Akshaya Tritiya 2024 Date, Meaning, Significance, Traditions

Akshaya Tritiya, also referred to as Akha Teej, holds great significance among Hindus around the world as the most auspicious day of the year. According to Hindu beliefs, anything obtained or donated on Akshaya Tritiya will perpetually grow in value. Any new projects or ventures initiated on this auspicious day are bound to succeed. Akshaya Tritiya is a day to celebrate new beginnings, good deeds, and the hope for everlasting growth, success and prosperity. It is also a day for expressing gratitude by giving back to the community.

Akshaya Tritiya 2024 Date and Time

According to the Hindu Lunar Calendar, Akshaya Tritiya falls on the third lunar day (Tritiya) of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) in the Hindu month of Vaishakha, which typically corresponds to April or May in the Gregorian calendar. This year, Akshaya Tritiya is being celebrated on May 10, 2024.

Inspiring Story that Emphasizes the Significance of Akshaya Tritiya

Lord Krishna Graces Sudama on Akshaya Tritiya Day!

Shri Krishna and Sudama became friends at their Guru Sandipani’s Ashram in childhood. Sudama, due to the curse he received for lying in his student life, had been living in poverty and couldn't even feed his children. His wife Susheela, pious like him, convinced Sudama to take a job in the king's palace. Sudama's elder brother recommended Sudama for a job, and he accepted it.

Sudama began singing praises for Shree Krishna, but the arrogant king bound Sudama and ordered his staff to beat him. Sudama winced in pain but continued chanting the Lord's name. Susheela begged Sudama to go and ask Shri Krishna for help. Sudama, however, is hesitant to ask for favors from anyone, but is moved by his children's plight and decides to go to Dwarka.

Upon arriving in Dwarka, Sudama is amazed by the city's wealth and prosperity. He asks for directions to Shree Krishna's palace, which is filled with gold and prosperous citizens. The palace guards stop Sudama from entering, but Sudama insists on meeting him. The guard smirks at Sudama's appearance and laughs at his tattered attire.

Shree Krishna is filled with jubilant emotion upon hearing Sudama's name. He embraces Sudama tightly and takes him into the palace. Filled with sorrow, the Lord washes his friend's feet with His own tears instead of water.

Sudama brought a gift for Shree Krishna, but felt ashamed of the humble flattened rice he had brought. Shree Krishna, prankster, won the duel and snatched the bag of rice, leaving Sudama dismayed. He realized that his bad karma from childhood theft could not be destroyed by anything else.

Smiling mischievously Shree Krishna lovingly put a handful of the flavorless flattened rice in his mouth and ate it with great relish. With this mouthful he gave Sudama riches enough for the present lifetime and the next. Fully under the sway of love He was about to take a second mouthful. With it he would have given all the three Lokas(realms) he had dominion over, to Sudama - this is when Rukmini stopped Him!

Sudama on the other hand was unaware of what had transpired. He felt sad as he remembered his hungry children at home, but he couldn't prepare himself to ask Shree Krishna for any favors.  Shree Krishna embraced Sudama and escorted him out as he bid him farewell.

On the way back, Sudama wondered, "What shall I say when my wife asks me what I've brought back?" As Sudama approached home, he could not find his hut! Instead, his wife came out from a magnificent palace dressed in elegant clothes. She told Sudama, "Look at Shree Krishna's might; we have been rid of our poverty. Krishna has ended all our miseries."

 Sudama was overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of his friend. He cried out, “But my dear, I never even told Him about our condition!". They both resolved to remain devoted to Shree Krishna all their lives and were unaffected internally by the sudden opulence of their lives.

This story teaches us that God can become enslaved by selfless love of His devotee. Sudama went through mental and physical hardship without complaining, simply chanting the name of the Lord and surrendering to His will. Shree Krishna offered everything he had under the sway of Sudama's selfless love for Him on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya.

Watch this video by Swami Mukundananda and get inspired to ask God for selfless devotion on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya 2024.

The significance of Akshaya Tritiya from a spiritual perspective cannot be overstated. The sweet friendship between God and a selfless devotee is a source of inspiration for us all, and on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya 2024, let us embark on a path of increasing our own selfless devotion to God.

Meaning of Akshaya Tritiya

Akshaya Tritiya gets its name from the Sanskrit words 'Akshaya', which means eternal, and 'Tritiya', which refers to the third lunar day. So, 'Akshaya' translates to "imperishable," "eternal," or "undying."

Essentially, with faith in the literal meaning of the word Akshaya, people consider this an an opportune day to start anything new and expect that the universe will bless them with success. It is a commonly held belief among Hindus that the Universe magnifies and returns whatever is given in charity on Akshaya Tritiya.

Akshaya Tritiya Significance for Charity and Donations

Akshaya Tritiya is regarded as a propitious day for making charitable donations. The results of any charitable activity performed on this day are believed to be everlasting. On this day, contributing food, clothing, or money to those in need is thought to enhance the giver's good karma and attract abundant blessings.

Support Education and Healthcare for the Underprivileged Initiative by JKYog & Swami Mukundananda. DONATE for this noble cause on the Auspicious Day of Akshaya Tritiya 2024!!!

