Akshaya Tritiya also referred to as Akshaya Teej or Parashurama Jayanti is a spring festival celebrated on the third lunar day of the waxing phase of Vaisakha month. Akshaya means permanence in terms of prosperity, hope, success as well as joy and Tritya meaning the third phase of the moon. Mostly celebrated by Hindus and Jains in Nepal and India, it signifies the third day of unending prosperity.
This day is auspicious due to multiple reasons. The name of the festival is derived from the Akshaya Patra which was given to Draupadi by Lord Krishna. When Draupadi along with the princely Pandavas were in exile, Lord Surya bestowed Yudhistra, the eldest Pandava with the Akshaya Patra as a result of his penance that would always have food till the time Draupadi had her meal and kept the Patra in an inverted form.
So the pastime goes like, once Durwasa Muni who is known for his anger and curses, came for lunch at the home of Pandavas, along with his thousands of disciples. But by then all the food was finished and there nothing to eat. When the Brahmans came and the Patra was empty, Draupadi prayed to Lord Krishna for help. Lord asked her for a morsel of food from the Patra. Once Draupadi gave that one morsel of food to Lord Krishna, all the Brahmanas automatically became fully satisfied and Draupadi did not have to face any wrath from Rishi Durwasa. This was the magic of the Lord.
The day of Akshaya Tritiya is also considered to be the Appearance Day of Lord Parasurama, who is the sixth incarnation of Vishnu, and is revered in many Vaishnava temples. The day, therefore, is also sometimes referred to as Prasurama Jayanti. As per another legend, it is believed that this was the day when Ved Vyasa started reciting the epic Mahabharata to Ganesha.
Additionally, this day also marks the beginning of Chandan Yatra. It is believed that the sun is positioned directly above our head for 21 days which is also the duration of the Chandan Yatra, in which the Lord is beautifully decorated with Chandan paste.
Lastly, it is believed that the holy river Ganges descended to earth on this auspicious day in honour of which the Yamunotri and Gangotri temple is opened on the day during the Chota char Dham pilgrimage. People also participate in a special puja on this day and it is considered good to bathe in the river on this day.
Read with us to know more about Akshaya Tritiya such as the story of Akshaya Tritiya and celebrations.
What Should We Do on Akshaya Tritiya?
On the day of Akshaya Tritya, one must participate in the special puja that takes place in honour of Mother Ganga and bathes in the sacred river. Despite that, one must also participate in noble deeds of charity by helping those who are in need. Performing Japa, offering barley in the sacred fire and to the deity are other activities that must be performed on this day.
Which God Is Worshipped on Akshaya Tritiya?
Akshaya Tritiya story is manifold that involves paying homage to Mother Ganga who descended on earth on this day and celebrating the birth of Lord Parashurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. A special puja takes place in the Yamunotri and Gangotri temple to honour the Ganges.
Additionally, the devotees of Lord Krishna pray to Him and perform Japa for the pleasure of the Lord to bestow blessings and prosperity on them. People also pray to Maa Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu and Lord Kuber for prosperity.
What Puja Is Done on Akshaya Tritiya?
Depending on the belief of Akshaya Tritiya day, different puja takes place. Some people worship Lord Vishnu while certain other people worship Lord Krishna. Moreover, it is considered good to bathe in the holy river Ganges on this day followed by performing puja in the Yamunotri and Gangotri temple.
What Should We Donate to Akshaya Tritiya?
Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be the most auspicious day to do charity. One must donate ghee, sugar, grain, fruits, vegetables, clothes and money on this day since it is believed that the blessings from the deeds done on this day always stay with the doer. Helping those who need something is always considered to be a good deed, however, performing them on this day further blesses the doer.
Anything donated with good intentions can be the best donation made. It doesn’t matter what is being donated and in what quantity it is being donated if the intentions behind are good and it is done with faith. Spending complete income on oneself can never detach a person from thinking about material comforts and hence, making donations becomes extremely important.
Can We Donate Money on Akshaya Tritiya?
The most common form of donation is in the form of money. Numerous people donate money on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritya to help those in need. Money can be donated to NGOs, in temples or directly be given to those who need it. The form of the donation does not matter as much as the intentions behind donating.
Giving a part of the income is considered to be good since it detaches a person from material life and brings them closer to the Lord. It is considered to be an essential part of service to the Lord in one of the best ways along with preaching and performing Japa.
Why Is Akshaya Tritiya Auspicious?
Akshaya Tritiya is an auspicious day because of the story behind Akshaya Tritiya. It is a sacred day since numerous sacred activities are believed to have taken place together on this day. Lord Krishna blessed Draupadi and the princely Pandavas with never-ending wealth and prosperity on this day which is why devotees pray to the Lord to bestow them with blessings and prosperity as well.
Akshaya Tritya is considered to be an auspicious day also because Mother Ganga, the holy river descended to earth on this day. Therefore, any good deeds performed on this day are considered to be good and worthy. It is also believed that if the ditches in the soil are made on this auspicious day, one is rewarded with an abundant yield of fruits. For this reason, medicine plants are sown on this day so that they grow in abundance and there is never a shortage.
Final Thoughts
Having understood Akshaya Tritiya meaning and gathered Akshay Tritiya information, you must understand the true significance and importance of this day and engage in noble tasks. A noble deed performed on any given day is fruitful in bringing one closer to the Lord and providing satisfaction, but on certain days it is easier to have the mercy of the Lord one of which is the day of Akshaya Tritiya.
Akshaya Tritiya 2021 falls on 14th May. Make sure that you plan on doing charity in whatever form it is possible, be it by donating clothes, food or money. You must also visit the temple, bathe in the Ganges and pray to the Lord for prosperity, wealth and blessings. This Akshaya Tritya, makes it special by getting closer to the Lord and gaining more satisfaction.
By donating, one can also be entitled to having a good public image and building good contacts. Therefore, this activity should be considered as important as other monetary activities. Donating can be understood as a complete win situation since the doer gets a threefold advantage of putting a smile on someone’s face, being entitled to blessings and gaining satisfaction from the act.
