Dhanteras 2024: Trayodashi of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month is known as ‘Dhanteras’, which is also called Chhoti Diwali. On this day, to please Yamraj, a lamp is donated outside the house, so that there is no untimely death in the house.
According to Chapter 124 of Uttarakhand of Padma Purana, on Trayodashi of Krishna Paksha of Kartik, a lamp should be lit for Yamraj outside the house. This prevents premature death. This mantra should be chanted while lighting the lamp-
Mrityuna Paashashten Kalen Bharyaya Saha Trayodshyam Deepdanatsuryaj: Priyatamitti ॥ (Padma Purana 124.5)
That is – ‘Death’, Pashdhari Kaal and Suryanandan Yamraj along with his wife should be pleased by lighting the lamp on Trayodashi.
Do these things on Dhanteras, you will not have to visit Yamalok
People who are afraid of hell must take bath at the time of moonrise on Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi. One who takes bath in the morning on Chaturdashi does not have to see Yamalok. Apamarg (Onga or Chichda), Tumbi (Gourd), Praputrat (Chakvad) and Katphal (Kayphal) – these should be rotated on the forehead in between bath. This destroys the fear of hell.
At that time, pray like this – ‘O evil path! I am repeatedly circling you on my head along with thorns and leaves so that my sins can be taken away. Saying this, turn Apamarg and Chakvad on the head. After this, offer tarpan by reciting the names of Yamraj.
Name and mantra of Yamraj – Yamaya Namah, Dharmarajaya Namah, Mrityave Namah, Antakaya Namah, Vaivasvataya Namah, Kalay Namah, Sarvabhutakshayaya Namah, Audumbaray Namah, Danay Namah, Nilaya Namah, Parmesthine Namah, Vrikodaray Namah, Chitraya Namah, Chitraguptaaya Namah.
According to the fast festival Chandrika Chapter 24, people light ghee oil lamps on top of their houses and shops. On this day also there is splendor like Diwali but in less quantity. Probably that is why it is called Chhoti Diwali. On this day, its beauty can be seen in Thatheri market of Kashi. The shopkeepers there clean and decorate their brass utensils and take out expensive sarees and display them.
This scene is very beautiful and fascinating. Buying a new utensil on this day is considered auspicious and almost everyone buys a small or big utensil. People believe that by buying utensils on this day, Goddess Lakshmi (wealth) resides in the house. That is why this date is called ‘Dhanteras’ – that is, the Trayodashi day on which wealth comes into the house. A smaller version of Diwali can be seen on this day in cities.
Dhanteras’s relation with Yamraj
According to Vrat Utsav Chandrika Chapter 24, once Yamraj asked his messengers that as per my orders, when you people kill the lives of living beings, do you not feel pity for any human being at any time, if you do then when and where? But the messengers replied. There was a big heavy king named Hans. He had once gone to the forest for hunting. Coincidentally he got separated from his companions and started wandering here and there in the forest.
Wandering in the forest, he went to the kingdom of a king named Hem. There King Hem honored him with great respect. At that time, by providence, a son, Ratna, was born to King Hem. But on the sixth day (festival) of Chhathi birth, the goddess appeared and said, O king! This son of yours will die after four days.
The king was very sad to hear this. To King Hans who was the guest of King Hem at that time. When this was known, he hid Hemraj’s son in a cave in Yamuna to save him from death. But when he got married when he was young, we (Yamdoots) took away his life on the very fourth day. At the time of that auspicious festival, this act of ours was extremely disgusting and we felt great pity in taking away his life.
Our hearts became very sad. Therefore O Lord! Please suggest some trick by which animals can be saved from this type of sudden accident. Hearing this, Yamraj explained the rule of donating lamps on this day and said that those who donate lamps and fast for him on the day of Dhanteras will never die untimely death.
According to the ethos, beliefs and tradition, Kuber and Dhanvantari are also worshiped on this day, although Kuber and Dhanvantari should be worshiped on the day of Dhantrayodashi, its details are not found in Padma Purana or Skanda Purana etc. but because this is an old tradition and our ancestors have been doing it. Therefore, Kuber and Dhanvantari should also be worshipped. Manusmriti 2.6 Medhatithi commentary also says that if the old tradition is good then it should be accepted.
Dhanteras worship method
- On this day, Yamraj is worshiped so that he remains happy and prevents untimely death.
- On the day of Dhanteras, soak the soil plowed by plow in milk and apply it on the branch of Semal tree and sprinkle it on your body three times and apply Kumkum tilak and again take Kartik bath.
- At the time of Pradosh, lamps should be lit continuously for three days in places like monastery, temple, well, stepwell, garden, cowshed, and cowshed etc.
- If the Sun is in Libra, then on the evening of Chaturdashi and Amavasya, there is a tradition to show the path to the ancestors by taking a burnt stick and rotating it.
- In this way, donating lamps and worshiping Yamraj on the day of Dhanteras removes the fear of untimely death. Therefore friends, please do not forget to light the Yama lamp.
Note- The views given above are the personal views of the author. It is not necessary that ABP News Group agrees with this. The author alone is responsible for all claims or objections related to this article.