According to Hindu thought, creation begins when God activates both His positive and negative energies. And it ends as He withdraws them into a state of inaction. In a particular cycle of time, there are some timespans when God’s positive energies are hyperactive. During such periods, nature’s positive energies supercharge. We know its as mahurats or auspicious timings. Akshaya Tritiya is one such occasion. In this excerpt, we will be looking at the Significance of Akshaya Tritiya and other important aspects related to it.
Significance of Akshaya Tritiya for Hindus and Jains
This tithi or date is one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar. It is also known as Akha Teej. In Sanskrit, the word Akshaya means imperishable or eternal or that which never diminishes. It is a holy day in the Jain calendar as well.
Ventures launched on Akshaya Tritiya Bring success
Another significance of Akshaya Tritiya is that ventures launched on this day bring success or unending good fortune. Associated with material gains and wealth acquisition, buying gold is a popular activity on Akshaya Tritiya, as it is the ultimate symbol of wealth and prosperity. Gold bought and worn on this day signifies never-diminishing good fortune. Hindus celebrate weddings, begin new business ventures, and even plan long journeys on Akshaya Tritiya.
Nature’s positive energies are hyperactive on Akshaya Tritiya
The next significance of Akshaya Tritiya is that nature’s positive energies become hyperactive on this day. This golden day falls on the third day of the bright half of the Hindu month of baishakha (April–May) when astrologically, the sun and the moon happen to be in exaltation and are simultaneously at the peak of their brightness, which occurs only once in a year. Nature’s positive energies are hyperactive on this day, making each second of this day auspicious. It is hence a full mahurat day and if Akshaya Tritiya falls on Rohini nakshatra, on a Monday, it becomes even more auspicious.
The myths around Akshaya Tritiya
The day marked the beginning of the Treta Yuga (7000 BC), the second of the four yugas. According to the Puranas, Sage Vedavyasa, along with Lord Ganesha, started writing the great epic Mahabharata on Akha Teej. According to another legend, when the Pandavas were in exile, Lord Krishna presented them on this day with an Akshaya Patra, a bowl which would never go empty and would produce an unlimited supply of food on demand.
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Worshipping Lord Vishnu on this day eradicates and removes sins, and makes one free from all sorrows – another significance of Akshaya Tritiya. One sprinkles Tulsi water in the area immediate to the idol of Lord Vishnu while performing his arati. The Puranas state that devotees who perform the Sri Maha Vishnu puja on Akha Teej may attain salvation. In some regions, devotees fast on this day. As per the Puranas, giving away of hand fans or pankhas, rice, salt, ghee, sugar, vegetables, tamarind, fruits and clothes on this day is a very important aspect of the festival.
Regional Festivities
In Orissa, the significance of Akshaya Tritiya is to mark the advent of the agricultural season. When farmers start cultivating their land, while construction of chariots for the rath yatra begins at Puri. In Bengal, people perform hal-khata, a ceremony involving the use of new audit books, with the worship of Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. Bengalis perform many rites and rituals on this day.
Akshaya Tritiya is generally observed by fasting and worshipping Lord Vasudeva, another form of Lord Vishnu, with rice grains. A dip in the river Ganges on this day is favorable. The trend nowadays, however, is to spend this propitious day in purchasing gold and diamonds rather than observing fast or doing charity or pujas. Gold and diamond dealers do brisk business by offering alluring rebates on purchases on this day.
