One of the Hindu temples exclusively dedicated to Dhanvantri, the Hindu god of health, cure, treatment and Ayurveda is located at Chintaluru Village in East Godavari District – Andhra Pradesh. Chintaluru Dhanvantri temple was built and consecrated in 1942 by well-known Ayurveda expert and author Vaidyaraaj Dwibhashyam Venkateswarlu. The temple is visited annually by thousands of devotees seeking good health and vigor.
Dhanvantri is an avatar of Bhagavan Vishnu. He is also the 12th in Narayana's Ekavimshathi order followed in this region.
The inner walls of the beautifully maintained temple are lined with murtis of Brahma, Daksha Prajapati, Ashwini Devas, Indra, Bharadwaja, Vagbhata, Athreya, Sushruta and Charaka – all of whom are associated with Ayurveda.
Within the temple compound are small shrines to Subramanya, Venkateswara with Sridevi and Bhudevi, and Kashi Vishweshwara with Annapurna.
The most important day in a week is Saturday. Ekadashi, which falls on the 11th day of a fortnight, is another important day in the temple.
A special sweet is offered to the deity and it is prepared using wheat rava, sugar, ghee, cow milk, nuts and dates.
A huge festival is held on Kartik Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi, the birthday of Dhanvantari.
Some of other popular temples dedicated to Dhanvantari are located in Kerala mostly maintained by the families of famous Ayurveda physicians of the state.