Akshaya Tritya

Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej, which falls on the third tithi (lunar day) of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the month of Vaisakha. It is regionally observed as an auspicious day by Hindus and Jains in India, it signifies the "third day of un ending prosperity". Akshaya Tritiya is considered auspicious by Hindus and Jains in many regions of India and Nepal for new ventures, marriages, charity, and in investments such as gold or other property.

If Akshaya Tritiya falls on a Monday (Rohini), the festival is believed to be even more auspicious. Fasting, charity and helping others on this day is another festive practice.

In Sanskrit, the word Akshaya (अक्षय) means "never decreasing" in the sense of "prosperity, hope, joy, success", while Tritiya means "third phase of the moon". It is named after the third lunar day of the spring month of Vaisakha in the Hindu calendar, when it is observed.

In Jainism, Akshaya Tritiya contains much importance as it celebrates the first Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha, ending his one-year asceticism by consuming sugarcane juice poured into his cupped hands. Some Jains refer to the festival as Varshitapa. Tirthankara Shri Adinatha took diksha and left all his wealth and luxuries of his Kingdom of Ayodhya which used to be of Gold at his time. After his Deeksha, he fasted for 6 months and then started to look out for Ahaar, he continued to Vihar as people in that age didn't know about the practice and method of Ahaar dan. But here comes the story of Raja Shreyans, he was the younger brother of the King of Hastinapur Raja Sonprabha.

When Tirthankara Adinatha was approaching Hastinapur, which was the capital city of Kurujangal (A country situated in the southern part of Bharat Kshetra of Jambudweep and full of wealth); Raja Shreyans had 7 dreams in a same night. He saw a Golden Sumeru Mountain, a Lion, an Ox, The Sun, The Moon, Ocean and Vyantardevs who were carrying Ashta Mangal Dravya or Eight (8) Auspicious Elements in front of him. The next day, Raja Shreyas told his brother King Sonprabha with modesty. King Sonprabha told him that these dreams suggest that a God would definitely visit his house today. Both the brothers were sitting with the priest discussing the results of these dreams when Lord Rushabhdeva alone entered Hastinapur.

The gatekeeper Siddharth soon informed the brothers that the Lord has finally entered the kingdom. Both of them came out to the courtyard where they bowed down to him humbly with devotion and performed his Pradakshina. Seeing the form of the Lord, Shreyans immediately attained Jatismaran Gyan (the knowledge of previous births ) which also led to him to know the rituals of Ahaar Dan which he knew in his previous births.

Firstly, both of the brothers, along with their queens, started the Padgahan of Lord Rishabhanatha. They chanted, "He Bhagwan ! Namostu, Namostu, Namostu , Atra Tistha Tistha and again did 3 Pradakshinas of the Lord. Then they seated him at an high pedestal , washed his feet , performed his Pooja with 8 elements  and greeted him. Then he took the purest form of the Sugarcane Juice and chanted, " He Bhagwan ! Mann Shudh hai , Vachan Shudh hai , Kaya Shudh hai , Ahaar Jal Shudh hai , Bhojan Grahan Keejiye." It means , O Lord ! my mind is pure , my words are pure , my body and soul are pure , the food and the water is pure , please accept this food.

Worshipping Muniraj, making him sit on a high place, washing his feet, worshipping him, saluting him, keeping his mind, speech, body, and diet pure—in this way, these nine types of virtue, or Navadhabhakti, are done by the donor. After nine devotions, God stood up and made anjali of both his hands. Shreyansh Kumar along with King Sonprabha and Queen Lakshmi Mati respectfully fed the Lord with Pure juice of sugarcane. At the same time, it started raining gems , released by the gods from the sky, it started raining flowers, the sound of Dev dudumbhi (music by Devs) started sounding, cool and fragrant air started blowing and while shouting loudly, the gods started saying, 'Blessed is this donation, blessed is this vessel and blessed is the donor . Heavy echoes of these words started sailing in the sky (Akashvani).

