Akshaya Tritiya and its Auspicious Meaning

The Sanskrit word Akshaya is made from two words- A (not) and Kshaya (diminish), which means never diminishing. Hence, it means eternal or something that is never diminishing in the context of joy, success, and prosperity. Tritiya means third, and in this case, it is the third phase of the moon.

Akshaya Tritiya, which is being observed today, is one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu community. As per the Hindu calendar, the festival is celebrated on the 'Tritiya Tithi' or the third day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaisakha. This day is also known as ‘Akha Teej,’ and it is believed that Akshaya Tritiya brings good luck and success.

Akshaya Tritiya 2024: Puja Muhurat

Akshaya Tritiya will be celebrated on May 10, 2024. This highly auspicious day starts early with the Tritiya Tithi beginning at 04:17 AM and ending at 02:50 AM the following day. For those planning to conduct rituals, the Akshaya Tritiya Puja Muhurat is set from 05:33 AM to 12:18 PM.

Auspicious Timings for Buying Gold

Many believe that whatever we buy on Akshaya Tritiya stays with us forever. This is why there is a tradition of buying gold and silver on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. The timings for purchasing gold on this day stretch generously from 05:33 AM on May 10 to 02:50 AM on May 11, allowing a broad 21-hour and 16-minute window for transactions.

History and Significance

There are numerous stories behind this auspicious day. One of them suggests that, on this day, Lord Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu was born. Moreover, devotees believe that on this day, the holy river, Ganga descended from the Heavens to the Earth. Lord Krishna presented Pandavas with Akshay Patra on this day when they were in exile.

On this day, Lord Krishna also bestowed his friend Sudama with wealth.

Teej, Manda (Jharkhand) is an annual Hindu and Jain spring festival. It falls on the third tithi (lunar day) of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the month of Vaisakha. It is regionally observed as an auspicious day by Hindus, Jains, and Jharkhand tribals in India and Nepal, as it signifies the "third day of unending prosperity".

The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: māsa (lunar month), pakṣa (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day). Furthermore, when specifying the masa, one of two traditions are applicable, viz. amānta / pūrṇimānta. If a festival falls in the waning phase of the moon, these two traditions identify the same lunar day as falling in two different (but successive) masa.

A lunar year is shorter than a solar year by about eleven days. As a result, most Hindu festivals occur on different days in successive years on the Gregorian calendar. The day is considered auspicious by Hindus and Jains in many regions of India for new ventures, marriages, expensive investments such as gold or other property, and any new beginnings. It is also a day of remembrance for the loved ones who have died. The day is regionally significant for women, married or unmarried, who pray for the wellbeing of the men in their lives or the one they may in future get engaged to. After prayers, they distribute germinating gram (sprouts), fresh fruits and Indian sweets. If Akshaya Tritiya falls on a Monday (Rohini), the festival is believed to be even more auspicious. Fasting, charity and helping others on this day is another festive practice.

Very important, and related to the name of the festival itself, is the presentation of the Akshaya Patra to Draupadi by Lord Krishna during the visit of numerous saintly guests, including the sage Durvasa. During their exile in the forest, the Pandava princes were famished due to the lack of food, and their wife Draupadi was pained by this because she could not extend the customary hospitality to their guests. Yudhishthira, who was the eldest, prayed to Lord Surya, who gave him this bowl, which would remain full till Draupadi served all of their guests. During Sage Durvasa's visit, Lord Krishna made this bowl invincible for Draupadi so that the magical bowl called Akshaya Patra would always remain full of food of their choice, even as to satiate the whole universe if required.

Akshaya Tritiya is believed by Hindus to be the birthday of Parasurama, who was the sixth avatar of Vishnu. He is revered in Vaishnava temples. Those who observe it in honor of Parasurama sometimes refer to the festival as Parasurama Jayanti. Alternatively, some focus their reverence on Vāsudeva (Krishna), the eighth avatar of Vishnu.

According to one legend, Veda Vyasa began reciting the Hindu epic Mahabharata to Ganesha on Akshaya Tritiya. Another legend states that the river Ganges descended to earth on this day. Very significantly, the Yamunotri Temple and Gangotri Temple are opened on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya during the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage, after closing down during the heavy snowfall-laden winters of the Himalayan regions. The temples are opened on Abhijit Muhurat of Akshaya Tritya.

Yamunotri Temple and Gangotri Temple are opened on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. Another significant event that is believed to have occurred on this day is Sudama's visit to his childhood friend, Lord Krishna in Dwarka, when he received unlimited wealth as a boon. Additionally, it is believed that Kubera received position as the god of wealth on this auspicious day.

In Odisha, Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated during the commencement of the sowing of rice paddy for the ensuing Kharif season. The day starts with ritual worship of Mother Earth, the bullocks, other traditional farm equipment and seeds by the farmers for the blessings of a good harvest. After ploughing the fields, the farmers sow paddy seeds as the symbolic start for the most important Kharif crop of the state. This ritual is called Akhi Muthi Anukula (Akhi- Akshaya Tritiya; Muthi- fistful of paddy; Anukula- commencement or inauguration) and is celebrated with much fanfare throughout the state. In recent years, the event has received much publicity due to ceremonial Akhi Muthi Anukula programs organized by farmers' organizations and political parties. The construction of chariots for the Ratha Yatra festivities of Jagannath Temple also commences on this day at Puri.

In the Telugu-speaking states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the festival is associated with prosperity, and women purchase gold and jewellery. Simhachalam temple observes special festive rituals on this day. The main deity of the temple is covered in sandalwood paste for the rest of the year, and only on this day are the layers of sandalwood applied to the deity removed to show the underlying statue. Display of the actual form or Nija Roopa Darsanam happens on this day.

This day is highly auspicious for those who buy gold and silver. buy rice, deposit money in a bank account, buy any kind of new things or vessels visiting famous temples, donating foods or exclusive offer for poor peoples, or helping poor children for their education fees, all are good signs for Akshaya Tritya. On this day in Bikaner (Rajasthan) local fly kite here because this is next day of founding city. It believes that on next day of foundation put by Rao Bikaji on Vaisakh Suhkla Dwitya they fly chanda (round circular kite). So, this celebrated as birthday of city.

On this day, both shoppers and sellers prepare for good commerce. Hindus spend the day with joy and zeal, buying gold in the hopes of attracting good fortune. All in all, it is a pious day of unparalleled joy, optimism, and a renewed emphasis on the benevolent grace of the Almighty.