Akshaya Tritiya: The Day of Unending Merit.

Akshaya Tritiya – 29^th April: The Day of Unending Merit.

Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej, is a profoundly auspicious and holy day for Hindu communities worldwide, celebrated on the third day of the bright half (Shukla Paksha Tritiya) of the Vaishakha month (April–May).

In Trinidad, Akshaya Tritiya will be observed on Tuesday 29^th April, 2025. Whilst offerings can be done at any time during the day, the most auspicious muhurat (timing) is from 08:01 AM to 12:03 PM, lasting 4 hours and 2 minutes.

The term Akshaya means “never diminishing” or “eternal,” signifying that actions performed on this day - be it charity, puja, havan, or new beginnings - yield everlasting merit.

This day is believed to bring good luck and success, with its spiritual potency amplified when it coincides with Rohini or Krittika Nakshatra and a Wednesday, as noted in Vedic astrology (Vishnudharmottara Puran).

For every Hindu, Akshaya Tritiya is a vibrant opportunity to connect with divine blessings, honour ancestors, and sow seeds for prosperity. Let us explore its significance, stories, and practices, rooted in scripture and tradition.

Scriptural Roots.

Akshaya Tritiya’s sanctity is deeply rooted in Hindu texts. The Skanda Puran (Vaishakha Mahatmya) declares, “Whoever performs acts of merit on the third day of the bright half of Vaishakha attains great virtue.” This underscores the day’s power to amplify punya (spiritual merit), with benefits that never diminish.

The Vishnudharmottara Puran emphasizes that fasting on Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, particularly with Krittika Nakshatra, yields inexhaustible virtue (akshaya punya). The Vishnu Puran and Padma Puran highlight Daana (charity) during Vaishakha as especially fruitful, promising imperishable rewards.

The Mahabharat (Vana Parva, 3.12–15) narrates a key event tied to this day: Lord Krishna gifted Draupadi the Akshaya Patra, an inexhaustible vessel that ensured the Pandavas never went hungry during their exile, embodying the festival’s theme of abundance.

Tradition associates Akshaya Tritiya with the birth of Lord Parashuram, Vishnu’s sixth incarnation, celebrated as Parashuram Jayanti, though this may fall a day earlier depending on the Tritiya Tithi timing (Bhavishya Puran).

Some traditions also link the day to the incarnations of Nara-Narayan and Hayagriva, and to Sage Ved Vyasa beginning to dictate the Mahabharat to Lord Ganesh, marking a dawn of sacred knowledge.

Mythologically, Akshaya Tritiya is believed to mark the beginning of the Treta Yuga, an era of righteousness (Bhavishya Puran).

Sacred Stories.

Akshaya Tritiya is woven with inspiring tales that resonate with every Hindu:

1. The Vaishya (Merchant) Mahoday (Bhavishya Puran): Lord Krishna narrated to Yudhishthira the story of Mahoday, a truthful Vaishya who learned of Akshaya Tritiya’s greatness from sages. Inspired, he performed Tarpan with Ganga water and donated water pitchers, barley, curd-rice, and milk products to Brahmins. Despite his wife’s objections, Mahoday’s selfless charity led to his rebirth as a wealthy Kshatriya (King) in Kushawapuri, where he continued his generosity with yajnas, go daan (cow donations), and aid to the poor. His inexhaustible wealth and salvation were the fruits of observing Akshaya Tritiya, illustrating the eternal rewards of selfless acts.
2. Krishna and Sudama (Bhagavat Puran, Book 10, Chapters 80–81): Sudama, a poor Brahmin, visited Lord Krishna on this day with a humble offering of beaten rice. Krishna’s loving acceptance transformed Sudama’s modest hut into a palace, showcasing how sincere devotion on Akshaya Tritiya yields boundless rewards.
3. Pandavas and the Akshaya Patra (Mahabharat, Vana Parva, 3.12–15): During their exile, the Pandavas faced hunger. On Akshaya Tritiya, Krishna blessed Draupadi with the Akshaya Patra, ensuring endless food. This story highlights the day’s connection to divine provision.
4. Kubera’s Wealth: Tradition holds that Kubera worshipped Goddess Lakshmi on this day, receiving her blessings and becoming the “Lord of Wealth.” This tale encourages devotees to seek prosperity through devotion.

