Dr. Kusum Lunia
India is a land of festivals. Here, the new year starts from Vikram Samvat. The initial months of the year are Chet and Veshakh. The third day of Veshakh is called ‘Akshay Tritiya’. Locally, this day is also known as ‘Akhateej’. This day has great significance both worldly and spiritually.
According to ancient beliefs, there are four eras: Kritt, Treta, Dwapar and Kaliyug. Believing that the Treta era has started from here, this day has been honoured with ‘Tretayugadi tithi’ in the Indian Calendar.
Primeval stories states:
Ya ManvadhaYugayashch
Tivyastasu Manav
Snatvaa Hutvaa Va Japtvaa ch
Datyanant Phalam Labhet.
This means, any donation, religious worship or pilgrimage done on this day is considered very fruitful.
In the primeval stories, during the exchange of dialogues between Krishna and Arjun, the importance of Akshya Tritiya has been highlighted. Krishna says that all the saintly deeds are rewarded on this Tithi. In Vishnu Dhamotta Puran, it is stated that fasting practiced on this day is also rewarded fruitfully.
Shreyans offering sugarcane juice to Rishabhdev
There is an important relation between the first Tirthankar of Jain religion, Lord Rishabhdev and Akshay Tritiya. After taking his vows as a saint, Rishabhdev’s initial one year and twenty five days were spent in deep meditation. Without food and water, he received the important elements through breathing, sun rays and air. With the motive to initiate the procedure of Bhiksha (having meal by a saint), he wandered and reached Hastinapur. There, he met Prince Shreyansh in the palace. Price Shreyansh greeted Lord Rishbhdev with utmost gratitude and requested him accept some meal and complete his fasting. Without uttering a word, Lord Rishabhdev entered the palace. On the very day, 108 gallons of sugarcane juice were received in the palace as present. On entering the palace, Lord Rishbhdev lifted his palms, made a bowl of it and brought them close to his lips. Prince Shreyansh lifted the gallon of sugarcane juice and started pouring into the bowl of palms. Without any affection, Lord received the juice and not a single drop fell out of the palms. This way, his long fasting came to an end and a rhythm of Ahodanam…Ahodanam chanted in the entire surrounding. From this day, this third day of Veshakh became famous as Akshay Tritiya.
According to Hindi encyclopaedia, the day, ‘Akshay Tritiya’ has a great importance for farmers. The first seed for cultivation is sown on this day. In states like Rajasthan and Maharashtra, people follow the tradition of cooking row grains such as rice and moong as their meals.
Akshay Tritiya is also the jubilee of the sixth avatar, Bhrigunandan Parshuram of Lord Vishnu, which gives this day an important significance. This day is considered holy for conducting wedding ceremonies and other religious deeds. All in all, Akshay Tritiya is considered ‘Akshayphala’ for practicing fasting, donations and charity, marriage and other such worldly and spiritual activities.