Akshaya Tritiya (a special day to multiply your success)

Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated as the day of abundance and prosperity. It is said that any endeavour started on this day is bound to yield multiplied results. People usually commence projects, business, buy gold and other assets, perform religious rituals and ceremonies on this propitious day. Moreover, this day is believed to nullify the negative effects of your horoscope (for muhurta purpose). Akshaya Tritiya falls in the month of Chitra/Chaitra, usually between April and May during the shukla paksha (waxing lunar cycle).

'Akshaya' means eternal, everlasting, ever-growing and inexhaustible while 'Tritiya' refers to the third tithi (lunar day), also means growth.

Although shukla paksha tritiya comes every month, Akshaya Tritiya holds immense importance as both the Sun and Moon are exalted on this day in Aries and Taurus respectively. The Sun and Moon are the luminaries - the Sun created earth while the Moon created life conditions on it. They are the significators of the father and mother, Shiva and Parvati, day and night, in essence representing the duality that pervades the universe.

Origin of Akshaya Tritiya

According to the Puranas, Akshaya Patra is a vessel that provides abundance to its possessor. Akshaya Patra emerged from the Samudra Mandan (churning of the cosmic ocean) on this very day. Also, in the epic tale of Mahabharata, it is said that Lord Surya gifted the Akshaya Patra to the Pandavas on this very day when they were in dire need to ensure they would not go hungry and would always have food to offer to others in abundance. Thus the day was given the name, Akshaya Tritiya.

Many other Puranic stories are associated with Akshaya Tritiya day:

• Lord Parashurama (Venus), the 6th avatar of Lord Vishnu, was born on this day.

• The epic Mahabharata was narrated by Rishi Ved Vyasa to Lord Ganesha to write.

• Lord Krishna bestowed an endless supply of food to his childhood friend Sudama.

• Lord Kubera became the treasurer of wealth.

• Annapoorna Devi (Goddess of food) was born on this day.

• Goddess Ganga, pleased by King Bhagiratha’s austere penance, agreed to descend on earth as river Ganga on this day.

• Adi Shankaracharya recited the Kanakadhara Stotram towards Goddess Lakshmi on this day.

• Treta Yuga (when Lord Ram was born) started on this day.

• The construction of the annual Rath Yatra chariot of Puri Jagannath temple begins on this day.

Special Activities on Akshaya Tritiya

Various dharmic activities can be performed on this day for greater benefits. These include pujas, homas such as Ganapati homa, Lakshmi Kubera homa, and Lakshmi Narayana homa. Charitable acts, services, group prayers, group meditations, feeding animals (especially cows), planting trees, and all those mentioned in the first para are also recommended. It is important to maintain a positive attitude and resonate with the auspiciousness of the day.