Practices for Every Hindu.

Akshaya Tritiya offers simple yet profound rituals that anyone can perform, enhanced by its astrological auspiciousness:

1. Charity (Daan):
• Offer water-filled pots, umbrellas, sandals, buttermilk, or food grains like barley, wheat, gram, curd-rice and seasonal fruits. The Garuda Puran (Preta Khanda, Chapter 10, verses ~20–30; Chapter 8, verses ~15–25) notes that such acts in Vaishakha relieve pitra dosha (ancestral faults) and yield inexhaustible merit, remaining with the giver forever.
• Charity benefits both the giver and their ancestors, ensuring lasting blessings.
2. Worship:
• Perform Lakshmi Narayan puja with devotion, as prescribed in the Vratraj, worshipping Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi together using flowers, incense, aarti, sandalwood paste, hardi and sindhoor to invoke prosperity. This should ideally be done during the muhurat (e.g., 08:01 AM to 12:03 PM on April 29, 2025, in Trinidad). In some traditions, Lord Shiva is also worshipped, especially with Udakumbha Daan, to attain Shiva Lok (Bhavishya Puran).
• Chant the Vishnu Sahasranam (1000 names of Vishnu) or read passages from the Bhagavad Gita or Mahabharat.
• Offer Pitru Tarpan with Ganga water or other sacred water to honour ancestors, strengthening familial bonds across generations.
3. Havan (Fire Ritual):
• Conduct a havan, a sacred fire ritual, to invoke divine blessings. The Vishnudharmottara Puran recommends havan with sattu (roasted gram flour) and akshata (unbroken rice) for akshaya punya. Offerings like ghee, barley, and sandalwood into the consecrated fire purify the environment and amplify the day’s auspiciousness.
4. Jaap:
• Engage in Jaap (mantra recitation) of Vishnu or Lakshmi mantras, such as “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” or “Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah.” The benefits of these practices on Akshaya Tritiya are eternal, as per Vedic tradition.
5. Buying Gold and Starting Ventures:
• Purchasing gold or silver is a popular tradition, believed to grow manifold under Lakshmi’s blessings, as gold bought on this day is thought to never diminish in value. This aligns with the festival’s theme of eternal prosperity.
• As one of three lunar days (alongside Yugadi (The Hindu New Year) and Vijay Dashami) free from malefic effects per Hindu Electional Astrology, Akshaya Tritiya is a siddha muhurat (naturally auspicious), ideal for starting businesses, marriages, investments, or education without needing an astrologer.
6. Regional Traditions:
• In North India, women fast, perform go-puja (cow worship), or plant Tulsi for family prosperity. The Badrinath temple in Uttarakhand opens on this day.
• In Maharashtra, Parashuram Jayanti is marked with Vishnu worship, while Gujaratis launch businesses.
• South Indians visit temples, chant, and buy gold, honouring Lakshmi.
• In Odisha, Lord Jagannath’s Chandan Yatra begins, and farmers sow paddy symbolically (Akhi Muthi Anukula).

Why It Matters.

Akshaya Tritiya is more than a day for gold or new beginnings - it is a spiritual gateway to align with dharma. The Bhavishya Puran and Vishnudharmottara Puran teach that actions on this day are imperishable, echoing the festival’s core: what you sow today flourishes forever. Vedic astrologers highlight its freedom from malefic effects, making it a perfect moment for auspicious acts. Whether through charity, prayer, or a new venture, every Hindu can harness this day’s eternal potential.

Conclusion.

Akshaya Tritiya, marking the dawn of the Treta Yuga and ruled by Lord Vishnu, invites us to act with devotion and purpose. As the Skanda Puran reminds us, the third day of Vaishakha’s bright half is a portal to great virtue. Light a deeya, offer a grain, perform a havan, or take a bold step forward. On this sacred day, your actions ripple into eternity.