Akshaya Tritiya - A Day for New Beginnings

Wishing you all a Happy Akshaya Tritiya Day.

Sri Radha Madhava - Mayapur Chandrodhaya Mandir

Akshaya means ‘that which does not diminish or perish’. Hence, Akshaya Tritiya is believed to bring never ending success and good luck. Every year, Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated on the 3rd day of bright half of lunar month of Vaisakha month of Hindu calendar. It is auspicious because Akshaya Tritiya day is devoted to Lord Vishnu. According to description in Puranas, performing Shri Maha Vishnu Pooja on Akshaya Tritiya removes sin and helps in attaining salvation. The Shri Maha Vishnu Puja can be simply performed with Tulsi leaves, flowers and rice grains and by reciting the names of Vishnu.

Akshaya tritiya, according to the Vedic calendar, is a day considered to be conducive to success in any significant endeavour. Traditionally, those aware of Akshaya tritiya's benefits schedule major life events—marriages, initiations, business ventures, establishing a new place of residence on this day.

Akshaya-tritiya is an important day in Vedic culture as any donation performed for the right cause is declared to yield inexhaustible results. Devotees consider this day as a reminder to surrender whatever they have in the service of the Krishna.

There are many important events recorded in the Vedic history about this day.

·     Appearance of Lord Parasurama, who is the 6^th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

·     Appearance of Maha Lakshmi from Samudra manthan – the Churning of Ocean by Demigods and Demons

·       On this day Lord Ganesha began to write Mahabharata

·       On this say, Lord Krishna saved Pandeva’s and Draupadi by having a grain of rice that was struck to the bowl. What happened was that when, Pandavas were living exiled in the forest, Duryodhana tricked the Sage Durvasa and his followers to visit them for meals. When Krishna eat that grain of rice, everyone including Durvasa and his disciples became so full that they could eat no more. And, to save themselves from the wrath of Bhima of not honoring the meals that would be served to them, they all had to quickly retreat from that place.

·      It marks the beginning of Chandana-yatra festival and festivities that runs for three weeks. To keep the Deities, cool from the scorching heat of the summer sun, the devotees apply sandalwood paste(chandana) over Radha Madhava and the other Deities.