Akshaya Tritiya Meaning | What is Akshaya Tritiya?
Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej, (Fri, 10 May, 2024) is a highly auspicious and sacred day for the Hindu and Jain communities. Since it is considered to be the most auspicious day, all the activities (spiritual or material) undertaken on this day bring desired results. It offers the best time especially for those engaged in spiritual activities like meditation, yoga, japa, reading scriptures and the like.
As per Vedic literatures, any auspicious day must be utilized for cultivating spiritual strengths. This is done through reading of scriptures, special pujas, the family deity worship (Ishta Dev), charities, offering homage to one’s ancestors, associated with devotees, feeding Brahmins, planting and watering trees, feeding the poor, sponsoring education and the like. When these activities are performed on this day, one acquires spiritual strengths to perform their prescribed karmas. And as a result, one gradually attains both, spiritual wealth and material opulence.
Akshay Tritiya is falls on the third lunar day of Shukla Paksha of Vaishakha Month (April-May). ‘Vaishakha’ in Sanskrit also means a churning stick. It is the month to churn out the essence, the substance, the most auspicious or the purest. All the festivals falling in Vaishakha Month focus on purifying through the auspicious means. Parashurama Jayanti is celebrated in this month because Lord Vishnu incarnated as Parashurama the Warrior to purify this mother earth of the unruly kings that had plagued her with their atrocities. Ganga Saptami is celebrated in this month because she had descended through Shiva to purify the ancestors of King Bhagirath. Chaitra Purnima in this month is dedicated to Lord Yama purifies the sinned. On this day Sun and Moon are at the height of their brightness on this day. Brightness of the Sun is like consciousness in the body and that of the Moon is like that strength of one’s mind (Moon rules your mind). Both, the mind and the body, can quickly be purified on this day. Once purified, the mind and the body are harmonized to produce a blissful state that everyone in the world aspires to have.
Akshaya Tritiya Significance and Importance
The Sanskrit word
‘Akshaya’ comprises of
‘A’ (not) and ‘Kshaya’
(erode). It means that
which does nor decay,
diminish or erode.
The Sanskrit word ‘Akshaya’ comprises of ‘A’ (not) and ‘Kshaya’ (erode). It means that which does nor decay, diminish or erode. Results of an activity on this day do not diminish. Instead, they multiply. According to scriptures, there are two kinds of activities. One pertains to one’s body (physical/material) and the other to one’s soul (spiritual). The former is subject to erosion (impermanent in nature) and the latter is associated with eternal bliss (permanent in nature). Results from activities associated with the body are not permanent where those from activities associated with one’s true nature (soul) are permanent and never diminish. Therefore, the benefits of performing Meditation, Japa, Yajna, Pitra-Tarpan (offerings to one’s ancestors), Dan-Punya (Charities) on this day are permanent because they satisfy one’s inner self (soul).
What To Do On Akshaya Tritiya Festival?
Akshaya Tritiya is considered one of the most auspicious festivals since it is the day of manifold blessings. It marks the setting of Treta Yuga among the other three Yugas (Satya, Dwarpa and Kali). Any good work performed on this day will surely invoke manifold Divine results. Buying gold on Akshaya Tritiya is believed to invite endless fortune into one's life. 'Endless fortune' means auspicious presence of Lakshmi.
Reasons to buy gold:
- When it comes to buying gold on Akshaya Tritiya, there are many reasons. The commonest reason is that it is the most auspicious time to purchase wealth especially gold for akshaya means never-ending one who buys wealth on this day sees the increase in opulence.
- It is believed that on this day Kubera attained the post of the treasurer. Therefore, buying and worshiping gold pleases him.
- However an important reason to buy gold on this festival the month of Shravana (July-August). Period between these months is favorable for engagements and marriages. Families in the Hindu society buy gold and ornaments on Akshaya Tritiya two months before Shravana. It makes the most logical sense to buy gold and ornaments in advance. Even marriage ceremony performed on Akshaya Tritiya is considered very auspicious and brings stability and harmony.
When Is Akshaya Tritiya / Akshaya Tritiya Muhurat Details 2024
Akshaya Tritiya on Friday, May 10, 2024
Akshaya Tritiya Puja Muhurat
- 06:04 AM to 12:19 PM
Duration
- 06 Hours 14 Mins
Tritiya Tithi Begins
- 04:17 AM on May 10, 2024
Tritiya Tithi Ends
- 02:50 AM on May 11, 2024
Akshaya Tritiya Puja And Yagna
Akshaya Tritiya is said to the most auspicious day of the year. Any charity or good act performed, or gold purchased or puja conducted on this day never diminishes and continues to grow or appreciate. It is day is ruled by Lord Vishnu. He is worshipped along with Laxmi and Kuber on this day. According to Hindu mythology Treta Yuga began on Akshaya Tritiya day.
Benefits of this Puja:
- For divine grace of Vishnu, Laxmi and Kuber
- For undiminishing wealth and good fortune
- For success in career with name and fame
- For spiritual upliftment and desire fulfilment
How To Do Akshaya Tritiya Puja At Home
The significance of Akshaya Tritiya is to usher infinite abundance of prosperity, wealth, good health and more. Lord Vishnu is the main Deity to worship along with Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera. At the Akshaya Tritiya muhurat, perform the puja to gain maximum benefit, though every moment of this glorious day is considered auspicious, a day of Sarvasidhi Muhurat.