Lord Rushabhdeva was the first Tirthankara, the originator of Dharma tirtha, while King Shreyansh was the first Datar, the originator of Dan tirtha. There has been a trend of pilgrimage to charity from this Hastinapur city itself, so this city has become a holy land since that time. The practice of donating in Bharatkshetra became prevalent from that time and the method of donating was also revealed by Prince Shreyansh. Kings like Bharat Chakravarty and the Devs were very surprised by this method of donation. The gods came and worshiped King Shreyansh with great respect. Maharaj Bharat also received supreme joy after listening to everything from Shreyansh and respected King Sonprabha and Shreyansh Kumar a lot.

Fasting and ascetic (avoiding physical comfort & living a simple life) austerities (living with limited things) are marked by Jains, particularly at pilgrimage sites such as Ayodhya , Shri Sammed Shikhar Ji , Banaras , Shri Mahaveer Ji , Palitana (Gujarat) and hundreds of places where Jainism continues to be rediscovered which was stabbed to lifelessness due to foreign invaders. On this day, people who observe the year-long alternative day fasting known as varshi-tap finish their tapasya by doing Parana (generally by drinking sugarcane juice).

This day in Jainism does not have much celebrations as it is a day of donation and following Dharma not having parties of celebration.

The festival is related the presentation of the Akshaya Patra to Draupadi by the god Krishna during the visit of numerous rishis, including the Rishi Durvasa. During their exile in the forest, the Pandava princes were famished due to the lack of food, and their wife Draupadi was pained by this because she could not extend the customary hospitality to their guests. Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, prayed to the god Surya, who gave him this bowl, which would remain full till Draupadi served all of their guests. During the visit of the easily angered rishi Durvasa, Krishna ate a small particle from the bowl, which deflected the wrath of the rishi and saved the Pandava from his curse.

Akshaya Tritiya is believed by Hindus to be the birthday of Parasurama, the sixth avatar of the god Vishnu. He is admired in Vaishnava temples. Those who observe it in honor of Parasurama sometimes refer to the festival as Parasurama Jayanti. Alternatively, some focus their reverence on Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.

Another event linked to the day is Sudama's visit to his childhood friend, Krishna in Dwarka, when he received unlimited wealth as a boon. Kubera is believed to have appointed the god of wealth on this auspicious day.

People in Maharashtra consider these days as the days to start anything new as it is believed that the work started on Akshaya Tritiya brings great success and lasts forever. People start new businesses, buy houses and women buy gold on this day. People celebrate this festival with family, and worship gods and goddesses by offering food as Naivedhyam consisting of the famous Maharashtrian Puran Poli (Roti/bread stuffed with jaggery and lentil mix) and Aamras (A thick mango puree).

In Odisha, Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated during the commencement of the sowing of rice paddy for the ensuing Kharif season. The day starts with ritual worship of mother Earth, the bullocks, other traditional farm equipment and seeds by the farmers for the blessings of a good harvest. After ploughing the fields, the farmers sow paddy seeds as the symbolic start for the most important Kharif crop of the state. This ritual is called Akhi Muthi Anukula (Akhi- Akshaya Tritiya; Muthi- fistful of paddy; Anukula - inauguration) and is celebrated with much funfare throughout the state. In recent years, the event has received much publicity due to ceremonial Akhi Muthi Anukula programs organized by farmers' organizations and political parties. The construction of chariots for the Ratha Yatra festivities of Jagannath Temple also commences on this day at Puri.

In the Telugu-speaking states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the festival is associated with prosperity and charity. Simhachalam temple observes special festive rituals on this day. The main goddess of the temple is covered in sandalwood paste for the rest of the year, and only on this day are the layers of sandalwood applied to the goddess removed to show the underlying statue. Display of the actual form or Nija Roopa Darsanam happens on this day.

This day is highly auspicious for those who buy rice, deposit money in a bank account, buy any kind of new things or vessels visiting famous temples, donating foods or special offer for poor peoples, or helping poor children for there education fees, all are good signs for Akshaya Tritiya.