Dighanteras holds special significance in Hinduism. This festival, which precedes Diwali, is dedicated to the worship of the goddesses Lakshmi and Kubera, and the god Dhanvantari. On this day, people purchase gold and silver jewelry, new utensils, and brooms. According to religious beliefs, performing rituals on Dighanteras brings happiness, prosperity, and well-being into the home, making this day extremely auspicious.
Dighanteras is also known as Dhanatrayodashi. There is a belief that buying new things on this day attracts wealth into the home. Furthermore, there is a tradition of lighting a lamp in honor of Yamaraj on Dighanteras. However, many wonder how the celebration of this day began and what mythological stories lie behind it.
Why is Dighanteras celebrated?
According to one of the mythological stories, Dighanteras is connected to the Milk Ocean. It is said that during the mixing of the ocean by gods and asuras, on the thirteenth day of the dark month of Kartik, the god Dhanvantari appeared with a vessel filled with amrita. God Dhanvantari is revered as the deity of medicine and health, as well as an avatar of Vishnu. Since Dhanvantari held a vessel with amrita, the tradition of purchasing utensils on Dighanteras arose. It is believed that acquiring new utensils and metals on this day brings prosperity to the home, and also grants good health and long life to family members.
Mythological story related to Dighanteras
There is another common story: once Mata Lakshmi was forced to live in a farmer's house for twelve years due to a curse. During this time, the farmer's life experienced a significant rise; his house never lacked wealth or harvest, and the family lived happily. When twelve years were up, it was time for Mata Lakshmi to return. The farmer did not want to part with her, as his fate changed after her arrival. Hearing the farmer's words, Mata Lakshmi offered him a solution.
She advised him to clean the house on the thirteenth day of the dark month of Kartik, light a ghee lamp, and perform worship by placing coins in a vessel. Mata Lakshmi also said that whoever sincerely worshipped her and lit a lamp on this day would find happiness and prosperity in their home. The farmer followed Mata Lakshmi's advice, and it is believed that after this, he never lacked money or grain in his life. Since then, the tradition of worshipping Mata Lakshmi and lighting lamps on Dighanteras is considered established.
Second mythological story related to Dighanteras
There is also a mythological story explaining the tradition of lighting a lamp in honor of Yamaraj on Dighanteras. According to this story, Yamaraj asked his messengers if there had ever been a time when their hearts grieved at taking a human life. One of the yamadutas recounted that his heart was troubled when he saw a widowed woman weeping over the death of her husband. He then told the story of a prince.
It is told that a king named Hans went hunting and got lost, ending up in another state. King Hema from that state showed him great respect. Soon, a son was born in King Hema's house. Astrologers, having studied the child's horoscope, predicted that he would die four days after the wedding. The king decided to leave his son in a cave by the Yamuna river so that no women would pay attention to him and he would not marry. However, fate decided otherwise. One day, the king Hans's daughter accidentally came there. She was captivated by the prince, and they entered into a Gandharva marriage. As predicted, the prince died four days after the wedding. Seeing his wife's grief, the yamaduta felt compassion and asked Yamaraj if there was a way to save a person from premature death.
Then Yamaraj informed him that worshipping and lighting a lamp outside the house on the thirteenth day of the dark month of Kartik wards off the fear of premature death. This is why a lamp is lit in honor of Yamaraj on Dighanteras night, which is called Yam-dipdan.
