IMPORTANCE OF AKSHAYA TRITIYA (AKHA TEEJ)
Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej is a Hindu and Jain holy day, that falls on the third Tithi (Lunar day) of Bright Half (Shukla
Paksha) of the pan-Indian month of Vaishakha.
Jainism is one of the oldest known religions of world. Rishabhadeva
alias Adinath is the first Tirthankara of the Jain.
The Day of Akshay Tratiya is worshipped and said auspicious in Jainism because
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Tirthankara Rshabhdeva was king of Ayodhya. He being enlightened gave up
all worldly pleasures and chose to lead the life of an ascetic and become a
Jain monk. Jain monks do not own anything. They do not even cook food for
themselves. While hungry or thirsty, they go to people and ask for food or
drinking water. Tirthankara Rshabhdeva also went to people and asked food.
However, the people of that time did not know anything about the acts of monks,
as he was the first monk in this era. People of Ayodhya offered gold,
jewellery, gemstones, elephants, horses, expensive garments and even their
daughters to honour their beloved king. Rshabhdeva was not in quest of all
these. He wanted only a morsel of food, but nobody it to offered him. Nobody
understood that their king was asking for food. As there was no choice, he had
to fast for a long time until his grand son Shreyansha kumara understood his
need. Shreyansha Kumara, finally, offered him sugarcane juice and Rshabhdeva
ended his fast after a year. This was on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. This is
considered by the Jains as one of the best offerings. It is believed that
bestowing upon religious gifts on Akshaya Tritiya becomes inexhaustible. Jains,
even today, observe fast to commemorate their first Tirthankara Rshabhadeva and
end their fast on Akshaya Tritiya with sugarcane juice.
As per Hindus, this day is ruled by god Vishnu,
the preserver-god in the Hindu Trinity.
It is also traditionally celebrated as the birthday of the Hindu sage Parashurama, the sixth Avatar (incarnation) of the god Vishnu.
According to Hindu mythology, on this day the Treta Yuga began
and the river Ganges,
the most sacred river of India, descended to the earth from the heaven.
The word "Akshaya" means the
never diminishing in Sanskrit and the day is believed to bring good
luck and success. It is believed that if you do charity on this day you will be
blessed. Nowadays jewellers have turned the purity into a marketing gimmick.
The day is considered auspicious for starting new ventures. The legend is that
any venture initiated on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya continues to
grow and bring prosperity. Hence, new ventures, like starting a business,
construction etc. is initiated on Akshaya Tritiya.
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