It is said that after relinquishing his throne Lord Adinatha entered the life of an ascetic. After some time Lord Adinatha while in his ascetic hood while practicing a sacrament for almost six months decided to take ‘aahara’(food).
Since the people were unaware of the procedure to be followed to offer aahara to a Jain ascetic he was unable to get food for 6 months and 13 days and was on his vihara (movement from place to place).
He continued his Vihara and happened to cross Hastinapur. During that time Hastinapur was ruled by King Somprabha, his younger brother Shreyansa kumar learnt about Lord Adinath that he is not being offered food since 6 months. He recalled the ‘Aahara Vidhi’ to be followed through his ‘Gnati smarana’ (Past life impressions) and decided to offer food to Lord Adinatha and making way for Lord to end his fast (parana).
He offered ‘Ikshu rasa’ (sugarcane juice) as aahara dhana (Dhana means donation/giving) on the Vaishaka Shukla Tritiya day.
From then onwards this day is celebrated as ‘Akshaya Tritiya’ across the world. It is said that the very ‘concept of giving / donation’ evolved on this day at Hastinapur. In memory of the parana, Shreyansa kumar built a stupa and installed the foot prints of Bhagawan Adinath. This is popularly called as the parana mandir or Adinath Nishiyaji situated near Gang Nahar (Canal) in Hastinapur.
Lord Adinath & Akshaya Tritiya