Akshaya Tritiya

Significance Of Akshaya Tritiya

 Like every other Indian Hindu festivals, akshaya thritiya or the gold festival is based on some fascinating myths and ancient stories. It is believed that if you donate heartily on this holy day, you get blessings of the Almighty to have more in life. So, taking this into consideration, what is the importance of akshaya tritiya? Why Is Akshaya Tritiya So Auspicious? 

10 Things To Donate On Akshaya Tritiya Akshaya Thritiya or the gold festival is one such seasonal festival of Baisakha (in April). Usually, it is celebrated on the third lunar day of the bright fortnight. On the 7th day from the Indian New-year on 1st Baisakh, people celebrate Akshaya thritiya. Like every other occasion, there is some importance of akshaya tritiya. In Sanskrit, the word ‘Akshaya’ means no decay. It is believed in Hinduism that this day brings good fortune and luck in your life. On the other hand, the significance of akshaya thritiya is very interesting.

1.Astrological Importance

Do you know what is the astrological significance of akshaya thritiya? It is considered as one of the most important time (tithi) of Hindu astrology. It is believed that the sun and the moon become equally bright on this day. 

2.Beginning of the Epic

 You can never ignore this important significance of akshyaya thritiya. Sri Vyasdev started to dictate the great Indian epic, Mahabharata, and Lord Ganesh began to write it down without asking second time. Definitely, it is an important cause to commemorate the day. 

3.Birthday of Goddess Annapurna

 it is believed in Hinduism that this holy day is the birthday of the goddess Annapurna. People, basically, who are related to cultivation, celebrate navanna on this day which is an occasion of having new and healthy crops. 

4.Regain of Wealth

 The old Hindu Purans are consists of many stories. On this day, Kuber, the keeper of gold and other wealth of the heaven, worshipped Lord Shiva and regained his post. Thus it is believed that if you worship Lord Shiva and donate something, for his blessing, you get double. 

5.Parshuram’s Birthday

 The importance of akshaya tritiya is never ending. This day is the time when Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, appeared on the earth to establish justice by demolishing the tyranny of Khastriyas. 

6.Never ending Wealth

 You already know the occasion is named on idea of never diminishing health and wealth. So, the mythical significance of aksahya thritiya lies in another charming story. Lord Krishna’s poor friend Sudama came to meet him with a hand of rice and received never ending wealth from Him as blessing. 

7.Another Mahabharata Reference

 In Mahabharata, it is the day when the King Yudhistir received ‘Akshaya Patra’ to quench the hunger of his kingdom. On the list of significance of akshaya thritiya, it is also important. All these stories are based on faith and myths which are age old Indian culture from ancient time. If you carefully go through all the points, it will be clear to you that all stories are denoting the fulfillment of wish, getting blessings of God and the accomplishment of human life. 

What is the story behind the origins of Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej)?

Lord Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, the God who carries out the work of sustaining the universe, figures prominently in most stories about the origin of Akshaya Tritiya. Of these, the most famous one is, perhaps, that of Kuchela, also known as Sudama, and Krishna.

Sudama_Offers_a_Garland_to_Krishna,_Folio_from_a_Bhagavata_Purana

Kuchela was a poor Brahmin and a childhood friend of Krishna. A time came when he was in dire straits and could not earn enough for his family. So he decided to go and meet his former school mate who was now king of Dwaraka and ask for some financial help to tide him over. Before setting out on his journey, he packed a handful of poha or aval (beaten rice) as a humble                                                                          gift for his friend, the king.

When he reached the palace, Kuchela was mesmerized by all the wondrous things that he saw and felt ashamed to offer his gift that he felt was definitely unfit for a king. Krishna was very happy to see his childhood friend. He welcomed Kuchela with open arms and treated him like a god, following the age-old Indian dictum that ‘The guest is god’. He happened to see the packet of beaten rice that Kuchela was hiding and playfully grabbed it, opened it and began to eat the poha with obvious enjoyment. When he saw this, Kuchela was so overcome with emotion that he forgot why he came to see Krishna.

After spending some joyous days with Krishna at the palace, Kuchela began his long walk back home. During the journey, he suddenly remembered that he had failed in his mission and walked home with a heavy heart wondering how to console his waiting wife and children. On reaching his village, Kuchela found a palace where his hut stood, and inside the palace, his wife and children clothed in the finest of clothes. Food fit for royalty was also laid out on the dining table.

Kuchela realized that this was a miracle performed by the divine Krishna, who had many fantastic powers that he wielded to help each and every person who approached him with a problem of any sort. From that day on, the day that Kuchela met Sri Krishna was observed as Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej) day.

Kuchela’s humble gift and the prosperity that came his way as a reward for the gift of love that he offered from the midst of his poverty stands as a true symbol of Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej)– the prosperity that comes to one through sharing and giving.

Beginning of the Treta Yuga

According to Hinduism, there are four ages in the history of mankind known as Yugas. Of these, the Treta Yuga is the second. According to the Puranas, Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej) marks the beginning of the Treta Yuga.

The other yugas are Satya Yuga, Dvaparayuga and Kaliyuga. Treta Yuga comes after Satya Yuga, the age of perfect morality, and precedes the Dvaparayuga. Lord Vishnu's fifth, sixth and seventh incarnations occurred in this yuga and were the highlights of the age.

Day of Mahishasura’s defeat by Durga

In Hinduism, the Asuras are a group of deities, who represent Evil. They are engaged in eternal battle with the Devas, the gods who reside in the heavens, who represent Good. Both groups, however, are children of Kasyapa.

One of the Asuras named Mahishasur took on the form of a very powerful buffalo who wreaked death and destruction wherever he went. Finally, under his leadership, the Asuras defeated the Devas. The Devas joined their powers and a great band of lighting emerged from the mouths of the Supreme Trinity to create a goddess. This goddess, who was given special weapons by all the Devas became the ultimate source of power.

This supreme power was Shakti, the divine feminine creative power, sometimes referred to as 'The Great Divine Mother' in Hinduism. In order to defeat Mahishasura, Shakti became Goddess Durga also known as Vijaya Chamundeswari. Durga, who is Lord Shiva’s consort, represents two types of female energy – one, nurturing and protective and the other, fierce, destructive and unstoppable.

After a fierce battle with Mahishashura that lasted for ten days, Goddess Durga killed him on an Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej) day.

Bright Births

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, Ramanujacharya and Adi Shankaracharya on May 6, Swami Chinmayananda on May 8 and Lord Buddha on May 16. Akshaya Tritiya is also celebrated as the birthday of Lord Parashurama, one of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu.