Akshaya Tritiya, an auspicious Hindu and Jain festival, symbolizes abundance, purity, and blessings. Celebrated with rituals like daana (donation), pooja, and sacred baths, it is linked to legendary tales of Krishna, Draupadi, Parashuram, and Rishabhanath. Read this blog to explore the lesser-known legends of this ancient Indian festival dedicated to gods, sages, and ancestors.
Akshaya Tritiya- the third tithi (lunar day) of the Shukla Paksha in Vaishakha maah is celebrated in Hindu and Jain tradition in the months of March-April. Some refer to it as a spring festival, however, in the legends and rituals associated with this festival, the day is supremely auspicious and sacred.
People consider this a day ideal for buying rice as a sign of abundance, depositing money in the bank, and performing Daana- donation to temples and individuals. It is believed that the Punya (fruit of good karma) collected on this day never vanishes (akshaya means that which never reduces), and all sins are washed if one performs the rituals of Akshaya Tritiya with a good intention.
The Puranas, which are the treasure chest for stories of all Hindu vrata (fasts and observances), have many legends connected to the festival of Akshaya Tritiya. Let us look at these stories of Akshaya Tritiya, which makes it one of the most sacred days in the Hindu Panchang-
Akshaya Paatra- the pot that never stops giving is mentioned in the Mahabharata and Puranas. During their time living in the forest, the Pandavas and Draupadi were bestowed upon this powerful vessel on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. They used its powers to feed anyone who came to their humble home, earning them the Punya of sharing food, which is considered a “Maha-Daana” in Indian traditions.
This legend is one of the most popular stories of Akshaya Tritiya that focuses on the value of treating guests and people to the best of one’s ability, the idea of feeding others, and how God helps those with unending resources who are willing to share them with the world.
According to certain texts, Parashuram, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu, was born on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. Both festivals usually coincide or fall on simultaneous days and are celebrated with similar rituals such as Daana and Snan.
On the day of Akshaya tritiya, Rishi Vyasa started narrating the story of Mahabharata to Sri Ganesha, who wrote down the entire grand epic using his broken tusk. This story deepens the idea of Akshaya Tritya as the day when new things are started, intending to fulfill and achieve the greatest success in them.
According to legends of the river Ganga and the tradition of Ganga-snan, Akshaya Tritiya was when the sacred river came on earth. To celebrate her arrival, every year on the day of Akshaya Tritiya, people take a dip in the Ganga to wash away their sins and pray for Moksha.
The story of Sudama and Krishnana is well-known among Indians; however, very few know that it is connected to the festival of Akshaya Tritiya. Sudama visited his friend Dwarakadheesha Krishna with a handful of rice tied in a rag bag. When he reluctantly gave Krishna the dirty cloth bag in which the rice was kept, Krishna happily ate the last piece and welcomed his friend with all the comforts that his palace had.
Sudama, however, could not ask for his help out of shyness and came back empty-handed. Or so he thought. Upon reaching his home, which was earlier a broken hut, Sudama saw a lavish palace standing, his family adorned with jewels and all possible comforts waiting for him. For a handful of rice, Krishna had given him the world.
Once again, this story of Akshaya Tritya underlines the value of giving with a good heart. When we share whatever we can with our loved ones, the world, or god, that handful of rice means more than pots of gold. The story of Sudama and Krishna and Akshaya Tritiya is a reminder of the power of Daana (donation), a key element of Indian devotional traditions.
Kubera, the Hindu god of wealth, is often connected with the festival of Diwali and Dhanteras. However, he is also worshipped by many on the occasion of Akshaya Tritya. According to Puranas, Kubera was crowned the king of Yakshas in Alkapuri, the capital city, and was handed over the charge of worldly riches on this very day.
This story of Kubera could also be the origin of the tradition of buying gold or new things on the day of Akshaya Tritiya, along with worship of Lakshmi-Kubera and renewal of account books by businessmen, for achieving the blessings for an unending supply of wealth all year round.
Maa Annapurna, a form of the Hindu goddess Parvati, came down to earth on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. The story begins with Parvati’s disappearance from Kailash and the world, leading to the disappearance of food, which caused a disaster as the world entered a state of imbalance.
