ISKCON Bangalore: What is the significance of Akshaya Tritiya? Apart from the rush to
purchase gold there are many other reasons why this day is
very significant. Some of the commonly known aspects are listed below.
However, we also give you a list of 7 least known facts.
Significance of Akshaya Tritiya
(1) Lord Parashurama appeared on this day (2) Ganges descended to Earth
on this day (3) This day marks the beginning of Treta-yuga (4) Sudama
visited Krishna at Dwaraka (5) Pandavas received Akshaya Patra from
Sun God (6) Vyasadeva started composing Mahabharata on this day (7) Adi
Sankaracharya composed Kanakadhara Stotram on this day (8) Kubera received his wealth and position as custodian of wealth and (9) It is said that Goddess Annapoorna Devi appeared on this day.
1. Simhachalam
Simhachalam
(Andhra Pradesh) is the abode of Lord Narasimha. The Deity of Lord
Narasimha is always covered with sandal paste. On the day of Akshaya
Tritiya (which occurs 11 days before Narasimha Jayanti – the appearance
day of Lord Narasimha), the sandal paste is removed and abhishekam is
performed. This is the only day the devotees will get to see the form of
the Lord. On the same evening, the Deity is again covered with sandal
paste.
2. Jagannath Puri
Every year the Ratha Yatra festival is celebrated at Jagannath Puri.
The three chariots of Jagannath (Nandhighosha), Baladeva (Taladhvaja)
and Subhadra (Darpadalana) are newly constructed every year with the
wood of specific trees. The construction of the charitos for Ratha Yatra
begins on the day of Akshaya Tritiya.
3. Remuna (Kshira-chora Gopinatha)
4. Badrinath
In Badrinath, the temples of Gangotri and Yamunotri are closed during
winter. On the day of Akshaya Tritiya the shrines re-open for the
pilgrims.
5. Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam, the temple-city, celebrates Garuda-vahana Seva for Vishnu
Deities (Perumal) from 12 different temples: Chakrapani, Sarangapani,
Varadaraja, Valvil Raman etc. Garuda, also known as Vainateya (the son
of Vinata) is the bird-carrier of Lord Vishnu. He is the king of the
birds (khagendra). In the Vedic literature it is stated that the two
wings of Garuda are two divisions of the Sama Veda known (brhat and
rathantara). The vibration generated by the flapping of his wings form
the basis of Sama Veda mantras. Visit Kumbakonam on the auspicious day
of Akshaya Tritiya to have darshan of Dvadasha Garuda Seva.
6. Guru Pushya
There
is a mad-rush for purchasing gold on Akshaya Tritiya. People believe
that if we purchase gold on this auspicious day it will never diminish.
But did you know that scriptures recommend Guru Pushya (Pushya Nakshatra
falls on Thursday) as the auspicious day for purchase of gold. In 2015,
the Guru Pushya yoga is formed only on July 16 and August 13.
7. Srila Prabhupada Incorporated The Leage of Devotees
Did you know? Srila
Prabhupada is the founder-acharya of ISKCON, the International Society
for Krishna Consciousness. Before starting ISKCON Srila Prabhupada
incorporated a society in India, called The League of Devotees, at
Jhansi on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya (16th May) in the year
1953.
