Akshaya Tritiya is coming up on April 30th, 2025. Akshaya means eternal or indestructible and Tritiya means third day. Akshaya Tritiya or Akha Teej, falls on the third day of Shukla Paksha, in the Vasanta month of the Lunar calendar. The Treta Yuga is said to have begun on Akshaya Tritiya.
There is a tradition of buying gold on Akshaya Tritiya. The price of the precious yellow metal is sky rocketing like never before. One would think, who would buy it at a Lakh of Rupees for 10 grams? But there are buyers galore; for the romance of Indian women, as well as investors with gold, is eternal or Akshaya!
Indian festivals revolve around worship of different forms of God. These festivals are a constant reminder to connect, time and again with the eternal divine being. Spirituality was a way of life, for our forefathers. They recognized the divinity immanent in each atom of the universe. From time to time, they worshipped this divinity in its various forms on dates that were determined by the position of the stars and the planets. This naturally meant that astronomy and astrology were an integral part of our culture.
On Akshaya Tritiya we worship Goddess Lakshmi and Vishnuji. Goddess Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Akshaya Tritiya is said to be the most auspicious day to start anything new like a business, make investments, donate something or generally do anything that you wish to be endless.
The Bhagwat Puran tells of Krishna’s childhood friend Sudama, who was extremely poor. On the insistence of his wife Susheela, Sudama agreed to visit Krishna. He was determined to not ask Krishna for anything, because Krishna being the Lord incarnate, knew everything anyways. Sudama wanted to take a gift for Krishna, but sadly, there was nothing to give. Susheela borrowed a handful of beaten rice (Poha) from her neighbour. Sudama tied the potli to his waist. When Sudama met Krishna in his palace, he realized that his childhood friend Kanha, was now the King of Dwarika. Krishna and his palace was laden with riches of all kinds. Sudama was too embarrassed to offer his lowly gift of Poha, to Krishna and hid it within his Angavastram.
Krishna in his inimitable mischievous style, asked Sudama what he was hiding in his angavastram. Krishna took the potli and savoured the Poha immensely. When Sudama got home, he saw that not only his home, his entire village had been transformed. The houses, roads etc. were beautifully constructed. His wife Susheela was dressed like a queen. That day was Akshaya Tritiya! In return for a handful of Poha, Krishna blessed Sudama with Akshaya wealth!
This day is also said to mark the birth of Lord Parshuram, an avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Another instance mentioned in the Bhagwat Puran is when the Pandavas were sent into exile, there was obviously the question of how they would get their daily food. Being of royal lineage, they were not used to living in the jungles and fending for their own food.
An ‘Akshaya Patra’, (a vessel in which food would never get over) was given to Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava by Surya deva. Some texts say that this Akshaya Patra was given to Draupadi by Krishna. The vessel was such that it was blessed to have enough food in it, till the Pandavas and Panchali too had finished their meal each day.
The Mahabharata also tells of a time when Draupadi was dragged into the court of Duryodhana. Dushasana dragged her by her hair into the hall where the Pandavas and Kauravas were playing dice. In the presence of the elders of the Kuru clan, as well as the ministers and courtiers, Dushasana tried to outrage her modesty by disrobing her. The irony of it … Draupadi, a woman with five husbands, stood there helpless, crying and begging for help. She beseeched each of her husbands, Yudhishthira, Arjun, Bheema, Nakul and Sehdev, for help. Sadly, none of them came forward to help her because Yudhishthira had pawned her in the game of dice, and had lost her. She now belonged to the Kauravas.
Draupadi held the pallu of her saree tightly and even clenched it between her teeth in the last dying effort to save herself from being humiliated and disrobed in the presence of all. When she realised that her husbands were helpless and she too was no match against the physical might of Dushasana, she called out to Krishna to help her.
She then let go of the pallu of her saree and surrendered completely to Krishna’s will. It is said that she called out, “Oh Vrindavan Vehari Krishna! Oh Dwarkadhish Krishna! Oh Atma Nivasi Krishna! Save me!!!” The moment she called out to Krishna as Atma-nivasi; the in-dweller of the heart, He uttered, “Akshayam!!!” The pallu of her saree became Akshaya or unending! Dushasana kept pulling her pallu and Draupadi started rotating and chanting, “Krishna … Krishna … Krishna …”, as Dushasana unravelled yards and yards of her saree. The saree had become Akshaya because of the grace of Krishna. Finally Dushasana fell down, exhausted. Krishna returned the favour done by Draupadi long ago, when Krishna’s finger had bled while peeling sugarcane … she had torn off a part of her saree and tied it as a bandage on His finger. This was Krishna’s way of converting disgrace to grace! Draupadi was saved from being disrobed and was clothed in an endless robe!
Coming back to Akshay Tritiya; buy precious metals or start something new by all means, if possible. But do think about helping somebody or giving something to the lesser fortunate like a meal or clothes … however small the offering. The Lord, resides in the lesser fortunate as ‘Daridra Narayan’ just as He resides in you and me. And it is important to offer something to God …
Sir Sathya Sai Baba says, “God never asks anything from anyone. But when people give to Him with a full heart, He returns a thousand-fold. You know the story of Kuchela. For the gift of a fistful of dry rice, Krishna granted him lifelong prosperity. Rukmini Devi was able to win Krishna for herself by offering Him just a single Tulasi leaf. So, whenever God accepts anything from anyone, He grants unending bounty in return. That is why it is said, Patram Pushpam Phalam Toyam – a leaf, a flower, a fruit or some water. At least these must be offered to God. Why? Only when we offer, we become eligible to receive. If you go to a bank and simply ask for your money, they will not give it to you although you have every right over it. You need to fill a withdrawal slip and sign it. Only then can you claim your money. So, you must give something first, in order to receive. This is Divine Law. Even if it is tiny or insignificant, it must be offered to God.”
Do think about what you will offer to God this Akshaya Tritiya.
