The Life and Teachings of Ṛiṣhi Dhanvantari
By Cdr Alok Mohan
नमोऽस्तु धात्रे विष्णुं धातुर्वेद-विभूषितम्। अमृतकलश-हस्तं– धन्वन्तरिं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
Translation:
I bow to Dhanvantari, who is the upholder like Viṣhṇu, adorned with the knowledge of healing, holding the pot of nectar—may I pay homage to Dhanvantari.
Abstract
This paper examines the life, legends, iconography, teachings, and enduring legacy of Ṛṣi Dhanvantari, traditionally hailed as the divine progenitor of Ayurveda. Drawing from classical Purāṇic narratives, scholarly compilations, and vernacular traditions, the study analyzes Dhanvantari’s mythological emergence, his role in medical tradition, his disciples, his authored works, and his worship in rituals and festivals. Special emphasis is given to his genealogical positioning within sage lineages and his symbolic place in Indian intellectual history.
1. Introduction
Ṛiṣhi Dhanvantari stands at the confluence of mythology, medicine, and cultural memory in the Indian tradition. Revered as the divine physician (deva-vaidya), he is simultaneously recognized as a manifestation of Viṣṇu and as the founder of Ayurveda, the “science of life.” The earliest and most vivid account of his emergence is found in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (8.8.34–41), which narrates the churning of the cosmic ocean (samudra-manthana). Amidst the devas and asuras striving for amṛita, the nectar of immortality, there appeared a resplendent divine being: youthful, dark-complexioned, adorned with garlands and jewels, radiant with lotus-like eyes, and carrying in his hands the pot of amṛita. This being was identified as Dhanvantari, a partial manifestation (aṃśāvatāra) of Lord Viṣṇu, entrusted with the sacred responsibility of bestowing healing knowledge upon humanity.
The symbolism of this emergence is multilayered. The act of holding the nectar links Dhanvantari directly to the principle of longevity (dīrghāyuḥ), the core promise of Ayurveda. His appearance at the boundary between gods and demons emphasizes his role as a mediator of health, one whose gifts must serve both cosmic order (ṛita) and human welfare. The Purāṇic imagery also resonates with comparative mythology: in Greek tradition, Asklepios is likewise a semi-divine healer whose art bridges the divine and human worlds. Thus, Dhanvantari can be understood not only as a distinctly Hindu deity, but also as part of a wider Indo-European archetype of the divinely inspired healer. In fact most of the Gods of Olympus are almost similar to the Hindu Gods of , and therefore ancient worship also resembled Sanatana Dharma.
Later texts, including the Viṣṇu Purāṇa and Agni Purāṇa, expand Dhanvantri role, identifying him with the codification of Ayurveda. He appears not merely as a mythic bearer of ambrosia but as a teacher and transmitter of medical science. This dual image—Dhanvantari as cosmic avatar and practical teacher—dominates his cultural reception, making him an object of worship in temples, a source of legitimacy for medical practitioners, and a symbol of the divine origins of Ayurveda.
2. Historical and Lineage Context
While as per the mythological context, Dhanvantari emerges from the cosmic ocean, but the historical Dhanvantari is very well situated within the dynastic and genealogical traditions of Sanatana Dharma. Several Purāṇas narrate that in his earthly incarnation, Dhanvantari was born in the royal lineage of Kāśhī (Varanasi), a city renowned for learning and spirituality. Specifically, he is described as a descendant of the Ikṣvāku dynasty, born as the son of King Dirghatapas (sometimes identified with Divodāsa). In this form, Dhanvantari was raised as a king but soon renounced worldly life, devoting himself to the study of healing, meditation, and spiritual practice. His life thus exemplifies the archetype of the philosopher-king, suggesting that rulership in ancient India was ideally aligned with the pursuit of wisdom.
The Vaidya sub-caste of Brahmins traced its identity to Dhanvantari. Earlier, Bharadvāja—an eminent sage of the Angirasa lineage—had been considered their progenitor. Bharadvāja is remembered in Ayurveda for receiving medical knowledge directly from Indra, thereby functioning as a link between divine revelation and human transmission. As the Hindi text notes, when a sage of renown emerged, entire sub-lineages (upajāti) often took his name. Thus, the “Vaidya” community, traditionally physicians, legitimized their role by claiming descent from Dhanvantari, much as other groups did from Bharadvāja or Angirasa.
Other Purāṇic records complicate the genealogical narrative. The Matsya Purāṇa mentions a sage named “Vaidyag Ṛiṣhi” in the Angirasa lineage, whose name may also have influenced the caste designation. Similarly, traditions concerning Vidathin (the adopted son of Bharata and grandson of Bharadvāja) and his descendants, the “Vaidathins,” point to multiple possible roots for the physician castes. These overlapping accounts reflect the plurality of genealogical imagination in Indian tradition, where divine descent, royal heritage, and professional identity interweave.
