Akshaya Trtiya: Invoking Everlasting Prosperity
Written by Smt. Chandrimā Kalbāg, with inputs from Ved. Shrī Nāgesh Hal̃dīpur Bhaṭ and Shrī Kris͟hṇānand Maṅkīkar
Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā is celebrated on Vaishākha Shukla Tṛtīyā. The moon waxes during Shukla paks͟ha, becoming brighter each night; Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā falls on the third day of this paks͟ha in the Vaishākha-māsa (month). Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā is considered to be an extremely auspicious day on which the benefits of doing japa, dhyāna, adhyayana, pūjā, dāna (charity), pitṛ-tarpaṇa (making ceremonial offerings to departed souls), are magnified manifold. "Aks͟haya" means imperishable or eternal, suggesting that meritorious acts performed on this day yield everlasting benefits. Thus, important religious and momentous ceremonies, like Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), Punar Pratis͟ht͟hā (re-consecration of Deities), inauguration of businesses, maṅgala kārya like marriages and gṛha pravesha are performed on this day. Dāna by donating food, clothes, cereals and other items to the needy is highly encouraged and believed to wash away sins, bringing blessings. Many parents choose to initiate their child’s adhyayana (formal education) in the Aks͟harārambha or Vidyārambha ceremony on this day.
‘Muhūrta’ is a unit of time in our Indian astrology. Based on the alignment of the Sun, Moon and planetary positions during the day, ‘Shubha Muhūrta-s’ for important events are calculated. However, there are three and a half days in a year known as ‘Sād͟he Tīna Muhūrta-s’, when every moment is auspicious since the Sun and Moon are at the peak of their brightness. This celestial occurrence happens on Yugādi, Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā, Vijayādashamī and partially on Kārtika Shukla Pratipadā (the first day of the month of Kārtika, celebrated as Dīpāwalī).
On the sacred occasion of Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā, temples are adorned with toraṇa-s of mango leaves, symbolising prosperity and purity. At Shrī Chitrāpur Mat͟h, special pūjā-s and rituals including Pañchāmṛta Rudrābhis͟heka, elaborate flower decorations and delicious naivedya are offered to Shrī Bhavānīshaṅkar Deva, our Ārādhya Devatā (presiding Deity). Heartfelt prayers are offered seeking good health, prosperity and welfare of our Mat͟h and the Sāraswata samāja. Sādhaka-s also offer sevā-s to our Ārādhya Devatā and Guru Sannidhi-s for Divine Blessings.
A number of important events of great significance to Sanātana Dharma have taken place on Aks͟haya Tṛtīya through the ages. Some of these are given below:
● Birth of Shrī Parashurāma - Shrī Parashurāma, the sixth of the ten avatāra-s of Bhagawān Vis͟hṇu, commenced his avatāra on this day.)
● Tretā Yuga - The second of the four yuga-s commenced on Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā
● Writing the Mahābhārata - It is said that Mahars͟hi Veda Vyāsa began narrating the Mahābhārata to Bhagawān Gaṇesha, who started scribing the great epic on this day. This epic has been a boon for all time to come.
● Kubera became the custodian of wealth on Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā - Deva-s too received benevolence on this day. Kubera was appointed the custodian of wealth on Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā. So, purchasing gold or silver, starting new ventures like businesses and investment in property, on this day are considered to be harbingers of wealth and prosperity.
● Gaṅgā descended to Bhūloka - King Sagara's 60,000 sons had been reduced to ashes by the curse of Kapila Muni. Later, the sage relented but the only way of enabling the souls to attain nirvāṇa was by bringing the sacred river Gaṅgā down from the heavens to cleanse them. King Sagara's descendants spent their lifetime in prayers and austerities to achieve this. Many years of intense tapashcharyā (penance) by Mahārāja Bhagīratha, King Sagara's great grandson, finally bore fruit on Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā. Bhagawān Brahmā commanded Gaṅgā to flow to Bhūloka and Bhagawān Shiva controlled her mighty force by entangling her in His locks. Mahārāja Bhagīratha then led the river from the Himālaya-s to the sea. In the region of Beṅgāl, Gaṅgā divided herself into distributaries forming the Gaṅgā delta. One of these distributaries washed away the ashes of Bhagīratha’s ancestors at Kapila Muni’s Āshram located at present-day Gaṅgā Sāgar, offering salvation to their souls on Makara Saṅkrānti.
● Sudāmā’s Nis͟hkāma bhakti - Sudāmā and his devout wife Sushīlā lived in penury. Since Sudāmā and Shrī Kṛs͟hṇa had studied together in the Gurukula of Sage Sāndīpani, Sushīlā requested Sudāmā to ask the ruler of Dwārakā for help. Sudāma did not wish to encroach upon his friend’s prosperity, but reluctantly set out on the arduous journey with the only thing they had, three handfuls of pohā, as a gift for Shrī Kṛs͟hṇa. Shrī Kṛs͟hṇa was overjoyed and treated him regally. Though Sudāmā was reticent about his humble gift, Shrī Kṛs͟hṇa eagerly partook two fistfuls of the pohā while the last fistful was taken by Rukmiṇī Devī. A contented Sudāmā took his leave without asking Shrī Kṛs͟hṇa for anything and returned empty handed. But, when he reached home on Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā, to his amazement, his hovel had been transformed with immense prosperity. This incident showed that surrendering to Bhagawān with love and devotion and without expectations, clears the path for His Anugraha.
● Aks͟haya Pātra - In the Mahābhārata, the Pāṇḍava-s were exiled wrongfully by the Kaurava-s after losing a game played with loaded dice. However, their inherent goodness, righteousness, wisdom and bravery was widely known and accepted. Therefore, many kings, sādhu-s and common folk came to them looking for succour. Draupadī, in keeping with our saṁskṛti, would serve the guests before eating herself. Since it was becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet, the Pāṇḍava-s prayed to Shrī Kṛs͟hṇa Bhagawān. It is believed that in response, on Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā, He bestowed the gift of abundance upon the Pāṇḍava-s, in the form of the ‘Aks͟haya Pātra’, a divine vessel. The food stored in the Aks͟haya Pātra would not diminish even when distributed amongst sādhu-s (sages) and sharaṇārthī-s (people who needed help and protection) visiting the Pāṇḍava-s in the woods, until Draupadī had finished her meals, and the Pātra was washed and kept away for the day. Since the Pāṇḍava-s intended to serve numerous people in various ways, Bhagawān Kṛs͟hṇa granted them the ability to do so.
Celestial events have taken place through the aeons of time on Aks͟haya Tṛtīyā, and these reflect its auspiciousness. The actions we perform on such sacred days carry an everlasting impact. We have been blessed with endless opportunities to improve our spiritual growth on such days through our japa, pūjā, ārādhanā, dāna, sevā or other good deeds, which in turn, leads to undiminishing welfare and prosperity. Many people resolve to start adhyayana and spiritual practices with greater devotion on this sacred day. Ardent devotion, daily practice and dedication increase our pātratā or ability to receive the Anugraha that is being showered upon us ceaselessly by Shrī Bhavānīshaṅkar Deva and our Guruparamparā.