Akshaya Tritiya is considered one of the most auspicious festivals by Hindus since it is the day of manifold blessings Any good work performed on this day will surely invoke manifold Divine results. The Sanskrit word ‘kshaya’ means ‘to erode’. ‘Akshaya’ means that which does not erode and stays eternally. It marks the setting of Treta Yuga among the other three Yugas (Satya, Dwarpa and Kali). When the earth in Treta Yuga was overburdened by the demonic kings and their ruthless armies trying to capture the earth, Lord Vishnu in His sixth incarnation Parshurama descended on this day. Parshurama killed all the Kshatriya kings twenty one times in order to establish Dharma.
On this day, Sage Vyasa wrote the great epic Mahabharata in order to explain different religious and spiritual philosophies. The epic also includes the greatest episode featuring the highest philosophical discourse between Lord Krishna and Arjuna called Bhagavad Gita (the Song of God).
On this day, Rishabhanatha, the first spiritual teacher of Dharma (Jainism) took his first food after wandering without food for a whole year following his spiritual initiation.
In these major events, the core philosophy remains the same. Parshurama by killing the whimsical kings established Dharma. Vyasa Muni wrote the Mahabharata in order to explain the various paths leading to eternity. And Rishabhanatha by following the severest austerities achieved the highest abode of eternity. All of these personalities taught us that the body or matter is ‘Kshaya’ and the Self (soul) is Akshaya, that which does not erode but is ever-lasting.
What To Do On Akshay Tritiya?
Buying gold on Akshaya Tritiya is believed to invite endless fortune into one’s life. Marriage on Akshaya Tritiya is considered very auspicious and will bring stability and harmony.
On this auspicious day, one may perform Akshay Tritiya Puja to invite prosperity and abundance. Akshay Tritiya puja rituals include the Madhusudhana ritual, with Tulasi archan and also the chanting of Sri Vishnu Sahasranaamam. Also, one may perform charities during this day which will bring manifold returns.
What charity can be done on Akshaya Trititya?
Charity on Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be the most auspicious as well as fulfilling acts one can ever do. ‘Akshaya’ means that which never diminishes. The significant quality of this divine day is that anything bought, started as a venture or given away as a charity doubles your riches one away or the other.
• One can offer jala, water to Brahmins with betel nuts and donate to them dakshina, offerings in one’s capacity.
• One can donate beds to the needy or the underprivileged.
• One may donate clothes to the needy and be blessed with a long life.
• Donating coconuts to Brahmins relieve our ancestors from agonies of the underworld.
• Offering butter milk as a charity blesses the donor with vidya prapti, attainment of knowledge.
• Donating padaraksha, slippers, shoes, chappals or any footwear will ensure that the donor’s life gets purified and is never subjected to entering Hellish planets after death.
• Puja of Cow: Cow is considered as holy animal in Hindu religion and millions of Hindus worship cows. Cow represents purity, love and ever giving and is the symbol of planet Venus.
• Puja of Horse: Horse (Ashwa) is considered to be disciple of Mars, which represents command and energy. Performing Ashwa Puja on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya blesses the devotee’s home with positivity and mental peace.
• Gaja (Elephant) Puja: If elephants are offered flowers and food while a priest chants the appropriate mantras, it invokes the blessings of Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles.
• Worshipping Goddess mother Earth: By doing so, one is bestowed with the grace of goddess of food grains (Dhaanyalakshmi), the goddess of wealth (Dhanalakshmi) and goddess of prosperity (Vaibhavlakshmi).
Thus Akshaya Tritiya is an auspicious day to start new ventures as any endeavor started on this day will grow and bring prosperity. The benefits of performing rituals such as Japa, Yagya, Pitra-Tarpan, Dan-Punya on this day stays perpetually with the worshipper.