Historically, Dhanvantari is remembered as the systematizer of Ayurveda into its eight branches (aṣṭāṅga-āyurveda). His disciples, especially Suśruta, compiled foundational treatises such as the Suśruta Saṃhitā, central to surgical practice (śalyatantra). By linking Suśruta directly to Dhanvantari, tradition grounds medical expertise within both divine revelation and royal authority. This suggests that behind the mythology may have stood a historical physician-king of Kāśhī, renowned for his medical skill and teachings, who became mythologized over centuries into the Viṣṇu-avatāra carrying the nectar of immortality.
Thus, the historical Dhanvantari represents a fusion of three identities:
Mythological: bearer of amṛita from the cosmic ocean.
Genealogical: progenitor of Vaidya lineages connected to Bharadvāja and Angirasa.
Historical: teacher-king of Kāśjī, whose disciples codified Ayurveda.
3. Teachings and Disciples
Dhanvantari structured Ayurveda into eight branches (kāyachikitsā, baḷyachikitsā, śalyachikitsā, śalākya, grahachikitsā, uṁgāṅgachikitsā, daṃṣṭrachikitsā (vishachikitsā), jarā, vṛṣya) .
Some research papers, from southern parts of india, similarly note these eight branches and confirms Sushruta, among other disciples, learning surgery (śalya-chikitsā) from Dhanvantari (Kerala Tourism). The Hindi text also mentions Sushruta and Vṛddha (Vṛddhar）as the key disciples.
Some of the History of Ayurveda sources state that Dhanvantari taught Ayurveda orally to sages like Susruta, Pauskalavata, Aurabha, Vaitarana, as recorded in the Agni Purāṇa (History of Ayurveda, l
4. Iconography and Symbolism
Standard iconographical representations describe Dhanvantari as four-armed, holding a śhaṅkha (conch), cakra (discus), a jar of amṛita, and a leech (jalauka) or similar medicinal symbols (Wikipedia)
The symbolism is rich: the leech reflects ancient medical practice of bloodletting and the pot of amṛita signifies the healing nectar.
5. Textual Contributions
There are numerous works attributed to Dhanvantari, including:
Cikitsā Tattva Jñāna, Cikitsā Darśana, Cikitsā Kaumudī, Ajīrṇāmṛta Manjarī, Roga Nidāna, Vaidya Ciṃtamāṇi, Vaidya Prakāśa Cikitsā, Vidya Prakāśa, Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu, Cikitsā Sāra Saṃgraha, Bhāskara Saṃhitā Cikitsātattva Vijñāna Tantra, Dhātu Kalpa, Vaidyaka Svaroday.
Also, Agni Purāṇa credits him with Vṛkṣāyurveda, Aśvayurveda, and Gajayurveda .
While these works are prominent in ancient traditions, but scholarly verification through further research is desired.
6. Legends and Later References
Dhanvantari and his disciples encountered Manasā and Takṣaka during a journey to Kailāśa, a confrontation involving serpents, medicinal herbs, and divine intervention via Śiva’s trident. This myth, though not widely found in mainstream Puranic compilations, reflects medieval storytelling traditions around Dhanvantari.
Additionally, the text acknowledges multiple figures named Dhanvantari:
Dhanvantari Amṛtācārya, named following a boon by sage Gālabha;
A doctor among Vikrama-Aditya’s navaratnas;
A Dhanvantari who became a disciple of Kṛiṣhṇa Chaitanya, engaging in philosophical debate on puruṣa vs prakṛti;
Sikh Guru Gobind Singh Jee, considered Dhanvantari among the 24 hindu avatars.
7. Worship and Cultural Legacy
Dhanvantari is worshipped widely as Devānāṃvaidyaḥ (physician of the gods), and invoked for good health. His Jayanti falls on Dhanteras, two days before Diwali; rituals include lighting lamps, offering prayers, and commemorating Ayurveda’s gift to humanity.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu host dedicated temples—for instance, Kerala’s Thottuva temple with a six-foot idol and Tamil Nadu’s shrine in Srirangam. Since 2016, National Ayurveda Day in India aligns with Dhanteras, highlighting the modern relevance of his legacy.
8. Conclusion
Ṛṣi Dhanvantari embodies the intersection of divinity and medical science in Indian tradition. Mythologically, he is the Viṣṇu-avatāra emerging with amṛita; historically, he is a philosopher-king of Kāśjī remembered for codifying Ayurveda; genealogically, he anchors the identity of Vaidya communities. His disciples, especially Suśruta, ensured that his teachings became enshrined in classical medical literature. His worship on Dhanteras and his institutional commemoration on Ayurveda Day affirm that the legacy of the divine physician continues to inspire faith, scholarship, and healing practice across centuries.
References
Hamare Poorvaj By Dr L D Mohan
Worship practices, Dhanteras festival, Ayurveda Day, temples (Wikipedia)