Akshaya Tritiya: The Golden Day of Eternal Success

Hindus believe in the theory of "mahurats" or auspicious timings in every step in life - be it to begin a new venture or making an important purchase. Akshaya Tritiya is one such momentous occasion, which is considered one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu Calendar. It is believed, any meaningful activity started on this day would be fruitful.

Once a Year

Akshaya Tritiya falls on the third day of the bright half of Vaishakh month (April-May), when the Sun and Moon are in exaltation; they are simultaneously at their peak of brightness, which happens only once every year.

Holy Day

Akshaya Tritiya, also known as "Akha Teej", is traditionally the birthday of Lord Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. People conduct special Pujas on this day, bathe in holy rivers, make a charity, offer barley in a sacred fire, and worship Lord Ganesha & Devi Lakshmi on this day.

The Golden Link

The word "Akshaya" means imperishable or eternal - that which never diminishes. Initiations made or valuables bought on this day are considered to bring success or good fortune. Buying gold is a popular activity on Akshaya Tritiya, as it is the ultimate symbol of wealth and prosperity. Gold and gold jewelry bought and worn on this day signify never diminishing good fortune. Indians celebrate weddings, begin new business ventures, and even plan long journeys on this day.

Myths Around Akshaya Tritiya

The day also marks the beginning of the "SatyaYug" or the Golden Age - the first of the four Yugas. In the Puranas, the holy Hindu scriptures, there is a story that says that on this day of Akshay Tritiya, Veda Vyasa along with Ganesha started writing the great epic Mahabharata. Ganga Devi or Mother Ganges also descended on earth on this day.

According to another legend, during the time of the Mahabhrata, when the Pandavas were in exile, Lord Krishna, on this day, presented them an 'Akshaya Patra,' a bowl which would never go empty and produce an unlimited supply of food on demand.

The Krishna-Sudama Legend

Perhaps, the most famous of the Akshaya Tritiya stories is the legend of Lord Krishna and Sudama, his poor Brahmin childhood friend. On this day, as the tale goes, Sudama came over to Krishna's palace to request him for some financial help. As a gift for his friend, Sudama had nothing more than a handful of beaten rice or 'poha'. So, he was utterly ashamed to give it to Krishna, but Krishna took the pouch of 'poha' from him and relished having it. Krishna followed the principle of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' or 'the guest is like God' and treated Sudama like a king.

His poor friend was so overwhelmed by the warmth and hospitality shown by Krishna, that he could not ask for the financial favor and came home empty handed. Lo and behold! When he reached his place, Sudama's old hut was transformed into a palace! He found his family dressed in royal attire and everything around was new and expensive. Sudama knew that it was a boon from Krishna, who blessed him with more than the wealth he actually intended to ask for. Therefore, Akshaya Tritiya is associated with material gains and wealth acquisition.

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.

The Golden Day - Subhamoy Das

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Kartikeya, Kailasam And Ganga

Bakalanda37

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha!

Vishvamitra said to Rama, 'I told you the story of Kartikeya. I will now tell you how Ganga comes in this story. After Paramasiva released his retas and went into meditation, a Rakshasa called 'Tarakasura' was tormenting Devathas who needed an able army chief to fight with Tarakasura. All Devathas along with Indra and Agni went to Chaturmulkha Brahma and said to him 'We are in need of a commander-in-chief. Now that Siva is in meditation with Parvati, we can't approach him. Please advise us.'

Chaturmulkha Brahma said to Devathas in gentle words - 'Don't worry. Since None of you can have a child who is capable of being an army chief due to Parvathi’scurse, go pray to Akasa Ganga and request her to bear the potency of Paramasiva and bring forth the child. Agni can transfer the seed to Ganga and make her bear the child. Parvati will also accept this because Ganga is her own sister. When Agni took Rudra's seed, part of it was burnt and became Kailasam. The remaining part can be transferred by Agni to Ganga.' Devathas were thus consoled and went to Kailasam where they met Agni and said to him, 'Oh radiant one! Please unite the power of Rudra with Ganga." And Agni agreed to it. They went to Ganga and requested her to bear the seeds preserved by Agni to help the world who then took the form of a beautiful lady. Agni released Rudra's seeds into Ganga and whole form became filled with it. Ganga then said to Agni, 'Oh fire god! I cannot bear this power; this is getting very intense and is disturbing mylife-force.

Then Agni said to Ganga, 'O Ganga, the white mountain you see near the Himalaya mountains is Rudra Tejam that was burnt when I took it onto myself. There is a forest of reeds called 'Saravanam' near that Kailash mountain. You may leave the Tejam (potency) that's inside you there.' Ganga agreed and released the embryo through her flows in the region of Kailasam. The embryo released by her shone like molten gold. Gold, silver, copper and lead emerged from that radiant embryo. The impurities in it have taken the form of iron, tin and lead. The embryo thus involved into different metals and elements on reaching earth. The trees, plants and bushes around Kailash mountain started shining like gold. Gold was there on earth before this event but was never this brilliant. Since gold got its fire-like shine from this embryo, it is called 'jata rupam'.

The embryo released by Ganga then took the form of a boy. Devathas requested Krithikas (the stars) to take care of the boy. Krithikas agreed to feed the boy under the condition that the baby be called their son in the world. Devathas agreed to it. Thus the boy was known as 'Kartikeya' in the world. Devathas blessed the boy to become famous in all three worlds. krithikas then gave theboy a bath and the baby shone radiantly like fire. He got the name 'Skanda' because he was born from the aborted embryo. This boy became the army chief of Devathas and defeated all the Rakshasas at a very tender age. Oh Rama, so far, I told you the story of the river Ganga, and the story of Kumara Sambhavam (the birth of Kartikeya). This story is divine and pious.

Jai Srimannarayana - JETUSA Volunteers

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