Akshaya Tritiya, variously spelt as Akshya Thiritiya, Akshaya Trutheeya, Akshaya Tritiiya and also called Akshaya Trithi, falling on the third day of the bright half of the lunar month of Vaisakha of the traditional Hindu calendar, is one of the four most auspicious days of the year for Hindus. The word Akshaya, a Sanskrit word, literally means one that never diminishes, and the day is believed to bring good luck and success. It is widely celebrated in all parts of India by different sections of the society irrespective of their religious faith and social grouping. The day is particularly considered auspicious for buying long term assets like gold and silver, including ornaments made of the same; diamond and other precious stones; and the real estate. The legend states that any venture initiated on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya shall continue to grow and bring prosperity. Hence, it is normal to see many of the new ventures, like starting a business, ground breaking for construction etc on the Akshaya Tritiya Day.
With the mass media and marketing, this day has been taken over by marketeers to promote sales and bookings for Gold jewellery, houses, consumer electronics.
The day is also traditionally celebrated as the birth day of the Hindu sage Parashurama, the sixth avatar (incarnation) of the God Vishnu.
Why Akshaya Tritiya ?
The word "Akshaya" has a ray of concocted informations right from the day of Mahabharata, one of the greates epic of India.The pandavas had akshaya patra ( where food came in abundance) when they they were in forest(vanvasa). The word "Akshaya" is also mentioned in "Silapathikaram" which is one of the greatest kappiya of Tamil literature.
It is well known that Indians believe passionately in the theory of muhurts or auspicious times to perform sacraments, to make major purchases or to begin new ventures. Inspite of modern technology and changing lifeviews, this dedication to auspicious time is a prominent feature of Indian life. Akshaya Tritiya, the third day of the bright half of Vaishakh, is considered one of the four most sacred days of the vear.
The word Akshaya means that which never diminishes - hence beginnings made or valuables bought on this day are considered certain to bring luck and success. All over India people celebrate weddings, plan new business ventures, long journeys and other events on this day. Like Diwali, Dussera and Gudi Padva. Akshava Tritiva is reserved for buying gold, silver and other assets. On this day jewellers keep their shops open well into twilight time to entertain their buyers. Akshaya Tritiya or Akha TeeJ is traditionally the birthday of Parshurama, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu. The Puranas tell how he reclaimed land from the sea along the west coast of India by his valour. Even today Goa and the Konkan are called Parshurama Kshetra. He then settled 96 selected families there, called Shahanavkuli Brahmins, who are said to have created the cultural heritage of this nart of India. In India gold is regarded as the ultimate symbol of wealth and prosperity. Buying gold and jewellery is a popular activity on Akshaya Tritiya, one of the most auspicious days of the year.
Akshaya tritiya falls on the third lunar day from Amavayasya(new moon) which occurs during the suklapaksha month of vaishaka.The special fasts and feasts of the vaisaka month begins with Akshaya Tritiya.
The reason for this day to be auspicious is the position of Sun and Moon on that particular day.Every year, Akshaya tritiya falls between April 14th and May 14th.During the period, Sun will be in Aries which is in exalted position and Moon in Taurus which is also in exalted position.
As the Sun, the lord of the planets and the Moon the lord of creativity(sense) are exalted,the day is considered to be an auspicious day in India.If the tritiya day falls on a wednesday or Friday when moon is in Rohini or 4th constellation, the day becomes specially sacred.This year Akshaya Tritiya falls on 20th April 2007 on Friday.
It is said that on this day, the Treta yuga had its beginning and the great sage Parasuram, the sixth incarnation of Maha Vishnu was born.
All married women and unmarried girls take part in the pujas and homas.Lakshmi kunera homa is one of the auspicious homa performed on Akshaya Tritiya day.
On the day people throng jewellery shops for purchase under the notion that they would be bestowed with with all the benefits of material plane.As gold is considered very auspicious and safest investment, people in India buy gold on akshaya tritiya.
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