Akshaya Tritiya Puja Vidhi
After having a bath in the early hours of the morning preferably in a river or mix a bit of Gangajal with your bathing water. Clean your room and Puja altar and place the idols of Lord Vishnu, Maa Laxmi, Lord Kuber. Perform Abhishekham of Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi with a mixture of Cow Milk, Honey, Curd, Ghee, Sugar and Water. Tulsi leaves soaked in water is offered to the deities. Offer Akshat, Sandalwood paste to Lord Vishnu and Kumkum to Goddess Lakshmi. Offer Barley, Wheat, Sesame Seeds, Chana Dal, Sweets made of Milk, Kheer and other home-made vegetarian food as Naivedyam. Light Kapur, Ghee Diya, Incense. Lotus and other flowers should be offered in honour of the Divine Deities and pray with a pure heart. Through the Akshaya Tritiya pooja, keep chanting Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kuber Mantras.
Gather all family members and perform Aarti. Gold coins, jewellery bought on Akshaya Tritiya should be placed in front of the deities in Puja altar to garner Divine blessings.
Mantras for Akshaya Tritiya
On the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya chanting of Mantras is an integral part of performing Akshaya Tritiya Pooja. While performing Abhishekham and later too, keep chanting Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi and Kuber Mantras.
Some Akshaya Tritiya Mantras:-
While bathing in the morning this is a Mantra which can be chanted, honouring Ganga and other Rivers of India.
Gange Ca Yamune Caiva Godaavari Sarasvati |
Narmade Sindhu Kaaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru ||
Lord Ganesha Mantra -
Om Gam Ganapataya Namaha ||
or
Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha |
Nirvighnam Kurume Deva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada ||
Lord Vishnu Mantras -
Om Namo Narayanaya।।
or
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya।।
or
Shantakaram Bhujagashayanam Padmanabham Suresham
Vishvadharam Gaganasadrisham Meghavarnam Shubhangam
Lakshmikantam Kamalanayanam Yogibhirdhyanagamyam
Vande Vishnum Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanatham।।
Chanting the Vishnu Saharanama, is highly recommended as it is a Stotram with the thousand (1000) names of Lord Vishnu and is one of the best way to please, worship and honour Him.
Goddess Lakshmi Mantra -
Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhayo Namah॥
or
Om Shree Mahalakshmyai Cha Vidmahe Vishnu Patnyai Cha Dheemahi
Tanno Lakshmi Prachodayat Om॥
Lord Kuber Mantra -
Om Yakshaya Kuberaya Vaishravanaya Dhanadhanyadhipataye
Dhanadhanyasamriddhim Me Dehi Dapaya Svaha॥
or
'Kubera Twam Danadesam Gruha Te Kamala Sithta
Tam Devam Prehayasu Twam Madgruge te namo Namah ॥
Things To Do On Akshaya Tritiya
Among other holy festivals, Akshaya Tritiya is considered as one of the most auspicious days. It marks the setting of Treta Yuga among the other three Yugas (Satya, Dwarpa and Kali).
On this auspicious day, one may perform Madhusudhana ritual, with Tulasi archan and also chant Sri Vishnu Sahasranaamam. Also, one may perform charities during this day which will certainly bless the donor. Following are the charities, Daanam, one can undertake:
- Jala Daanam: One can offer jala, water to Brahmins with betel nuts and donate to them dakshina, offerings in one's capacity.
- Shayana Daanam: One can donate beds to the needy or the underprivileged.
- Vasthra Daanam: Vasthra means clothes. One may donate clothes to the needy and be blessed with a long life.
- Kunkum daanam: Donating kumkum blesses the donor with higher status in life and the women are blessed with their husbands getting a longer life.
- Chandana daanam: Just like others mentioned above, donation of Sandalwood protects the donor from untimely accidents and inauspicious.
- Thamboolam: Giving Thamboolam, betel leaf, invites prosperity into one's life. Thamboolam epitomizes spiritual strength and prosperity. It is believed that the betel leaf was produced during the churning of the ocean aimed at extracting amrita, nectar and the leaf is also the abode of all the demigods.
- Naarikela Daanam: Donating Naarikela, coconuts to Brahmins relieve our ancestors from agonies of the underworld.
- Butter milk daanam : Offering butter milk as a charity blesses the donor with vidya prapti, attainment of knowledge.
- Udakumbha Daanam: Giving water contained in a bronze or silver vessel along with camphor, saffron, basil leaves (Tulasi) and betel nut assures one of having their desires fulfilled soon. Those who seek a suitable life partner, want to have a child and want to get rid of ancestral curses (Pitru Shraap), must perform this charity on Akshaya Tritiya.
- Padaraksha: Donating padaraksha, slippers, shoes, chappals or any footwear will ensure that the donor's life gets purified and is never subjected to entering Hellish planets after death.
- Chatra Daanam: Offering chatra, an umbrella to the needy removes unexpected obstacles from one's life.
- Holy Bath: Taking bath in the holy river rids one of all inauspiciousness and bad karmic reactions. One may take bath before sunrise in one of the Holy Rivers; Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Sindhu, Saraswati, Narmada, Krishna, Bhagirathi, Gandaki, Gomathi, Kaveri and Phalgu.
Apart from the above donations, one can also donate wheat which is believed to please the King of Heaven, lord Indra who is in charge of rains. And the sufficient rains help grow plants and vegetation on Earth.
You may select the donation of your choice or may do all of them. The end results would be cessation of bad karma's impacting the existing life which a gift from the Lord to realize one's own self and their relationship with the Creator.
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