Akshya
Tritiya
The day is significant to Hindu and Jain followers
because it is the day, that
falls on the third tithi of the brighter half (waxing lunar phase) in the Hindu
sanatan lunar month at the end of April (baishak). In Sanskrit, the word ‘Akshaya’ means eternal. So it is believed that
any fasts, donations to the poor, and prayers will yield wonders this day and
may endow believers with unlimited prosperity.
Lord Parsurama was
born. Parsurama is considered the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Parsurama
was the son of Jamadagni and Renuka. Lord Shiva and Parvati had married on this
day. The day Akshaya Tritiya means nothing will be lost. Buying
gold on Akshaya Tritiya is considered a sign of good fortune and an invitation
to prosperity into the household. The day is also known as a donation day. Anything
donated on the day will result in a good omen. Devotees get up, early in the morning and get
dressed in fresh yellow clothing. In Hinduism, yellow is considered auspicious.
Then they bathe the idol of Bishnu in the holy water of the Ganges harahara and
offer a garland of tulsi leaves and fresh flowers. Sometimes the Bishnu
Sahasranama mantra or the Bishnu Chalisa mantra is also recited.
On the day, barley flour is toasted to make
‘satu’ and ‘sarbat’ is made by adding molasses, sugar, black pepper
crushed, sugar candy and clarified butter.
Donating satu and sarbat to others is believed to
help in gaining a fruit that is never finished. All the guests in the house are
fed satu and sarbat on the day. Such gesture is believed to make Lord Vishnu
happy. Scientifically,
the traditions to eat satu and sarbat also have positive benefit to human. Sugarcane
sarbat and barley flour are believed to help body in coping with the heat.
