WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE & IMPORTANCE OF AKSHAYA TRITIYA? PART-02

THE IMPORTANCE OF AKSHAYA TRITIYA;-

As per classics there are three and half sacred muhurata’s or golden days in a year.Because Kundalini is depicted as a sleeping snake, wrapped three and a half time sinto a coil within the bowl of the pelvis, in the region of Muladhara, the first chakra.So there are three full day of Akshay Tritya, Basant Panchmi, Dushera and Half a day of Vishnu-prabodhini ("awakening of Vishnu") and Deothan Dev-Prabodhini Ekadashi. Among these Akshaya Tritiya also known as Akha Teej –falls on third Thithi (Tritiya) of the Shukla Paksh of the Vaisakha (lunar month). THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AKSHAYA TRITIYA;- 15 FACTS;- 1-The word "Akshaya" means imperishable or eternal - that which never diminishes. Initiations made or valuables bought on this day are considered to bring success or good fortune. Astrologically, it is believed that the Sun and the Moon are most radiant and best placed on the Askhaya Tritiya day. 2-The importance of this day lies in the fact that no special muhurata is needed or auspicious time is needed to perform any auspicious work---- In holy text, explaining the significance of the day, 3-Lord Sri Krishna says,. “O Yudhistra the offerings made and the oblations offered in the sacrificial fire (havan) on this day never go in vain”. Hence the day got its importance. Since ages it is believed that things, deeds and rituals performed or done on this day is permanent. Thus the day is considered auspicious to start new ventures, business, purchases, investments etc 4- Deeds such as recitations (Japa), penance (Tapa), donations (Dana) ritual bathing (Snaana), sacrifices (Havan), burnt oblations to fire (Hooma) are performed during this day. 5-"There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the 3 things we crave most in life - happiness, freedom, and peace of mind that are attained by giving them to someone else" 6-"The hand that gives is the hand that gathers" is a timeless truth. Universe is a mysterious place and has its own secret laws. One of the important secrets to manifesting material success is first to give with a clean heart. Those who have made it really big, clearly understand this power of giving with a pure heart. This act according to our elders brings back the money manifold.... not that you expect it. You can practice this ancient science of giving to get supreme benefits on the sacred "Akshaya Trtiya" ... 7-Akshaya Trtiya" or "Day of Gold". No, this doesn't mean gold buying day. This day is the 3rd moon that falls during Mid-April and Mid May every year, is considered to be the single most powerful day for charities. This is also a day when the Sun and the Moon are at their most lustrous state, that is considered most auspicious for any charity and benevolent acts. 8-Bless the money or material that you are going to give away today and you could see that it multiplies many times over. "Feeding a starved human being and helping the poor with needed items are keys to receive material and spiritual blessings". If you have been planning on giving, this day is the day. It is said that when the Lord wanted to create this world, the first word He uttered was Akshaya which means unlimited. 9-Mythologically speaking, Kubera, the treasurer in Heaven received his wealth on this day from Shiva. It is on this day Lord Siva blessed Goddess Lakshmi with wealth. In fact Lord Shiva made Kubera as Lord of wealth and Lakshmi as Goddess of wealth. Kubera worshiped Lord Shiva in the temple at Shivapuram. Buried underneath the land surrounding the temple are thousands of Shivalingams. Just by stepping on the ground here, or by worshiping here, your bad money karma will be dissolved, they say. 10- Also on this day Avatars (Gods incarnation on the earth plane) were blessed to rule their countries. They received wealth on this day. Two people were born on this 3rd moon. One is Parasurama, the warrior Brahmin who destroyed all his enemies and then became a sage. The second one was Annapurani, a special form of Parvati who feeds the hungry. Annapurani fed Shiva on this day. Shiva disguised himself as a beggar (for Bikshaatana) and approached Annapurani for food. Shiva’s begging is a symbolic act. He is the lord of the Universe. Why should he beg? The answer is he begs for all his beggars (the impoverished lots, like us!!). 11-Also as per another legend connected with Arasar Koil, Lord Ganesha seems to have gifted the Akshaya bowl (divine vessel of inexhaustible food) to Garuda (the Vehicle of lord Vishnu). Garuda worshiped Lakshmi who happens to reside in this temple and Goddess Lakshmi offered this Akshaya bowl in gold to Garuda. Garuda while worshiping Lord Surya Narayana (the Sun God) offered food to the deity in this golden Akshaya bowl. All the above incidences happened in Arasar Koil temple only in the previous Yugas, mind you. In this temple, Lord Ganesha is in front of Goddess Mahalakshmi' s Sanctum and is known as Akshaya Vinayakar. He is also known as Sri Lakshmi Ganapathy. Since it was Lord Shiva who on this day bestowed Kubera as the Lord and Lakshmi as the Goddess of wealth, worshiping Lord Shiva on this day and chanting the mantra, “Om Namah Shivaaya” will bring in abundance and prosperity in one’s life. ". 12-Feeding the poor is the most important charitable act. Also donation of umbrellas and chapels (sandals) for poor children are recommended by some. Poojas and charity acts will yield good results on this special 3rd moon day, a day for charity. 13-Buying of Gold and Jewellery items is certainly not listed in the Vedic scripts. These are all the ploy and gimmicks made by the vested interests to hard-sell their product to the gullible in the name of religious faith. Sadly purity, piety & all good have been commercialized. Sure, the industry related advertisements are making the general public crazy for buying. The only auspicious day to buy gold ornaments stated to be of 14-Guru-Pushya day i.e. when Pushya nakshatra falls on any Thursday in any month. And certainly not on Akshaya Thrutheeyai day. To do perform sort of Pooja and prayer and feeding the poor were the most important on this day than accumulating gold wealth, which is certainly not the agenda for this Akshaya Thrutheeyai. I5- The list below the deeds and benefits as per the age old practice of doing charity on the Akshaya Thrutheeyai day:------ 15-1-If you do charity, you will conquer the pain of death. 15-2-If you help the poor and down-trodden, you will be blessed in your next birth. 15-3-If you give clothes to poor people, you will get over diseases. 15-3-If you give fruits, you will get higher position in life. If you give butter milk, buttermilk, etc, you will progress in studies. 15-4-If you give grains, you will not die untimely. 15-5-If you perform " Deva tharpaNam", you will get rid of poverty. 15-6-If you give curd rice, you will get over your negative deeds and you will progress in life.

NOTE;- 1-Nowadays, in all over India there are scores of advertisements declaring that buying of Gold on this day would make you rich. And there is a mad rush for buying Gold on this day, that I find everywhere. This is practically a meaningless act as persons have to spend from their own pocket to buy this gold. And this would surely make the shop owners richer than the buyers!! Instead, if they gift some valuables to the needy poor then it would be of immense value added to their life.

2-By spending heavily on this day, on the contrary, this may weaken your purse and making the gold idle for no act of circulation, thus Goddess Lakshmi might even move out of your home. So act wisely, don't get bullied by the false advertisements that are surely contrary to the Vedic principles. Do care for the poor and needy, the result you will get in multiple ways of happiness. Akshaya, the ever lasting bowel may be with you for ever.

.....SHIVOHAM..