In Hindu mythology, Dhanvantari is the divine physician who emerged during the churning of the ocean.
Dhanvantari appears in the Samudra Manthana story, when gods and asuras churn the ocean of milk to obtain amrita, the nectar of immortality. He is commonly depicted emerging from the ocean carrying a pot of amrita. This connects him with healing, medicine, and the preservation of life.
Hindu tradition regards Dhanvantari as an important divine source of Ayurveda. Dhanteras, observed shortly before Diwali, is associated with his worship in many communities, especially those connected with health and medicine.
Dhanvantari should not be confused with the Ashvins, twin divine healers in Vedic tradition, or with Brihaspati, the teacher of the gods. His distinctive mythic appearance is during the ocean-churning episode.