The Power of Akshay Tritiya

॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥

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The word "Akshay" (अक्षय) can be understood as - "अ+क्षय" . क्षय(Kshya) means that depletes over time ,gets destroyed or is not preserved. Hence अक्षय means which is ever preserved , that does not gets depleted with time.

While it is well know in our times that Akshay Tritya is celebrated and is very auspicious day, what exactly is to be done as guided by our Puranas and why it is done is less understood. This is what I wish to present here.

When is Akshay Tritiya Celebrated ?

Month - Vaishakha

Paksha- Shukha Paksha(brighter half)

Tithi - 3rd/ Tritiya

The Mahima(Power) of Akshay Tritiya

Skand Purana , In Vaishnav Khand mentions the greatness of Akshay Tritiya . Whole Story can be read here but the essence of story mentioned is -how performing rituals at Akshay Tritiya can destroy even greatest of sins and grant power of knowledge, mantra and prosperity.

Shlokas (2.7.23.1-2.7.23.5) mention -

ये कुवंतत च तस्यां वै प्रातः स्नानं भगोदये ।।

ते सवे पापतनमुशक्ता यांतत र्वष्णोः परं पदम् ।। 2  ।।

देवान्न्पतॄन्मुनीन्यस्तु कुयाशदुद्दिश्य तपशणम् ।।

तेनाऽधीतं च तेनेिं तेन श्राद्धितं कृतम् ।। ३ ।।

मधुसूदनमभ्यच्यश कथां िृण्वंतत ये नराः ।।

अक्षय्यायां तृतीयायां ते नरा मुक्तक्तभार्गनः ।। ४ ।।

ये दानं तत्र कुवंतत मधुद्दद्वट्प्रीतये िुभम् ।।

तदक्षय्यं फलत्मयेव मधुशासनशासनात् ।। ५ ।।

2. Those who take bath early in the morning of Tritya are granted , param pad, ie place in Vaikuntha after death and hundreds of his sins are destroyed.

3. If a person offers water libation with the Devas, Pitṛs and sages in view, it is as good as the performance of Vedic studies, of sacrifices and of a hundred Śrāddhas by him.

4. Men who worship Madhusūdana and listen to the (divine) story on the Akṣayatṛtīyā day are partakers of salvation. 5. If people make charitable gifts on that day for the propitiation of the Madhusudana, it will have auspicious and inexhaustible benefit as it is done in name of Madhusudhana.

Bhavishya -Puran in Uttar-Parva(check here) mentions the same thing. The story mentioned here has essemce that one performing rituals of this tritya does not only have sadgati as mentioned in Skand Puran but also has prosperity for various lifetimes. His name and fame due to daan done by him does not diminish ever.

स्नानं दानं जपो होमः स्वाध्यायः पितृतर्पणम् ।। यदस्यां क्रियते किञ्चित्सर्वं स्यात्तदिहाक्ष यम् । ।। 2।।

तेन श्रुतं वाच्यमानं तृतीया रोहिणी पुरा ।। यदा स्याद्बुधसंयुक्ता तदा साच महाफला ।। ५ ।।

2. The person who takes holy bath, perform charitable deeds , offers water to pitris, all of this becomes akhsay punya.

5. If this tithi concides with Wednesday and has Moon in Rohini Nakshtra, it is even more powerful to yield results.

Similar Mahalmya is also mentioned in Matsya Puran (Chapter 65)

What Should you do ??

Special attention is given to the use of Akshat(rice) on Akshay Tritiya in Matsya Puran

1. It mentions that one should take bath in the morning. Put some rice grains in the water you bathe with.

2. One can also have Ganga-snan if convenient and offer water (tarpan) to Pitris

3. Offer rice to Lord Vishnu.

4. Daan Rice and Sattu (made of gram) to a Brahmin.

5. Include Rice and Sattu in your meal.

6. One can have Fast for the day.

7. Do Jaap( any Vishnu Mantra or Sahasranam Paath and of Maa Laxmi) and small Homam as per your convinience.

What can I give in Daan ?

Bhavishya Puran(Uttar-Parva- Chapter 30) mentions few things that can be given in daan -

ग्रैष्मिकं सर्वमेवात्र सस्यदानं प्रशस्यते ।। छत्रोपानत्प्रदानं च गोभूकांचनवाससाम् ।। १६ ।।

यवगोधूमचणकसक्तुदध्यौदनं तथा ।। इक्षुक्षीरविकारांश्च सहिरण्यांश्च शक्तितः ।। ८ ।।

एतद्व्रतं मयाख्यातं श्रूयतामत्र यो विधिः ।। उदकुंभान्सकरकात्स्नानसर्वरसैर्युतान् ।। १५ ।।

1. Special focus is given to Anna-daan and Jal-Daan (specially Modak and other sweets and water)( Bhavishya Puran -2.2.8.9-2.2.8.10)

2. One can give daan of all the grains that are typically found in summers such as barley, wheat, curd-rice , sattu(made of gram flour) , milk etc.

3. Specific mention has been given to donate shoes, umbrella too the needy

4. If one has capacity , one can donate gold, cow and also land to the needy.

5. One can also distribute water or preferebly sharbat to the needy.

It should be noted that daan must be done in order of one's capacity as bhavana of daan is most important that is done in name of Madhusudan.

There are also some astrological significations of Akshay Tritiya which would be covered in next article.

Namah Shivaaya .