Akshaya Tritiya

Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej, is a holy day for Hindus. It falls on the third Tithi of Shukla Paksha of the pan-Indian month of Vaishakha. Akshaya Tritiya falling on a Rohini Nakshatra day with Wednesday is considered very auspicious. The word Akshaya (अक्षय) means never diminishing. Hence, the benefits of doing any Jap, Yagya, Pitra-Tarpan, Dan-Punya on this day never diminish and remain with the person forever.

It is also believed that people born during this time shine brightly 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 sixth avatars of Lord Vishnu.

On this day, Veda Vyas and Lord Ganesha began to write Mahabharata. The meaning of the word Akshaya is infinite that which never recede.

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 Mahabharata, 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.

Other Auspicious Associations on Akshaya Tritiya:

• Akshaya Tritiya is considered the day of the start of Treta Yug.
• It is also celebrated as the birthday of Parashurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
• It is the day when Lord Ganesha started writing Mahabharata as per Ved Vyas"s dictation.
• It is also believed that river Ganges descended to the earth from the heaven on this day.

Things To Do on Akshaya Tritiya

• On this day, people should do  special Pujas, bath in holy rivers, make charity, and offer barley to the burning fire.
• On this day, Articles should be given in the form of alms to poor, Dakshina to the guru, these things include grain money and donations.
• One should do charity through donating cow and calf, land, gold, umbrellas, hand fans, and cool refreshing drinks to poor people.
• Departed souls are also remembered on this day.
• Pujas, To appease Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi to bring in prosperity all year round.
• One should purchase gold on this day as a mark of auspiciousness.

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