Festival in India: Akha Teej (Akshaya Tritiya), the auspicious day

Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most auspicious days of the year for Hindus. Akshaya Tritiya is also called Akha Teej.

Akshaya, a Sanskrit word, literally means one that never diminishes. Tritiya means third day of lunar fortnight. Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej) falls on third day of the bright half of the lunar month of Vaisakha. This is according to the traditional Indian calendar. Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej) is on27^th April, 2009, this year.

Chaitra, Vaishakha, Jyestha, Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadra, Ashwina, Kartika, Agrahayana or Margasheersha, Pausha, Magha and Phalguna are the twelve lunar months in Indian calendar named after twelve Nakshatras Chitra, Vishakha, Jyestha, Ashadha, Shravani, Bhadra, Aswini, Krittika, Mrigashira, Pushya, Magha and Phalguni respectively. Vaishakha is the second month in Indian calendar and Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej)comes in this month every year.

There are four Yugas (era) Satyuga, Tretayuga, Dwaparayuga and Kaliyuga according to Hindu mythology. The Treta Yuga began on this day. River Ganges, the most holy and sacred river of India, descended to the earth from the heaven on Akshaya Tritiya as Hindus believe. Many of the ancient cities in India Haridwara, Varanasi, Prayaga (Allahabad), Pataliputra (Patna), Champanagar (Bhagalpur) and modern cities like Kanpur and Kolkata (Calcutta) are situated on the banks of the Ganges River. The Ganges is the life line of northern and eastern India. Hindus believe that bathing in the River Ganges is sacred especially on Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej).

The day is also traditionally celebrated as the birth day of the Hindu sage Parashurama, the sixth avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. Hindu Puranas (mythological stories) speak about how Parashurama reclaimed land (Kerala province in India) from the sea.

Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej) on a Monday or with Rohini Nakshatra is considered to be more auspicious. Akshaya Tritiya is also observed as Navanna (new grain) Parvam (festival). Indian economy is based on agriculture and this is the time for reaping Ravi crops. The farmers of India bring their crop (Wheat, gram, mustard etc) home from the fields in these days. Farmers have much cash in their hands and plenty of time to spend in these days. This socio-economic reason brings them in festive mood.

Farmers, the primary producers spend money that goes to the traders and industrialists. Hence, the secondary market boosts. This festival accelerates the economic activities in India.

View: How to grow healthy food from organic farming?

Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej). is considered as very auspicious day and Hindus tend to do auspicious things such as start building a house, opening of a business or industry etc on the day. Maximum numbers of marriages in India are held on this day.

Lord Kubera, god of treasures, considered to be the richest among the gods. He is one of the Astadikpalas and also Lord of Yakshas. Kubera himself pray to goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth and wife of Lord Vishnu) on this day according to Lakshmi Tantram.

Indian religious and social festivals are well embedded with socio-economic relations. These festivals well affected the psyche of common Indians. Indians, since time immemorial, know the importance of savings and investments in the life. Gold, silver, diamonds, gemstones and jewelry and real estate are always considered as good investment and saving tools. Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej).is particularly considered auspicious for buying gold, silver, diamond and other precious stones, Kundan Meena Jadau Jewelry and real estate.

Indians believe Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej).brings good luck and success. It is widely celebrated by different sections of the Hindu society in all parts of India irrespective of their social groupings.

Indians tend to buy gold, silver, diamond and other precious stones such as ruby / sapphires, emerald and jewelry in this day. Jewelry stores stock in and show new jewelry models for this occasion. Gold and silver coins inscribed with goddess Lakshmi or other gods and goddesses, diamond Jewelry, Kundan Meena Jadau Jewelery are the main attractions. This day has been taken over by the mass media for marketing.

Marketers promote sales and bookings for Gold Jewelery, Kundan Meena Jadau Jewelery, real estates etc.

Indian religions and societies act on the basis of four Purushartha (entrepreneurship / action) Dharma (duty / spirituality), Artha (wealth), Kama (earthly pleasure) and Moksha (liberation / salvation from earthly bondages). It is believed that any or all of these four Purushartha started on Akshaya Tritiya become non-diminishing. Worshipping God, observing vows and fasts, offering prayer (puja) etc are considered as religious and spiritual duties (Dharma). Creating assets is considered as Artha Purushartha. Here Artha does not only mean money and wealth but also includes honor, happiness etc. Hindus perform Kubera Lakshmi Puja for Artha and Kama on Akshaya Tritiya. This puja goes day long. The puja starts in the morning and ends in the evening. Goddess Lakshmi Devi along with Sudarsana Kubera Yantra are worshipped in this puja.

