Significance of Akshay Tritiya

Sanskrit ‘Akshaya’ means Imperishable and ‘Tritiya’ means the third phase of the moon. Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej or Akti) is an important festival for Hindus and Jains. It is one among four Tithis on which one doesn’t even need to look at muhurta. It is celebrated on Tritiya tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaisakh. It is the day of Aboojh Muhurta meaning, one can perform any auspicious work like Marriage, Grih-Pravesh (New House Entry), or purchase land, Clothes, Jewellery, and other valuables. On this day, people purchase gold as it is believed that charity done on this day brings good luck and success.

Significance of Akshaya Tritiya in Hinduism: 1. Birthday of Lord Parshuram (6th Avatar of Lord Vishnu) 2. Birthday of Maa Annapurna 3. The beginning of Treta Yug 4. Lord Ganesh started writing Mahabharat which was narrated by Ved Vyas 5. Maa Durga won the battle against Mahishasur 6. Surya Dev gave Akshaya Patra (It contained Food that Never Ends) to Yudhishthir 7. Lord Shiva granted the position of Treasurer to Kuber 8. Avataran (Descent) of Maa Ganga on The earth. 9. Lord Krishna saved Draupadi by supplying unlimited sari to cover her. 10. Sudama went to his friend Krishna to seek help. He took flattened paddy (aval) with him. He was very hesitant to ask for help and returned without actually asking for it. But Lord Krishna knew everything, so when Sudama returned to his home, he found everything he needed.

Story related to Hinduism: A person named Dharmdas, was very poor. But after he got to know the importance of Akshaya Tritiya, he used to bathe in the Ganges, offered worship to Lord Vishnu, and Maa Laxmi, observed fast and gave charity. His family got worried, as to why he was doing charity as they were so poor, but he kept on doing the good work. He died later but became the king of Kushavati in his next birth, because of good deeds and charity work in his previous birth.

Story related to Jainism: The first sadhu of the karma bhumi was Lord Adinath (First Tirthankar). After he completed his 6-month Tapasya (austerity), he went on to accept the Aahar (Food) but no one knew the correct way to provide the aahar to him. So this whole process of the search took another 6 months. While propagating truth he went on to visit Hastinapur. It was ruled by the King Somprabh and Shreyansh Kumar was his brother.

They after knowing that Lord Adinath has arrived, they greeted him and completed 3 Pradakshina (Parikrama) of him. After this Shreyansh Kumar recalled that he was a queen named Rani Shrimati in his previous birth and Lord Adinath was Queen Shrimati’s Husband in the previous birth and had the name Vajranabh. And both of them had given Ahaar to saints in their previous birth as well. So now Shreyansh got to know the correct procedure of providing Aahar to Lord Adinath. Shreyansh Kumar then accompanied Lord Adinath and correctly gave him Sugarcane juice. This sugarcane juice was known as Ikshuras. And from that day the tradition of giving Aahar to Muni Maharaj started. The same day is referred to as Akshaya Tritiya.

In fact, Akshaya Tritiya is considered very propitious for offering danams of goods like umbrella, sandals, hand fans, food etc. Annadanam on this day brings bounteous religious benefits to the donor. It is good to feed cow and calf -a charity that relieves one of his sin and dhosham. Pithru tarpanam on Akshaya Tritiya helps one seek the ancestors’ blessings to a great extent. Fasting, Doing japa on Akshaya Tritiya are considered sacred as it gains passport to the other world for a devotee. Bathing in holy river is considered auspicious and donating rice, wheat, salt, ghee, vegetables, fruits, clothes and tamarind adds to the religious merits of a devotee.

There are various significant events that occurred on Akshya Tritiya: On this day, Mother Ganga descended on Earth. Lord Parshuram appeared on the Earth. Sudama met his childhood friend, Lord Krishna in Dwarka and received unlimited wealth and prosperity. Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas received the gift of “Akshaya Patra” from Sun-God. Srila Vyasdeva began composing the Mahabharata. On this day, Kubera received his position as the Lord of Wealth. The construction of chariots of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Mata Subhadra, for celebrating annual Ratha Yatra festival at Jagannatha Puri, also begin on this auspicious day. In the temple of Kshira-chora Gopinath (Remuna, Orissa), the deities of Madana-mohana, Govinda and Gopinath are smeared with sandalwood paste on this day.

Lord Parashurama, the unique confluence of knowledge, valor and valor, is called the sixth Avtar(Aveshvatara) of Shri Hari Vishnu. Parashurama, the supreme devotee of Lord Shiva, is the god of justice. They are considered a symbol of courage. Lord Parashuram was born on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. The beginning of Satyuga is believed to be from Akshaya Tritiya. Lord Parshuram is mainly worshiped by Brahmins, Neog Bhumihar Brahmins, Chitpavan Brahmins, Tyagi, Mohayal, Anavil and Namboodiri Brahmin communities, as the original men or founders associated with their varna.

Lord Parshuram's father's name was Muni Jamadagni and mother's name was Renuka. Once, obeying his father's command, he killed his mother. Due to this, he had committed the sin of maternal murder, to which he worshiped Lord Shiva in order to repent. Pleased with his penance, Lord Shiva gave a weapon named Parshu, due to which he was named Parashurama.

Parashurama has been mentioned in many books like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana and Kalki Purana. They are famous for killing egoistic and arrogant, terrorist rulers from the earth 21 times. He did not forgive those who committed wickedness.

According to the stories, Parashurama wanted to spread the Vedic culture on earth. It is said that most of the villages in India were settled by them, which includes Konkan, Goa and Kerala. According to the legend, Lord Parashuram shot an arrow and pushed back the sea from Gujarat to Kerala to create a new land. That is why Lord Parashurama is specially worshiped in Konkan, Goa and Kerala.

Lord Parashurama was the great master of Shastravidya. He had provided armaments to Pitamah Bhishma, Guru Drona and King Karna. Parashurama has also been described in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana and Kalki Purana.

Lord Parashurama, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, came from Mount Mahendra in Tretayug during the marriage of Lord Rama and wanted to punish Lord Rama for being extremely angry when he broke the bow of Shiva. But when he came to know the true nature of Lord Rama, he bowed down to Lord Rama. At this time Lord Rama presented his Sudarshan Chakra to Parashuramji and requested him that he would need it when he would be incarnated in Dwapara Yuga. When Shri Krishna incarnated in Dwapara, Parashuramji handed over the Sudarshan Chakra to Lord Krishna to protect the religion.

Lord Parashurama is known for his fierce anger. Such was the state of his anger that he once even challenged Lord Ganesha for war when Ganesha stopped him from going to Kailas. Ganeshji and Parashuramji fought fiercely. In anger, Parshuramji cut off one of Ganesha's teeth with Lord Shiva's ax. Since then, Ganeshji started to be called Ekadanta.

In the Puranas about Lord Parashuram, it is said that Maharishi Ved Vyas, Ashwatthama, Raja Bali, Sri Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripacharya, Rishi Markandeya, among the eight immortal characters are counted as immortal (Chiranjeevi). According to one of the stories, Shri Krishna's unfortunate Brahmin companion, Sudama, visited his royal residence with a fistful of flattened rice. (For the unversed, Sudama had eaten Shri Krishna's portion of the food during adolescence. In this manner, he needed to return his part of the food). Shri Krishna earnestly acknowledged the unassuming contribution and discreetly gave his companion fortunes. Thus, Sudama's suffering finished, and he turned into a well off man. This occasion occurred during the Tritiya Tithi, Vaishakha, Shukla Paksha and thus the important and celebrated as Akshaya Tritiya. Jay Shri Krishna