Legend behind Dhan Teras

Dhanteras is also known as Yamadeepdaan and lamps are kept burning through the night to pray Lord Yama to keep away death and despair. A very interesting story about this day is associated to the sixteen year old son of King Hima. As per his horoscope he was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that fateful fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's palatial room and lighted infinite numbers of lamps all over the place. After all these, she went on telling stories and singing songs so that her husband is not able to sleep. When Yam, the god of Death arrived there appearing in form of a Serpent his eyes got blinded by the dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the Prince's chamber. Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "Yamadeepdaan" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in remembering Yam, the god of Death. Thirteen lamps made of wheat flour and lit with oil are placed outside the house, facing southwards (direction of Lord Yama), in the evening. A lamp is never kept facing southwards except on this day.

Legend 2- Sage Durvasa cursed Lord Indra due to which Godess Laxmi abandon him. The demons, attacked heaven and defeated Lord Indra.Brihaspati, the Deva Guru found a solution. For that the ocean of milk had to be churned to become potent ambrosia, which, if consumed by the gods, would bring immortality. The churning would also bring back Lakshmi. Mandara Mountain was used as a churning rod and Vasuki, the king of the serpents, as a rope & Lord Vishnu, who took the form of a tortoise and lifts the mountain on his back. During the churning the divine goddess raised from the depths of the ocean of milk. She stood on a fully blossomed lotus, wearing a garland of lotus and neck. The sages began reciting hymns in praise of her. Gandharvas sang and Apsaras danced. Even the elephants on either side of her, sprinkled sacred Ganga water on her, bathing her with it, letting her be called Gajalakshmi. As she was born from the ocean of milk, she was referred to as Samudratanya. The king of the ocean appeared in his natural form and welcomed Lakshmi as a daughter The gods and demons continued to churn the ocean for Amrit. Ultimately, Dhanavantri emerged from the ocean of milk, carrying a jar of the amrit. Both the asuras and the devas wanted the ambrosia, but Vishnu was able to give the immortal nectar to the gods, and the asuras were defeated. The churning of the ocean resulted in the immortality of the devas and was the reason for Lakshmi's emergence.

Contributed by
Mr Gaurav Rustagi ji