28th April, 2017
The first important festival in the month of Vaishakh is Akshayya Tritiya, which is considered as one of three and half (sade teen) muhurtas, others being Gudhipadava (1), Vijayadashami (1) and Balipratipada (1/2).
Akshayya Tritiya is the last day of the haldi-kimkum functions which are held during the month of Chaitra. It is believed that the effect of any good deed or charity done on this day is akshayya i.e. imperishable or everlasting.
According to a legend, there was a town called Shakal where a merchant named Dharma lived. He was a loyal and truthful person. He regularly performed the worship of Gods and Brahmans. One day a Brahman narrated to him the significance of Akshayya Tritiya. He therefore went to the river to bath and perform the worship of his ancestors and deities. After returning home, he gave to Brahmans water-filled pots and gifts. He continued this practice every year. After some years he died while chanting the name of God.
In view of his virtuous living in the previous birth, he was blessed with kingship in his next birth. Here also he continued to live a life of virtue and generosity. His treasury never became empty even when he kept on gifting away his wealth to the needy. This is because he had performed charity on the Akshayya Tritiya day.
It is believed that on this day our forefathers visit our abodes for drinking water. Therefore, it is customary to gift water-filled pots to Brahmans on this day which is also called a Shraddha Diwas. The farmers being their farming work on this auspicious day by rooting out shrubs and weeds from their land.
The first important festival in the month of Vaishakh is Akshayya Tritiya, which is considered as one of three and half (sade teen) muhurtas, others being Gudhipadava (1), Vijayadashami (1) and Balipratipada (1/2).
Akshayya Tritiya is the last day of the haldi-kimkum functions which are held during the month of Chaitra. It is believed that the effect of any good deed or charity done on this day is akshayya i.e. imperishable or everlasting.
According to a legend, there was a town called Shakal where a merchant named Dharma lived. He was a loyal and truthful person. He regularly performed the worship of Gods and Brahmans. One day a Brahman narrated to him the significance of Akshayya Tritiya. He therefore went to the river to bath and perform the worship of his ancestors and deities. After returning home, he gave to Brahmans water-filled pots and gifts. He continued this practice every year. After some years he died while chanting the name of God.
In view of his virtuous living in the previous birth, he was blessed with kingship in his next birth. Here also he continued to live a life of virtue and generosity. His treasury never became empty even when he kept on gifting away his wealth to the needy. This is because he had performed charity on the Akshayya Tritiya day.
It is believed that on this day our forefathers visit our abodes for drinking water. Therefore, it is customary to gift water-filled pots to Brahmans on this day which is also called a Shraddha Diwas. The farmers being their farming work on this auspicious day by rooting out shrubs and weeds from their land.
