Akshay Tritiya 2024
Akshay Tritiya also known as Akha Teej is considered one of the most auspicious days for Hindus. The word ‘Akshaya’ literally means ‘that which has no end or cannot diminish’. And ‘Tritiya’ refers to the third day of the month of Vaishakh Shukla Paksha. This day falls on the third day of the bright lunar fortnight of the Hindu month of Vaishakh, and so the name.
It is a belief that anything that is begun on this day is indestructible and eventually flourishes with time. Therefore, the start of a new venture or purchase of a valuable commodity on this day was encouraged by our ancestors. The doors of Shri Badrinath Temple are opened on this day. Tretayuga also started on this date.
Akshaya Tritiya falling on a Rohini star Monday is considered more auspicious. Rohini is the star of Lord Krishna who is a great warrior.
Hindus look for an auspicious time also called ‘muhurat’ to begin new things. According to ‘Jyotisa’- the ancient Indian system of astronomy and astrology, the entire Akshaya Tritiya day is auspicious. So there is no need to look for an auspicious time i.e. no ‘muhurat’ required on this day. The day is one of the three most auspicious days the year, along with Vijaya Dashmi and Ugadi. Any auspicious work can be done on this day without looking for a mahurat hence the day is also known as Abuja Mahurat.
This day is also associated with Lord Kuber blessing his devotees with prosperity and wealth.
In 2024 Akshay Tritiya will be celebrated on Friday, May 10th.
Legend
According to mythology, Nar-Narayan, Parashurama, and Hayagriva were incarnated on this day. Therefore, according to the belief, some people offer barley or wheat sattu, soft cucumber, and soaked gram lentils as bhog for Nar-Narayan, Parashuram, and Hayagreeva. According to Hindu Puranas, Yudhishthira had expressed his wish to Lord Krishna to know the importance of Akshaya Tritiya. Then Lord Shri Krishna told him that this is the highest death anniversary. On this day, a person who takes bath, chanting, penance, homa (yajna), self-study, Pitru-tarpan, and charity before noon, becomes a participant of inexhaustible merit.
The holy river Ganges descended on Earth from the heavens on this day. It is said that the God of wealth and the treasurer of all deities, Kubera, prayed to Goddess Lakshmi on this special day, and was granted the gift of perpetual wealth and prosperity. Daylong Kubera-Lakshmi pujan is performed and new ventures are started and gold is bought for prosperity and benefits.
Lord Krishna’s childhood friend Sudhama visited Dwarka to him on this day. For the Jains, this Akshaya Tritiya is considered holy as it is associated with Lord Adinatha, also known as Rishabhadeva, the first of the 24 Tirthankaras. According to a South Indian legend, Goddess Madhura got married to God Sundaresa (an incarnation of Lord Shiva) on this day. Therefore, the couples who get married on this day are blessed with eternal prosperity and bliss, by the Gods themselves.
Significance
According to the Puranas, from this day Satyayug and Tretayuga started. The incarnation of Lord Parashurama is also done on this day. Due to this, his birth anniversary is also celebrated on this day. The doors of Lord Badrinath Dham also open on this day.
It is said in Vishnu Dharmotar Purana that a person who observes a single Akshaya Tritiya fast, gets the fruits of all pilgrimages. Lord Shri Krishna says that whatever is done on the day of Akshaya Tritiya such as bathing, chanting, penance, home, self-study, pitra, tarpan, and charity, everything becomes renewable. Hence the name of “Akshaya Tritiya” on this date. According to the scriptures, many auspicious and worshipful works are started on this day, which leads to happiness, prosperity, and success.
That is why new business, purchase of land, building, the inauguration of institution, marriage, havan, etc. are done on this date. The person who takes bath in the Ganges on this day becomes free from all sins. On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, some part of your earnings should be donated for religious works, doing so increases wealth and property manifold. Any worship performed or daan (donation) given on this day is considered extremely good karma.
This is the only day in any year when the Sun which is the lord of the planets and the Moon which is the lord of creativity are in exhilaration meaning at their peak of radiance. This combination of the planetary energies is believed to generate profusion whereby any auspicious act commenced on this day leads to the continued growth of beneficial results throughout the year.
Akshaya Tritiya marks the beginning of summer, farmers enjoy this time of crop harvesting by observing fasts and organizing fairs.
Why Gold is bought on Akshay Tritiya
There is a belief in buying gold on this day as the word Akshaya means eternal or something that cannot be destroyed. So, it is a popular belief that buying something that denotes prosperity, such as gold, on this special day, assures unending affluence and growth. If not jewelry, many people simply buy small gold coins with Goddess Lakshmi engraved on them.
Due to the relation of the Sun to gold, buying gold on this day is considered a symbol of power and strength. One of the reasons for the increase in gold prices can also be that Akshaya Tritiya is about to come and on this people buy gold.
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