(Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated on 23-24 April this year )
Hinduism divides the cosmic play of life into four yugas or periods of time: Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapar Yuga and Kali Yuga. We are presently in the Kali Yuga – first phase. When the time period changed from Satya Yuga to Treta Yuga – the period when Sri Rama was born –the first day of the Treta Yuga was Akshaya Tritiya. This day marks the beginning of a new era and of good times to come. This is the third day or Tritiya of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Vaishakh. Great importance is given to this day as this is the day when Lord Hayagriv, Lord Narayan and Lord Parashuram descended on earth.
The Hindu Calender has three and half days of great auspicious times in a year – the Gudi Padwa, the Akshaya Tritiya , Dassera and half a day of Balipratipada. The effect of the cosmic transition and its blessings lasts for the entire period of twenty four hours on these days (half day for Balipratipada) and the whole day is considered auspicious. Any good work, business work, spiritual practices, material work, donations, marriages, housewarming ceremonies etc can be performed on these days at any time of the day without checking for good time or good muhurtha. We buy gold and silver, cars and sign papers for purchase of land and property.
Sri Krishna explains to Yudhisthira, the importance of this day – Akshaya Tritiya, in one of his talks of advice to him. The Lord says: Oh King! Donation or sacrificial fire done on this day never goes waste. Thus our great sages have called this day 'Akshaya Tritiya.' The rituals performed on this day, for pleasing God and helping ancestors in going to higher planes, always prove to be fruitful.
We have accumulated a lot of negative karma from our past lives and by offering donations to the needy on this day, we accumulate a lot of punya or goodness which offsets the past karmas. Many people offer donations with the specific intent of acquiring punya or goodness to reach heaven after death. We must remember that once the accumulated punya is over, it is back to earth for the soul. Many who are wise and have love for God, offer donations without seeking any merit or punya. They offer donations for good work or to worthy people just for sake of love of God. Such people go beyond the realms of heaven to higher realms and with the accumulated merit attain salvation.
On this day, offerings of black til or sesame seeds and water are done to the ancestors. We owe duty to our ancestors as we come from their lineage and have the gifts of their qualities, potentials and also physical qualities. When such offering is done with sincerity, we receive their blessings from the different plane that they exist in and many of our karmic blocks are removed and we are able to progress in material and spiritual life.
The Akshaya Tritiya falls at the start of the monsoon season in India. On this day, worship is offered to Mother Earth for plentiful crops and good seeds. The fields are ploughed on the day of Gudi Padwa and the fields are made ready for sowing seeds. Tree planting is also done on this day with the faith that the trees yield abundant fruits. Ayurvedic plants and herbs are also planted on this day so that the plants and herbs yield plentiful crops and the plants live for long periods of time. This ensures that there is no shortage of herbs and medicines for the people.
On this day, worship is offered to Goddess VaibhavLakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth and Abundance along with Her Consort – Lord Vishnu. Worship is offered to Her so that Her Grace remains with us in plentiful throughout our lives. On this auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, let us resolve to increase our love and devotion to God and follow the spiritual practices which will keep us connected to Him.
