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Akshaya Thrithiya
The Roots of War
 The word 'thidhi'
(lunar day) also means 'Thiruvavinan thirunal'.
The auspicious days that we worship God are called 'thidhis' and the most
auspicious of them is the third day of the lunar fortnight, which is called 'thritiya'.
This 'thrithiya' is also
celebrated by women by worshipping Goddess
Lakshmi. According to the sastras,
it is said Goddess
Parvati and the Siddhas
move about in the universe on this particular day. It is also believed that if
one sprinkles manure and worships
the Moon on this day, they will be blessed with the groom of their choice.
Thidhi bestowing prosperity
 'Atchayam'
means growing without reducing or waning. Like the divine vessel 'Akshaya
pathiram' with undiminishing food, one celebrates this day which bestows
prosperity as 'Akshaya Thirthiya'.
Like the Pournami,
Amavasya,
Chathurthi, Ekadasi,
Ashtami thidhis, we celebrate the third day of the growing phase of the moon
as Akshaya Thrithiya. There are many instances which reveal the greatness of
this day in the Puranas.
Kushapathy Chakravarthy
 During
the ancient times, a poor merchant was struggling to make both ends meet. He
found it difficult to afford even one square meal a day, but he was intensely
religious. The elders who noticed his devotion explained to him about the
greatness of Akshaya Thrithiya. The poverty-stricken merchant decided to follow
their advice.
On
an Akshaya Thrithiya day, he woke up at dawn, bathed and offered cooked rice,
water, wheat, flour of other grains, sugarcane juice, milk and coins
to poor Brahmins. He followed all the necessary austerities as advised by the
elders in spite of his wife's disapproval. Due to his sincere efforts, he was
born as Kushapathy Chakravarthy in his next birth, say the Puranas.
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There are other
instances which prove the greatness of Akshaya Thrithiya: |
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The second yuga,
known as 'Thretha Yuga' began only on an Akshaya Thrithiya day.
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Lord
Krishna bestowed bounteous wealth on his poor friend Kuchela when
he came to see him with a handful of puffed rice on an Akshaya
Thrithiya day.
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There are certain
rituals to be followed on Akshaya Thrithiya day. One should
observe thrithiya thidhi at dawn and particularly between 1.12 p.m.
and 3.30 p.m. This year, this falls on April 22 (in the month of
Chithirai on the 10th day).
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Doing 'dhaanam'
(donations or gifts) and performing libations to the departed manes
are considered fruitful. During the particular time, i.e., between
1.12-3.36 p.m., one should take oil bath and perform libations.
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One can worship Goddess
Lakshmi and Lord
Vishnu and the virtuous deeds done on this day will result in
prosperity manifold.
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It is good to gift
clothes and fruits on this day. For good education, one can offer
buttermilk and to avoid premature death, one can offer grains like
wheat, etc.
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Parents who wish
for a good daughter-in-law or a man wishing for a wife his heart
desires, can see the girl in a temple or celebrate the engagement
ceremony in a temple,
which will yield fruitful result.
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It is believed that
if a person purchases
a small amount of gold (at least 1 gm), wears it at an
auspicious time after keeping it in the pooja room, will accumulate
more round the year. Wealth will increase in homes where rupees and
coins are kept for pooja and worshipped as Goddess
Lakshmi.
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