleased with the tales, he blessed Hima with long life and went away. That day, which is the 14th night of Kartik month, is celebrated as Yamadeepam, in which ladies of the family light earthen lamps and worship Yama. The month of Kartika is also called month of Yama. Ladies worship Yama by lighting Yamadeepam. In Indian astrology, Ravigraha is called Atmakaraka. Surya is the source of life. During this month, Surya remains Nichastha. It is said that people need to take care during Ritusandhi. That's why through Dhanteras, the Jeevandhan, the health has been elixired throughout ages.
Dhanwantari was born on the last lagna of Trayodashi tithi. That's why, many communities like Bengali, Odia, Assamese, Maithilies, Tulus, have a tradition of consuming 14 shag (leafy vegetables like Spinach) on the day of Chaturdashi. Coincidentally, the Chaturdashi day (next to Trayodashi) is also the day of Narak Chaturdashi/Kali Chaudas when the spirits wander around the ihaloka. Communities believe that consumption of shag wards off the evil spirits, though it is actually the main objective of Ayurveda to increase the body immunity by shag consumption.
In South India (especially Tamil Nadu), Brahmin women make 'Marundhu' which translates as 'medicine' on the eve of Naraka Chaturdasi that is Dhanvantri Trayodashi. The Marundhu is offered during the prayer and eaten in the early morning on Naraka Chaturdasi before sunrise. In fact, many families hand over the recipes of Marundhu to their daughters and daughters-in-law. The Marundhu is consumed to eliminate the imbalance of tridoshas in the body.
The practice of medicine had become a profession in India more than 5000 years ago, during the Vedic age. The cures being provided in this age could have been based on the research and experience of the medical professionals, and on their religious and philosophical beliefs.
Numerous references to healing powers of the bhishaj, the Gods and sages who possess the knowledge of medicinal herbs, can be found in the Rig Veda, and the later Vedic samhitas, the Atharva Veda in particular. Among the Gods, Rudra (Shiva), the Ashvins, and Varuna have been depicted as the bhishaj in the Vedic texts. The healing powers of the Ashvins are legendary—they can bring sight to the blind, heal the lame, and replace a lost limb with a metal limb.
The mandala 10, hymn 97, of the Rig Veda has a discussion of the bhishaj, the herbs with healing power, and various physical and mental ailments. Here’s a translation of two verses (verses 7 and 8 from Mandala 10, Hymn 97):
“He who hath store of Herbs at hand like Kings amid a crowd of men, Physician/Vaidya is that Bipra/sage's name, fiend-slayer, chaser of disease.”
“Herbs rich in Soma, rich in steeds, in nourishments, in strengthening power, All these have I provided here, that this man may be whole again.”
The Atharva Veda contains references to the plants and herbs that can be used to cure certain diseases. The curative power of these plants and herbs can be enhanced through the chanting of hymns. Some hymns in the Atharva Veda suggest that water has curative powers, and that fire has the power to cure by driving away the pishachas and rakshasas (evil spirits and demons) that are often the cause of diseases.
There are not many temples dedicated to Dhanvantari in North India but in South there are a few. Among the states in South India Kerala has many Dhanvantari temples. Off which the one in Nelluvaya, Thottuva, Koozhakottu, Anakkal, Maruthor Vattam, Prayikkara are most visited. There is a Dhanvantari temple inside the famous Srirangam temple as well as Kanchi Varadaraja Temple.
A historical reference, rather unorthodox in nature states that once there was a king in Kashi who himself used to practice as a physician. Dhanvantari II (10960 BCE) was a descendant of Ayu and the king of Kashi who founded the science of Ayurveda. He was born on Ashvin Krishna Trayodashi (popularly known as Dhan Trayodashi). He was a disciple of Bharadwaj. Sushrut, a descendant of Vishwamitra was a pupil of Dhanvantari II who compiled the earliest version of Sushrut Samhita based on the teachings and discoveries of Dhanvantari II.
He used to cure people through Ayurveda. Not only being limited to his kingdom, he also travelled to all over India to treat people with Ayurveda. It was him who popularized and established the main base of Ayurveda in ancient India. He was born on Trayodashi tithi, and hence Dhanwantari Trayodashi was the day celebrated to commemorate his Jayanti.
Dhanvantari as the Lord of Ayurveda and medicine has granted the wisdom to mankind to heal themselves both physically and psychologically, and to aspire ultimately for atma bodha or self-realization. So Dhanvantari as a healer assists all dharmic aspirants in their journey towards the attainment of Moksha by granting them health and well being. As health is a crucial requirement for performing continuous and rigorous sadhanas in one's lifetime for spiritual awakening.
Health is only possible by following a lifestyle which transforms all necessary actions in maintenance of a good physical system. The Science of Ayurveda taught by Dhanvantari has come to us through the oral teachings of sages and by the shlokas of Atharva Veda which divided Ayurveda in eight parts known as shalya, shalakya, kayachikitsa, bhutavidya, kaumarabhrtya, agadatantra, rasayanatantra and vajikaranatantra. The major significance lies with the preservation of our greatest dhanam/wealth which is considered health. A healthy body is a fundamental requirement in the attainment of both spiritual and material accomplishments.
In fact at the time of Kurmavatara (Tortoise incarnation) Maha Vishnu came as Mohini (damsel who distributed the Ambrosia) and also the one who brought the pot of Ambrosia Dhanvantari (the celestial physician). The iconography of Dhanvantari is very interesting. He has four arms and in His upper right and left He holds the Sankha (Conch) and Chakra (Disc) respectively. In His lower left hand He has Amrutha Kalasha (pot of Ambrosia) and in His lower right He holds a Jaluka (Leech).
Leeches are creepy worms found in marshy places. Leeches came with Dhanvantari at the time of Samudra Manthana (churning of the ocean). Ayurveda considers leeches to be the best to get the clotted blood out of the body. Leech therapy was used in ancient India when the soldiers in the war had the blood clot and in the reattachment of the severed limbs in the battle where the leeches were used periodically to suck the stagnant blood from the veins till it recovered. Amazing part is that the leech bite is not experienced as its saliva has anesthetic qualities; also it has enzymes and serums which stop blood from coagulating.
ॐ नमो भगवते महासुदर्शनाय वासुदेवाय धन्वंतराये:।
अमृतकलश हस्ताय सर्व भयविनाशाय सर्व रोगनिवारणाय।।
Worship of Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Dhana Lakshmi is considered beneficial and auspicious for all sadhakas on this day. The manifestation day of Sri Dhanvantari, the deity of Ayurveda and incarnation of Sri Vishnu, who is the ideal doctor and grants us the wisdom of health, longevity, rejuvenation and immortality.
October 23 marks Ayurveda Day 2022 as set forth by the Ministry of AYUSH in India. Vaidyas, doctors and physicians of Prachin Bharat used to prepare, purchase and innovate Ayurvedic medicines on this day as a mandatory part to celebrate the ceremony. May Dhanvantari awaken your own inner healer and connect you to the Cosmic Prana.
Authored by Dr Anadi Sahoo
