Dhanvantari is the God of Ayurveda. He is an avatar of Lord Vishnu and the Hindu God of medicine, the physician of gods and the whole universe. Dhanvantari is mentioned as the god of Ayurveda in the Puranas. He rose from the Ocean of Milk during the Samudramanthan with a pot of nectar of immorality. As per the story, the Asuras and Devas churned the Ocean of Milk using the serpent Vasuki as a rope and the Mandara Mountain as the churning rod.
In Hinduism people worship Dhanvantari to bless themselves and others with good health. This Indian God is worshipped on Dhanwantari Trayodashi or Dhanteras, especially before the Diwali festival. The Government of India has made a declaration that each year Dhanwantari Trayodashi Kumara would be celebrated as National Ayurveda Day. Celebrations of the National Ayurveda Day began since 2016.
Dhanvantari is portrayed as a handsome God, with 4 arms with one of the arms carrying the ambrosia, Amrita. He is also represented as Vishnu with 4 hands holding a filled pot, a Jalauka (leech), a Chakra and Shankha. Rather than scriptures he is seen holding a leech in his hand.
A leading Ayurveda institute known as Ayurved Sankul has been established at Anand in Gujarat which is called the Milk City of India. The Dhanvantari Temple at Dapoli, in Ratnagiri in Maharashtra State besides a number of temples is Tamil Nadu and Kerala are dedicated to the Dhanvantari God. A 6 feet tall statue of Lord Dhanvantari facing the east is seen at the Thottuva Dhanwanthari temple in Kerala.
