Dhanvantari is an avtar of Vishnu in Hinduisum. He appears in the Vedas and Puranas as the physician of the gods (devas), and the god of Ayurveda. It is common practice in Hinduism for worshipers to pray to Dhanvantari seeking his blessings for sound health for themselves and/or others, especially on Dhanteras.
God Dhanvantari arose at the time of the churning of the ocean milk, holding the cup of Amrita, the life-giving elixir. He also carriede the Jalooka (leech, used by Ayurvedic practitioners for blood letting) and the Vaishnava symbols like Srichakra and Sankh. To some he is really an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Dhanwantari was also born as a king of Benares, who brought medical science to the world. Images of Dhanwantari are often found in the shrines of Ayurvedic docters. He is also considered as a great surgeon who taught Ayurvedic surgery to Susrutha, the father of Ayurvedic surgery.