In the middle of this, Kashi became popular as a place where Parvati was living as Annapurna, running a kitchen where everyone was being fed. Her home became the source of sustenance for the entire world, and in this manner, the importance of food was realized by gods, sages, and humans, all of whom, including Shiva, stood with open hands, begging the goddess for food.
Akshaya Tritiya is the day when the goddess descended on the earth from Kailash, in her sacred abode in Kashi, where the goddess is worshipped. The unstopped flow of food, is integral to the maintenance of society and culture, which is why Annapurna is revered and connected to this festival of unending abundance.
Kanakadhara stotra is a powerful hymn that literally means a stream of gold, used in the worship of Adi Shakti, Lakshmi. Adi guru Shankaracharya authored the stotra and is interestingly related to the festival of Akshaya Tritiya through this hymn. Once, when he was journeying through a village during his long travels, he reached the door of an extremely poor woman.
Seeing the ascetic, she rushed inside her house and, after much searching, found an Aamla (Indian gooseberry) and gave it to him as Daana (donation). Moved by her virtuous act, Shankaracharya recited the potent Kanakadhara (kanak-gold, dhara-stream) stotra, which is believed to bring unending wealth and abundance. Once again, we are reminded of the power of intent in Daana.
A rare story of Indra from the Skanda Purana tells us the value of this festival and why Akshaya tritiya is the all-powerful day on which all sins are washed. According to the Purana, Indra, after his victory over the asuras, came to earth. Here, in the hermitage of Brihaspati’s brother Utathya, he saw the latter’s pregnant wife and was enchanted by her.
Indra approached the pious woman with ill thoughts, and through his acts that followed, he was haunted by sins. In regret, Indra, along with his wife Shachi, vanished and hid in remote caves. Upon much search, Brihaspati and other gods found him.
Indra lamented his sins and was told by Devguru Brihaspati about the sacred Vaishakha month, especially the tritiya known as “Akshaya Tritiya”. Brihaspati told Indra that taking a bath on this day, performing rituals, and donating to those in need and ascetics would wash away all the sins.
This day of Tritiya is the favorite of Madhava (Vishnu); thus, those who worship Vishnu and listen to the legend of Akshaya Tritiya go to heaven. Daana, yagya, and offerings of water on Akshaya Tritiya go to gods, pitra (ancestors), and sages; thus, Akshaya Tritiya is the most auspicious day.
The punya (fruits of good deeds) collected by actions done on this day- the riches, abundance, courage and glory that come to a person- never go away. Following the directions of Devguru, Purandara (Indra) performed all the rituals, and “because of the power of Tritiya, Indra became sinless and entered Amaravati (his heavenly city)”.
While Akshaya Tritiya, when mentioned, is usually connected to Hindu festivals, it is one of the most important days in Jain tradition. The ancient texts that hold authority in Jainism narrate the story of Bhagwan Rishabhanath, which is the central legend for how and why Jains celebrate Akshaya Tritiya. On this day, the Tirthankara ended his 400-day (Svetambara) or 6-month (Digambara) long fast after consuming sugarcane juice.
During his fast, he traveled to many cities but could not find any food that was “faultless” and fit for being consumed by him. One day, he reached Hastinapur, where King Shreyansh reigned. The king welcomed Rishabhanath with Pradakshina (circumambulation). He came to know about the fast that remained unbroken for so long.
Through the Jati Smaran Gyan (knowledge of previous birth), he knew about the power of donating (Daana), especially giving food to monks. In his previous life, Shreyansh was the wife of Chakaravarti Vajranabha (a previous incarnation of Bhagwan Rishabhanath). The king remembered the precise manner of choosing, preparing, and serving “faultless” food.
He ordered his people to get pots of sugarcane juice that were not prepared for the Tirthankara. Pleased with the knowledge of Shreyansh and finding the ideal food, Rishabhanath finally broke his fast. With cupped hands (kara-paatra-labdhi, the Tirthanakara is believed to have the ability to use his hands as a dish without wasting a single drop), he received the juice.
