What is Akshaya Tritiya Meaning?
India is the land of festivals and we enjoy celebrating every festival as a community in our own traditional ways with utmost enthusiasm. One such auspicious festival as per the Hindu scriptures is Akshaya Tritiya. You may also know it as ‘Akti’ or ‘Akha Teej’. This year, Akshaya Tritiya in India is celebrated on May 3, 2022, by Hindus and Jains in India and Nepal.
Since it is not a common festival as Diwali, many people don’t know that a holy occasion such as this exists or why is Akshaya Tritiya celebrated, which is why we are here, no?
Akshaya Tritiya is a Sanskrit word, where 'Akshaya' means eternal or immortal, and 'Tritiya' means third. This means that, according to the Hindu calendar, the festival is celebrated on the third day of Shukla Paksha (Waxing Moon period) in the Vaisakh month. On this auspicious day, people worship Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, and Goddess Lakshmi. The day is synonymous with new beginnings and buying precious metals. It is the festival of paying respects to the ancestors who are no longer in this world.
When is Akshaya Tritiya Celebrated?
Now you may be wondering that like Christmas, Akshay Tritiya 2022 would also be celebrated on a fixed date each year, but no. All the Hindu festivals fall on different dates every year because they are celebrated according to the Hindu calendar, which is based on the waxing and waning phases of the moon.
So this year, Akshaya Tritiya 2022 in India is celebrated on May 3, which falls on the third day of the waxing phase of the Moon in the Vaisakh month, a day quite significant for Hindus and Jains.
What is the Significance of Akshaya Tritiya?
Many people are unaware of the Akshaya Tritiya's importance and the power it holds in some religions. According to the sacred scriptures, whatever people do on this holy ‘eternal’ day, will bring them the fruit, which is several times more than their deeds. So, if you engage in good work and help others you will receive good luck in manifolds. Similarly, imagine what will happen if you tease others, or throw stones at animals?
In Jainism, Akshaya Tritiya commemorates the end of the year-long asceticism of their first Tirthankara, Adinath Rishabhdev. He drank the sugarcane juice on this day, which is why Jains also refer to it as the festival of Varshi Tapa.
Also, as per astrology, the four important planets believed to influence our destinies are arranged in a favourable position on Akshaya Tritiya this year, making it even more special.
Other important events that happened on Akshaya Tritiya as per different mythologies, making it a significant day are:
It marks the end of the epic tale of The War of Mahabharata, along with the end of the Dwapar Yuga and the beginning of the Treta Yuga.
Saint Ved Vyas started writing the epic Mahabharata with Lord Ganesha.
Mother Annapurna was born.
Chiranjeevi Maharshi Parashurama was born.
Mother Ganga had descended on Earth.
Kubera found the treasure.
Adi Shankaracharya composed the Kanakadhara Stotra.
The doors of Char Dhams - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath are opened for the pilgrims.
On this day, the doors of the famous pilgrimage Shri Badri Narayan Dham are opened for all.
People begin making the holy chariots of Lord Jagannath.
Traditional Rituals You Can Perform on Akshaya Tritiya 2022
Every auspicious festival demands cleanliness to allow joy and prosperity to flow into your house. So, on Akshaya Tritiya, too, start by cleaning and decluttering your home. Donate all the unwanted items to the less privileged.
Perform puja on this day with your whole family. Ask your kids to bring some tulsi leaves and flowers for the puja, while you can prepare the traditional prasadam for everyone.
Make the most of this Akshaya Tritiya 2022 by planning your weddings or home entrance on this day.
For everlasting prosperity and success, Hindus and Jains can also buy precious metals like gold and silver in the form of jewellery, new clothes, houses, land or property, vehicles, etc.
What is a festival without some traditional mouth-watering delicacies! On Akshaya Tritiya, too, special food is prepared to offer to the gods. You must savour the Naivedyam thali at least once; it consists of coconut-based recipes, rice, milk and milk products, including kheer, ghee, curd and sweets.
How can we forget the holy Ganga bath, an important ritual of almost all Hindu rituals! If you can, go and take a bath in the Holy Ganga river within the muhurat timings to wash away your sins and to ask for forgiveness for whatever wrong you had done.
5 Interesting Things to Know About Akshay Tritiya
If you are still curious to know more about this auspicious day, here are some interesting facts about Akshaya Tritiya which will leave you in awe of this festival.
Each year, three lunar days are considered auspicious. The first one is the Indian New Year, between March and April, the second is Akshaya Tritiya, which falls between April and May, and the last one is between October and November, which is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami.
Akshaya Tritiya is considered a day of hope and happiness for farmers, as on this day they sow the seeds for the next crop season and the whole family prays together for a bountiful harvest.
It is believed that you will receive your blessings on Akshay Tritiya if you have been regularly engaging in charitable causes in the past year. Therefore, it holds a special significance as being the ‘Brahma Muhurat’.
Another interesting thing about this auspicious day is that it is always present on the Hindu calendar every year, even though sometimes this lunar calendar features extra days, while other times some days are missing.
In Jainism, people break their year-long fast called Varshitap, which they observe on alternative days by drinking a glass of sugarcane juice on Akshaya Tritiya.
Have a Prosperous Akshaya Tritiya!
Make this Akshay Tritiya 2022 special by engaging in good deeds. This year, include your kids in festive activities as well to induce a sense of gratitude in them.
