May 8 this year blossoms with golden dreams of wooing ladies with golden memories! It is called Akshaya Thiritiya or Akshaya Trutheeya. Actually it falls on the third day of the bright half of the lunar month of Vaishakha of the traditional Hindu calendar and is one of the four most auspicious days of the year for Hindus. This year it falls on the eighth of May and last year (2007) it was on 30th April. The word "Akshaya" in Sanskrit means “in abundance or without any limitation.” Hence this auspicious day promises to bring good luck and success. This festival is widely celebrated in all parts of India by different sections of the society irrespective of their religious differences.
This day is considered very auspicious for buying long term assets like gold and silver, including ornaments made of the valuable metals.
According to the legends any venture initiated on this auspicious day of Akshaya Thritiya will continue to grow and bring prosperity. Hence, there is no wonder people trying many of the new ventures, like starting a business, real estate transactions etc. on this Akshaya Thritiya day. The Indian TV channels and other mass media are giving all possible advertisements to promote business on this auspicious day!
LEGENDS FROM PURANAS
- According to the legends of Hindu mythology, this day is considered as the beginning of the Treta Yuga and the Ganges River, the most holy and sacred river of India, descended to the earth from heaven.
- There is another mythological story that Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was bon on this auspicious day! Hence this day is observed as the birth day of Lord Parasurama. He reclaimed the land from the sea with his axe.
- This day also considered as auspicious because the planet gods of light, the Sun and the Moon, are astrologically believed to be at their most exalted equal brightness on this day.
A DAY OF GOLD!
Many people buy new gold jewelry on this day. Most jewelry shops stock in new jewelry models for this occasion and they offer special gifts on this occasion, like, "Lakshmi-inscribed" gold coins, lucky prizes, etc. Offering gifts on this day is considered to have very special religious merit. Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, fills her devotees abundantly on this day!
Hence all over India people celebrate weddings, plan new business ventures, long journeys and other events on this day. Like other festivals for different purposes this Akshaya Tritiva is reserved for purchasing gold, silver and other assets.
A RELIGIOUS DAY
In some places they observe fasting and worship Lard Vasudeva with rice grains. The day is considered to be of more importance when it falls on a Monday or under the Rohini Star. A dip in the Ganges on this day is considered to be very auspicious. Abundance of rice means prosperity and wealth!
DAY OF KUBERA LAKSHMI POOJA
The Lakshmi Tantra Purana says that Lord Kubera, who is considered to be the richest, will himself pray to Goddess Lakshmi on this day for the devotees and will bring happiness and prosperity. Wealth does not mean only gold; it means happiness and propriety. That is why this day is marked as the day of Kubera Lakshmi Puja.
WOO THE LADY OF LUCK
Nowadays, the media people as well as the managers of various jewelry houses create exaggerated publicity around Akshaya Tritiya day to promote heir business. This brings heavy rush to jewelry shops and other places of wealth business. To add to the gold craze, many banks bring out special gold coins to mark the occasion.
Don't forget May 8!
The auspicious day of your prosperity and happiness I just at hand!
May Lakshmi, the Goddess of Luck embrace you on this "Akshaya Thritiya" and lead you to your Golden Days!