It is this episode that is celebrated by the Jains during Akshaya Tritiya. Practitioners who have performed fasting for a whole year- Varshitap- break their fast by consuming sugarcane juice. Parallel to the ideal of Daana, narrated in many stories of the Hindu Puranas, is this legend of Rishabhnath and Shreyansh. The right way of donating by understanding the rules and limitations is underlined in this story, along with the right way of receiving- cupped hands that show willingness, joy, and modesty, even if the recipient is the great Rishabhanath.
Daana, yagya, snana and special pooja are common elements of Akshaya tritya worship. Besides donations and bathing in sacred rivers in various pilgrimage spots, there are several unique traditions related to this festival in India and Nepal.
The festival in Maharashtra is one of the Saadhe teen (three and a half) auspicious muhurat (time frames). People start new work on this day and perform Pooja with a traditional feast of Puran Poli and Amaras.
In this eastern state, people begin sowing rice (paddy), and Kharif season starts. This ritual of sowing paddy seeds is called “Akhi muthi anukula” (akhi- akshaya, muthi-fistful, anukula- inauguration). The earth, bullocks used in agriculture, and farming tools are worshipped on this day. It is also the day when the construction of Jaganath’s chariots or rathas starts.
It is also the beginning of Chandan or Gandhalepan yatra (gandha- scented paste, lepan- applying), which includes the idols of Jaganath, Balarama, and Subhadra, along with the Pancha-pandavas that reside in the temple. All these idols are taken out for a procession for a duration of 21 days, starting from Akshaya Tritiya.
The temple deity, who is always covered with sandalwood paste, is revealed and displayed in his Nija roppa darshana (in original form) on the day of Akshaya Tritiya.
The neighboring country has its own rituals of celebrating Akshaya Tritiya. On this day, the Hindus in Nepal perform Daana by giving specific food items, such as distributing sattu (chikpea powder) and sweet water, a tradition that they relate with the Krishna and Sudama story. Devotees visit the ancient temples of Shiva and Parvati, who are revered as the guardian divine parents of the valley. Young couples also get married on this day, with the desire of being eternally together due to the auspiciousness of the tithi.
So many stories around Akshaya Tritiya that one might ask- which one of these is the truth? All of them, is the answer. In Indian sacred traditions, it is not about the story and its characters, but about the virtues or moral of the story. In all the legends related to Akshaya Tritiya, two virtues are supreme- the idea of sharing through Daana and the desire for Moksha.
In the many rituals and lores, these two values are supreme. Daana to ensure that the sins of this life may be cleansed and the remaining earthly life may be a good one and Moksha to ensure that the soul finds liberation in the next world. In simple words, Akshaya Tritiya is a celebration of the essential principles of Indian tradition. It is a festival for goodness in this life and the next.
Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akki Teej, is considered to be the best day to commence something new. The festival is celebrated on the third day of the bright fortnight of the Vaishakh month of the Hindu Lunar Calendar.
Akshaya Tritiya is considered the holiest of the holiest days in Hinduism, and it is believed that Lord Brahma started creating the universe on this day. That is why the day is considered perfect for commencing important events such as new business ventures, starting wedding preparations, construction work, etc.
It is a common practice among Hindus to do Daana or charity by distributing rice, fruits, vegetables, ghee, salt, and clothes among the poor. Another common ritual is to sprinkle the holy tulsi water around their house and prepare a special bhog for Lord Vishnu. Many people also offer barley to the sacred fire on this day to bring prosperity. Snan (bathing in sacred rivers) and worship of the Ishta for lifelong boons are common practices. In agricultural regions, people worship Dharti (goddess earth) and farming tools for abundance.
There are several legends associated with the celebration of Akshaya Tritiya in the Hindu Scriptures. The most prominent of these is that Rishi Ved Vyasa started narrating the Hindu epic Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha on this day. It is also believed that it was on this day that the holy River Ganga descended on earth. According to another legend, the Pandavas were presented by Lord Krishna with the Akshaya Patra, a miraculous pot that produced unlimited food, on this day.
As a part of the celebration of the festival, people offer special prayers to various deities and take a dip in the holy rivers across the country. It is also common for people to observe a fast and eat only satvik food on this day. People also offer prayers to Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesh, and Devi Lakshmi.
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