Akshaya Tritiya
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 Akshaya Tritiya | |
Akshaya Tritiya
Akha teej - Holy day for the Hindus
Akha teej, which is also known as Akshaya Tritiya is the holy day for the Jains and Hindus. It usually falls on third tithi (on the lunar day) of shukla paksha (Bright half) of pan Indian month of Vaishakha. It is an important day for the Hindus. This holy day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Vishnus sixth incarnation namely Lord Parashurama. Hindus also believe that it was the day of Akshaya Tritiya when Lord Ganesha and Ved Vyas started writing the holy epic Mahabharata. Jains people celebrate the day of Akha Teej to commemorate the ending of year. Akha Teej is considered to be auspicious day to start any new venture. According to Hindus and Jains belief, any new venture started on this particular day brings prosperity and proves to be profitable.
Religious significance
In Hinduism, Akha Teej was the beginning of Treta Yuga and it was this day only when river Ganga, which is considered as the most sacred river in India had began to descend from heaven to the earth. Also, on this day Ved Vyas started writing about Bharat war in Mahabharata. According to Hindus, Goddess Annapurna was born on this day. As per Hindu beliefs, Parashurama was also born on this particular day.
In Orissa, on the day of Akshaya Tritiya, farmers started their land ploughing tasks and celebrated the day with organizing Yath Ratra. Hindus celebrate this holy day with proper fasting and worshipping Lord Vasudeva. They also give rice, ghee, salt, fan, vegetables, fruits, sugar, clothes, etc. as a charity on this day.
In Jainism, the Akshaya Tritiya is an important and auspicious day. Jains associate this day with Lord Adinatha, who was also called Rishabhadeva, he was the first Tirthankara. Jain people keep fast on this day and spend the whole day in fasting and then finish the fasting by drinking the juice of sugarcane.
It was believed in Jainism that Lord Rishabhadeva meditated for six months without food and water. During ancient era, monks did not know how to prepare food. Being a monk, Lord Rishabhadeva also did not know about it. In order to end his fast, he looked for food but he could not find it. People of that time didnt knew much about the lifestyle of monks thats why they used to offer jewelry, gold, gemstones, horses, elephants, expensive garments, etc. to the monk but all this was not needed by Lord Rishabhadeva. He only needed food which was offered by nobody. Then after many days, King Shreyansa understood the need of the monk and offered him sugarcane juice. That is why Jains, being the follower of Lord Rishabhadeva end their fasts with sugarcane juice only.
Recommended and prohibited work during Akha teej
On the day of Akshaya Tritiya, it is recommended to perform meritorious deeds like recitations, donation, penance, ritual bathing, sacrifices, etc. In some communities, it is prohibited to end the fast, house construction, travelling, plantation, etc. on this day.
Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be a lucky day for starting a new business or activity and to buy valuables. You will find most of the jewelry shops fully occupied on this day.
Akshaya Tritiya is the day of the Goddess Mahalakshmi. From the period of Sankata hara chathurti, till Akshaya tritiya, there will be celebrations in temples with poojas conducted on a daily basis. The celebration of Akshaya tritiya is the ceremony where the Goddess Mahalakshmi is worshipped and requested to visit and reside in our homes.
Where does Lakshmi reside?
Goddess Lakshmi resides in the minds of all the people with devotion, talent, courage, patience, sweet demeanour and respect for elders.
She resides in houses where the head of the family gets up early, keep their home clean and light the ghee lamp morning and evening.
Buy Gold on Akshaya tritiya
Do we need to buy Gold on the Akshaya tritiya day? Not necessarily. What is needed is that the women of the house get up early, take an early shower and light the ghee lamp with bhakti or devotion in their mind and body. Conducting a simple pooja for Goddess Mahalakshmi [symbolically, one can also use a bowl full of rice or water], offering sweet smelling flowers and incense for the Goddess and ending the puja by offering sweets, payasam for the Goddess Lakshmi is good for the family.
As an end note, sumangalis may be invited into the house and given full coconut [not a dehusked but a whole coconut, with the covering fibre], turmeric, kumkum and fall at their feet and seek their blessing, symbolic of getting the blessings of the Goddess Mahalakshmi completes the process of the Akshaya tritiya celebrations.
