The legend of Sea Churning King Hima and Yamraj
According to his horoscope, he would be bitten by a snake on the fourth day of marriage. On that particular day, his wife kept him awake the whole night to prevent him from the snake bite. She laid out all her ornaments and gold and silver coins at the entrance of her bedroom. She lightened the room with lamps and did not allow her husband to enter the room. She sang the whole night and narrated stories to keep him awake.

When Lord Yama or the God of Death arrived in the guise of a serpent his eyes were blinded by the dazzle of the coins and the lights. He sat on the heap of coin and listened to the songs and left peacefully the next morning. Thus, the young wife was successful in saving his husband from the jaws of death.

Dhanteras is also known as “yamadeepan” and the lamps are kept burning the whole night to keep away evil spirit from the homes.

Another legend that goes is that when the demons were churning out ‘amrit' or nectar from the oceans Dhanyantari emerged form the ocean carrying a jar of elixir on the day of Dhanteras.