Dhanwanthralaya means “Aalaya of Dhanwantari” meaning “Temple of Dhanwantari”. The Hospital was named after Lord Dhanwantari, the Hindu God of medicine and an avatar of Lord Vishnu. He is mentioned in the puranas as the God of medicine. He, during the Samudhamathanam (churning of ocean) arose from the Ocean of Milk with the nectar of immortality (Amrutam). It is a common practice in Hinduism for worshipers to pray to Lord Dhanwantari seeking his blessings for sound health for themselves and/or others, especially on Dhanteras or Dhanwantari Trayodashi.