Indian religious and social festivals are well embedded with socio-economic relations. These festivals well affected the psyche of common Indians. Indians, since time immemorial, know the importance of savings and investments in the life. Gold, silver, diamonds, gemstones and jewelry and real estate are always considered as good investment and saving tools. Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej).is particularly considered auspicious for buying gold, silver, diamond and other precious stones, Kundan Meena Jadau Jewelry and real estate.

Indians believe Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej).brings good luck and success. It is widely celebrated by different sections of the Hindu society in all parts of India irrespective of their social groupings.

Indians tend to buy gold, silver, diamond and other precious stones such as ruby / sapphires, emerald and jewelry in this day. Jewelry stores stock in and show new jewelry models for this occasion. Gold and silver coins inscribed with goddess Lakshmi or other gods and goddesses, diamond Jewelry, Kundan Meena Jadau Jewelery are the main attractions. This day has been taken over by the mass media for marketing.

Indian religions, cultures and societies act on the basis of four Purushartha (entrepreneurship / action) Dharma (duty / spirituality), Artha (wealth), Kama (earthly pleasure) and Moksha (liberation / salvation from earthly bondages). It is believed that any or all of these four Purushartha started on Akshaya Tritiya become non-diminishing. Worshipping God, observing vows and fasts, offering prayer (puja) etc are considered as religious and spiritual duties (Dharma). Creating assets is considered as Artha Purushartha. Here Artha does not only mean money and wealth but also includes honor, happiness etc. Hindus perform Kubera Lakshmi Puja for Artha and Kama on Akshaya Tritiya. This puja goes day long. The puja starts in the morning and ends in the evening. Goddess Lakshmi Devi along with Sudarsana Kubera Yantra are worshipped in this puja.

Marriage is one of the main themes of Kama (earthly pleasure, sexual activities) Purushartha. Hence Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be the best day for Indian marriages. Millions of marriages in India occur in this day.

Those achieved higher levels of spirituality and want to be free from all earthly bondages use this day for Moksha Purushartha. Moksha is considered as ultimate goal for all beings because this is living in eternal peace for ever.

Jainism is one of the oldest religions in India. Rshabhadeva alias Adinath is the first Tirthankara of the Jains. There is a story related to Tirthankara Rshabhdeva about Akshaya Tritiya.

Tirthankara Rshabhdeva was king of Ayodhya. He being enlightened leaved all earthly pleasures and chosen to ascetic life become a Jain monk. Jain monks do not posses anything with them not even food. They do not even cook food for themselves. While hungry or thirsty, they go to people and ask for food or drinking water. Tirthankara Rshabhdeva also went to people and asked food. However, the people of that time did not know anything about the acts of monks, as he was the first monk in this era. People of Ayodhya offered gold, jewelry, gemstones, elephants, horses, expensive garments and even their daughters to honor their beloved king. Rshabhdeva was not in quest of all these. He wanted food only that no body offered him. No body at that time could guess that their king was asking for food. As there was no choice, he had to fast for long time until his grand son Shreyansha kumara understood his need. Shreyansha kumara, finally, offered him sugar cane juice and Rshabhdeva broke his fast with that juice. The incident happened on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. This is considered by the Jains as one of the best offerings. It is believed that bestowing upon religious gifts on Akshaya Tritiya becomes inexhaustible. Jains, even today, observe long term fast to commemorate their first Tirthankara Rshabhadeva and broke their fast on Akshaya Tritiya with sugar cane juice. Huge crowd of Jains assemble in Hastinapura and Palitana to celebrate the auspicious day.

There are many temples above the hills of Palitana (Siddhachala or Siddhagiri) including main temple of Adinath or Rshabhadeva. People say this main idol Dada.

The river Shatrunjaya flowing throw Palitana is also auspicious. Palitana has various names and Shatrunjaya is one of those. Shatru means enemy and Jaya means triumph or victory in Sanskrit language. Hence Shatrunjaya meansgetting victory over the enemeys. Jainism believes in conquerring internal enemeys such as ignorance, lust, ego, anger etc as a path to salvation and Shatrunjaya is symbol for the same. People take a bath in the Shtrunjaya river and offer Pooja to Tirthankara Shree Rshabhadeva and other Tirthankaras in Palitana.

Akshay tritiya or Akha Teej falls on Sunday,  May 16, 2010 this year. I have written this hub last year. Hence the date mentioned is of last year, the 2009. 

This year is a special year according to Vedic and Indian calendar which has an extra month. There is two Vaisakh in this year. This created some ambiguity about Akha Teej because the festival falls in the month of lunar Vaisakh.

However, according to the traditions and astrological references, Akha Teej celebration is on the second Vaisakh. Few people has been observing the festival on April 17, 2010 but majority is in favor of May 17.