Akshaya Trithiya

Akshaya Tritiya, also spelt Akshaya Trithiya ,is a highly auspicious day in the Vedic Calendar which falls on the 3rd day of the new moon month (third Tithi of Sukhla Paksha) of Hindu month of Vaisakha (April – May). Akshaya Trithiya is also known as Akha Teej festival. According to Hindu astrology it is said that there is no need to check for any good ‘muhurat’ or ‘muhurtham’ on Akshaya Trithiya as every second of Akshaya Trithiya day is favorable. In 2011, Akshaya Tritiya is on 6th May and is said to be even more auspicious being a Friday.

The Chardham Yatra temples, Gangotri Temple and Yamunotri Temple in Himalayas will open on Akshaya Trithiya Day.

Importance of Akshaya Trithiya Festival

In Sanskrit, the word Akshaya means “never diminishing” and any new venture started on this day is believed to bring success and prosperity. Akshaya Trithiya is considered as the most ideal day to start new business ventures, ground breaking for construction, buying gold, diamond, and other precious ornaments, marriages and ring exchanges, and real estate property.

Jainism is one of the oldest known religion of world. Rishabhadeva alias Adinath is the first Tirthankara of the Jain. The Day of Akshay Trithiya is said to be auspicious in Jainism because -

Tirthankara Rshabhdeva was king of Ayodhya. He,being enlightened gave up all earthly pleasures and chose to lead the life of an ascetic and become a Jain monk. Jain monks do not possess anything,not even food. They do not even cook food for themselves. While hungry or thirsty, they go to people and ask for food or drinking water. Tirthankara Rshabhdeva also went to people and asked food. However, the people of that time did not know anything about the acts of monks, as he was the first monk in this era. People of Ayodhya offered gold, jewellery, gemstones, elephants, horses, expensive garments and even their daughters to honour their beloved king. Rshabhdeva was not in quest of all these. He wanted only a few morsels of food,and that no body offered him. No body at that time could guess that their king was asking for food. As there was no choice, he had to fast for long time until his grand son Shreyansha kumara understood his need. Shreyansha kumara, finally, offered him sugar cane juice and Rshabhdeva broke his fast with that juice after 1 year. The incident happened on the day of Akshaya Trithiya. This is considered by the Jains as one of the best offerings.Jains, even today, observe long term fast to commemorate their first Tirthankara Rshabhadeva and break their fast on Akshaya Trithiya with sugar cane juice.

Akshaya Trithiya also known as Aakha Teej or Akha Teej,is traditionally the birthday of Lord Parasurama,the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu,and also of Lord Balarama. People conduct special Pujas on this day, bathe in holy rivers, make a charity, offer barley in a sacred fire, and worship Lord Ganesha & Devi Lakshmi on this day.

It is believed that Lord Kubera, the treasurer of the gods, the richest deity, even Lord Kubera,it is believed prays to goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and consort of Vishnu, on this day. On this day, a day-long Kubera Lakshmi Puja is performed in which an Lakshmi Devi is worshipped along with Sudarsana Kubera Yantra, symbolising Kubera.

Akshaya Trithiya also marks the beginning of the "SatyaYug" or the Golden Age - the first of the four Yugas.
In the Puranas, the holy Hindu scriptures, there is a legend that says that on this day of Akshay Trithiya, Veda Vyasa along with Ganesha started writing the great epic Mahabharata.
Ganga Devi or Mother Ganges also descended on earth on this day.

The Vedic scriptures say that knowledge gained or charity done on this day is very fruitful.
The religious merit that is acquired by giving charity on this day is considered inexhaustible.

There are also many myths attached to this very auspicious day.

According to a legend, during the time of the Mahabharata, when the Pandavas were in exile, Lord Krishna, on this day, presented them an 'Akshaya Patra,' a bowl which would never go empty and produce an unlimited supply of food on demand.

Perhaps, the most famous of the Akshaya Trithiya stories is the legend of Lord Krishna and Sudama, his poor Brahmin childhood friend. On this day, as the tale goes, Sudama came over to Krishna's palace to request him for some financial help. As a gift for his friend, Sudama had nothing more than a handful of beaten rice or 'poha'. So, he felt alittle awkward and hesitant to give it to Krishna, but Krishna took the pouch of 'poha' from him and relished having it. Krishna followed the principle of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' or 'the Guest is like God' and treated Sudama like a king. His poor friend was so overwhelmed by the warmth and hospitality shown by Krishna, that he could not ask for the financial favor and came home empty handed. Lo and behold! When he reached his place, Sudama's old hut was transformed into a palace! He found his family dressed in royal attire and everything around was new and expensive. Sudama knew that it was a boon from Krishna, who blessed him with more than the wealth he actually intended to ask for. Therefore, Akshaya Tritiya is associated with material gains and wealth acquisition.

Astrologically, Lord Surya and Lord Chandra are most radiant and best placed on Akshya Trutheeya day, which is believed to be most auspicious. The Hindu Puranas provides numerous religious importance to Akshaya Trithiya and link it to several important occasions. Parasurama Jayanti and Balarama Jayanti falls of Aksaya Trithiya Day and it is also on Akshaya Tritiya day Guru Adi Shankaracharya recited Sri Kanakadhara Stavam standing outside a poor woman's hut. The poor woman was indeed very upset and sad that she had nothing but a small piece of dry goose berry to offer to the brahmin boy(AdiShanakara) asking for alms.Adi Shankaracharya out of grace for the poor woman sang the Kanakadhara Stavam and Goddess Lakshmi rained golden goose berries on the poor woman’s hut.

It is also believed that people born during this time shine bright in life. Many luminaries were born during this period: Basaveshwara born on May 4,Lord Buddha on May 16, Ramanujacharya and Adi Shankaracharya on May 6, Swami Chinmayananda on May 8,and our dear Guruji Sri Sri Ravishankarji on May 13th to name a few.

Happy Akshya Trithiya to all and may all of us be blessed by the Lord to gain true knowledge and LIVE IN KNOWLEDGE Always....

Jai Gurudev.....