Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.565.4

c5.565.4

Hearing this Vāsuki, King of serpents, sent to Dhanvantari thousands of serpents under the leadership of Droṇa, Puṇḍarīka and Dhanañjaya. The poisonous breath of all these serpents joined together made the disciples of Dhanvantari swoon. Immediately Dhanvantari by a medicine made from vanaspati made all his disciples recover and then sent all the serpents to a swoon. When Vāsuki heard this he sent the serpent-maid, Manasādevī, a disciple of Śiva, to face Dhanvantari. Manasādevī and Gaḍūra were both disciples of Śiva. But Dhanvantari was a follower of Gaḍūra. Manasādevī made all the disciples of Dhanvantari swoon but the latter because of his great proficiency is Viṣavidyā soon brought back his disciples to normal. When Manasādevī found that it was impossible to defeat Dhanvantari or his disciples by using poison Manasādevī took the triśūla given to her by Śiva and aimed it at Dhanvantari. Seeing this Śiva and Brahmā appeared before them and pacifying them sent them all their way. DHANVANTARI II. (Amṛtācārya). An eminent medical scientist born in the ambaṣṭha caste. There is no reference anywhere in the Purāṇas regarding any relationship between the two Dhanvantaris. There is the following story about Amṛtācārya in Ambaṣṭhācāracandrikā. Once Gālava Maharṣi went to the forest to collect darbha and firewood. He walked for long and felt thirsty and hungry. Then he saw a girl coming that way with water and Gālava quenched his thirst taking water from her.