Akshaya Tritiya is the auspicious Day of immense blessings. Akshaya means never-diminishing, and Tritiya is the 3rd lunar Day. People celebrate this Day that can bestow Divine blessings for unending wealth and prosperity, on the third lunar Day of the waxing phase of the Moon, during Vishaka month (April-May). Devotees undertake Divine worship on this occasion and perform many sacred rituals.
As Akshaya Tritiya is principally about affluence and plenty, the Goddess of Wealth Lakshmi worship takes prominence on the occasion when people perform Akshaya Tritiya Puja to Lakshmi and other divinities.
Akshaya Tritiya, which Hindus and Jains celebrate mainly in India and Nepal, falls on May 10, 2024, this Year.
Akshaya Tritiya Rituals
1. Surya, the Sun God, means a lot for Akshaya Tritiya, as it was he who gifted Akshaya Patra, the incredible vessel with the power to bestow never-diminishing food, on that Day to the virtuous Pandavas. Hence, worshiping Surya, the mighty king of the planets, assumes much significance on that occasion. People can offer water to the Sun God at sunrise and chant or listen to the powerful Aditya Hrudayam Stotram, reciting which Rama himself could achieve victory over Ravana. Revering the Sun on Akshaya Tritiya can help people triumph against opposition and succeed in their endeavors.
2. If one ritual or activity is considered highly efficacious on Akshaya Tritiya, it can only be doing charity. Sudama offered the humble rice flakes to Krishna, who greatly valued his affection and filled Sudama’s life with wealth and prosperity. As this happened on Akshaya Tritiya, it is believed that donating food, money, other utility items, or money to the deserving on that auspicious Day will earn generous Divine grace.
3. Akshaya Tritiya is the Day of never-ending wealth blessings. Hence, people generally dedicate the worship of that special Day principally to Wealth Goddess Lakshmi. Also, as it was only on Akshaya Tritiya that Saint Adi Shankara composed the powerful Kanakadhara Stotram, which moved Goddess Lakshmi intensely and made her shower her blessings as gold to wipe out the poverty of a kind-hearted poor lady, people chant Kanakadhara Stotram on that Day to propitiate Lakshmi.
4. There is also a practice among some devotees to record all their prayers and wishes on a piece of paper, place it on the altar at the feet of Lakshmi’s picture or image, light a traditional oil lamp, chant the Mantra ‘Om Mahalakshmaye Namah’ 3 times and prostrate or bow to her towards the South East direction. They firmly believe that the Goddess will fulfill their sincere wishes on Akshaya Tritiya without fail.
5. Gauri is the Goddess of Tritiya thithi, the 3rd lunar Day. As it is a highly Sacred Tritiya, devotees can worship Gauri, chanting her potent Mantra ‘Sarva Mangala Maangalye, Shive Sarvaartha Saadhike, Sharanye Tryambake Gauri, Naaraayani Namostute.’
6. People can also light a lamp at sunset, revering the divinity around them. They can also chant the hymn, ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya,’ preferably 108 times, and honor Chandra, the Moon God.
7. Akshaya Tritiya remains highly auspicious for making new beginnings, starting fresh ventures and projects, and performing auspicious events at home and in the family. According to beliefs, anything done on this special Day will grow and prosper. So, people can also use Akshaya Tritiya to say goodbye to their bad habits and shortcomings and make a new beginning in their lives with hope and confidence for a promising future.
People can complete the Day’s rituals and worship with Akshaya Tritiya Puja, seeking Divine grace for all-around welfare.
Akshaya Tritiya Puja
Vedic Astrology also attaches much significance to Akshaya Tritiya. It is the occasion when both luminaries, the Sun and the Moon, remain exalted in the signs Aries and Taurus, respectively. Further, the Day is believed to be free of any malefic planetary effects. Tradition considers the Day auspicious throughout when people can undertake all activities of significance, as the occasion holds much promise for their fructification and favorable results. Any good deed like charity that people do on this Day can also bestow many blessings.
People also meditate on the Divine, chant Mantras, perform Homas (fire rituals), Tarpan (ancestral worship), and worship like Akshaya Tritiya Puja on Akshaya Tritiya and make donations to the deserving for multifold Divine blessings for wealth and well-being.
