The human sense of understanding is very relative. They understand pleasure because there is pain. Without pain there would never be a pursuit for pleasure. Humans want to live in peace, joy, and happiness and never come across pain and predicaments. But the ‘cyclical nature of existence’ and the ‘Law of Karma’ makes a human walk downhill after a victorious walk uphill.
To encourage people to work towards eternal happiness, joy, and bliss our Sanatani culture has woven intricately such practices especially observed on very conducive, auspicious days, which would multiply the positivity it brings manifold and fills the life of an individual with satisfaction.
Akshay Tritiya falls on the third lunar day of the month of Vaishakh. The word Akshaya in sanskrit means ‘ never decreasing’ or ‘never diminishing’. The word is used in the context of prosperity, hope, joy, and success.
Whatever one does on this day, never diminishes. Your joy, your hope, your happiness, your good deeds( punya) when experienced on this day would never diminish but multiply.
Akshay Tritiya is like a pot or a patra where one puts in good deeds, actions, Daan, buying auspicious things…as it would all multiply manifold and never diminish, contributing to eternal prosperity.
This tithi is of immense relevance also because it is related to many divine incidents from history, which all happened on this tithi.
An Akshaya Patra( inexhaustible vessel) was given by Surya Deva to Yuddhisthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, when he performed rigorous tapasya for gaining Surya Dev’s blessings during the exile period. The vessel capable of providing unlimited food, was a boon granted to Pandavas to ensure that they fulfilled the dharna of Kings. Although in exile, being Kshatriya King, they needed to carry out their dharma of feeding their subjects and sponsor the unrestricted deliverance of Yagnas by the Brahmins and look after their food, shelter, safety and security.
Among the two Itihaas, Mahabharata, highlights the law of Karma, very profoundly. Good deeds manifest as Health, Wealth, and Happiness in one’s life. And the Pandavas were in dire need of blessings and boons granted by Devas, Gurus and revered sages. A saturated and content soul organically emanate blessings for the one who makes them happy.
On the day of Akshaya Tritiya, Sage Ved Vyasa began reciting Mahabharata to Lord Ganesh. This date is also observed as Parashuram Jayanti. River Ganga descended the Earth on this day. The Yamunotri temple and the Gangotri temple are opened on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.
Akkha Teej as it is called popularly is a day to celebrate ‘eternal Prosperity and auspiciousness ‘. It is one of the most auspicious days and is considered most appropriate for starting a new venture or for marriage even without looking at the muhurat.