Kathmandu, October 19: Dhanwantari Jayanti and Arogya Diwas, which are observed every year on Kartik Krishna Trayodashi, are being celebrated across the country today with various programs.

The day is marked in remembrance of the birth of Lord Dhanwantari, the founder of Ayurveda, the ancient Eastern Vedic system of medicine based on herbs and natural remedies found in forests.

According to the Nepal Panchang Determination Committee, the celebration is being held today since the Trayodashi Tithi (the thirteenth day of the waning moon in Kartik) falls this morning, which is the auspicious time to observe Dhanwantari Jayanti.

As mentioned in the Vedic Sanatan Hindu scriptures, when the gods (Devas) and demons (Asuras) churned the ocean using the serpent Vasuki as a rope and Mount Mandarachal as the churning rod, Lord Dhanwantari emerged from the ocean on Kartik Krishna Trayodashi, holding a pot of Amrit (nectar of immortality) to heal diseases and eliminate suffering.

On this day, Ayurvedic physicians traditionally make sacred resolutions (satsankalpa) and begin auspicious activities.

The formal celebration of Dhanwantari Jayanti in Nepal began after the establishment of the Ayurveda Campus at Nardevi, Kathmandu. At that time, the campus, known as the Royal Ayurveda College, was operated as the teaching hospital of the Ayurveda Hospital.

Since 1972 AD (BS 2029), the campus has been functioning as a constituent campus under the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University. The Ayurveda Campus has now been relocated to Kirtipur.

On the occasion of Dhanwantari Jayanti and Arogya Diwas, special worship and prayers are offered to Lord Dhanwantari.

With the initiative of individuals from the Ayurvedic field, the celebration of Arogya Diwas (Health Day) alongside Dhanwantari Jayanti officially began in 1999 AD (BS 2056).

Lord Dhanwantari, who is depicted holding a text of Ayurveda—one of the four Upavedas of Vedic philosophy—in one hand and herbs symbolizing natural medicines in the other, is revered as the founder of Ayurvedic medicine.

Need of the day:

Nepal is a rich country for valuable herbs; however, there is a lack of necessary research on such herbs. The government should take the initiative for effective research, giving priority to Ayurveda medicines. The Singhadurwar Vaidyakhana was producing around 150 types of medicines, but due to the government's negligence, it has been listed among sick industries.

People’s News Monitoring Service.