What did Lord Krishna say about Charity in the Bhagavad Gita? Watch this video by Swami Mukundananda and learn more about Education and Healthcare for the Underprivileged Initiative.

Significance of Akshaya Tritiya Celebration - Traditions, Rituals, and Spiritual Practices

Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated differently across regions and communities. While many people focus on ritualistic worship to gain material wealth and success by engaging in chanting mantras, worshiping celestial gods, and engaging in practices like purchasing gold, Yet many others focus on enhancing their spiritual learning and getting closer to the ultimate goal of all human endeavor, which is to attain God.

Spiritual Significance of Akshaya Tritiya

Immersing oneself in spiritual practices and striving for spiritual growth is highly encouraged during the propitious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. Engaging in activities such as meditation, scriptural reading, and contemplation, as well as charity and donations; facilitate inner serenity, poise, and understanding of our relationship with God. In accordance with the meaning of Akshaya Tritiya, which means everlasting, it is said that spiritual merits never diminish from our Karmic accounts.

Meditation: Swami Mukundananda emphasizes meditation as a powerful tool for spiritual growth, inner peace, and achieving a higher consciousness. He views meditation as a practice to train and focus the mind, overcoming its scattered nature.

Roopdhyan is a unique and proven technique of Meditation emphasized by Swami Mukundananda. Watch this video to learn more about Roopdhyan Meditation.

Yoga: According to Swami Mukundananda - Yoga stands for “union”. Yoga is intended to be a union of body, mind, heart and soul with God – a learning to surrender the mind to God. When you take on this sankalp or intention into your yoga practice, it will transcend the boundaries and limitations of the material world.

Also check: Prem Yoga | Wellness offering by JKYog and Swami Mukundanada! Online and in-person Yoga, Meditation and Pranayam classes ranging from beginner to advanced catering to all age groups.

Acquiring Divine Knowledge and Mind Management Skills: Swami Mukundananda emphasizes the importance of both acquiring divine knowledge and developing mind management skills.

Also Check: Radha Krishna Bhakti App - Guided by Swami Mukundananda. Your Digital Spiritual Sanctuary!!! Download on App Store or Google Play

Contemplation and Kirtan: Engaging in activities such as contemplating on divine knowledge, singing hymns, bhajans, or kirtans, are examples of spiritual activities that invoke devotional sentiments and increase our faith and surrender to God. Attend JKYog online classes to keep up with spiritual learning and practice.

Seva and Service: When we serve others without expecting anything in return, we detach ourselves from worldly desires and cultivate qualities like compassion, humility, and love. Swami Mukundananda teaches that selfless service (seva) purifies the heart and removes ego. Become a part of the JKYog Volunteers Network and take advantage of service opportunities.

Given the tremendous significance of Akshaya Tritiya, let's harness its limitless power to elevate our spiritual journey and reach new heights in our quest for God Realization. Engaging in spiritual practices during Akshaya Tritiya ultimately cultivates a shared consciousness of interconnectedness, love, and harmony that extends beyond the physical world, benefiting the entire community.

Significance of Religious Rituals on Akshaya Tritiya

Many people engage in ritualistic practices with the goal of material success and prosperity on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. They perform worship of celestial gods associated with wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi and Kuber. People also observe fasts and other austerities to please gods.

In the farming community, the plough is worshipped prior to preparing the land for monsoon crops on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. Purchasing Gold and Silver on Akshaya Tritiya is an ages old tradition and still a popular practice amongst traditional Indian communities. People associate Akshaya Tritiya, which literally means everlasting, with the idea that whatever they buy on this auspicious day will have an enduring existence and bring continuous abundance.

Mentions of Akshaya Tritiya Day in the Vedic Scriptures Testify its Significance

The Vedic scriptures are filled with several captivating legends that portray the importance of Akshaya Tritiya. Here are some of the most prominent ones:

• The childhood friend of Lord Krishna, Sudama, was blessed with immense wealth on the Akshaya Tritiya day (read full story of Krishna and Sudama below)
• Lord Parasurama, the legendary warrior-sage, considered the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is believed to have been born on Akshaya Tritiya. His life exemplifies the importance of upholding dharma (righteousness) and fighting against evil.
• Vedic scriptures also mention about the heavenly union of Goddess Ganga, the embodiment of the Ganges River, and Lord Shiva on the sacred occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.
• Goddess Parvati (wife of Lord Shiva) re-incarnated as Annapurna Devi (goddess of food and nourishment) on the Akshaya Tritiya day.
• Ved Vyasa who was a great sage started the narration Mahabharata on Akshaya Tritiya.
• Bhagiratha, the king of the Ikshvaku dynasty, brought the holy river Ganga to earth on this auspicious day.
• Kuber's prayers to Lord Shiva on Akshaya Tritiya in Shivapuram restored his lost wealth and prosperity.

In Conclusion, On this auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya 2024, lets pray that the universe blesses all of us with prosperity and a renewed sense of hope. Together, let's cultivate a mindset of positivity and assurance, inspiring ourselves to seize fresh opportunities in both the material and spiritual realms. Let this significant day of Akshaya Tritiya 2024 mark a turning point in our lives, leading us towards everlasting welfare.

Its a perfect time to give back to the community on the auspicious Akshaya Tritiya 2024! Give the gift of Education and Healthcare to the Underprivileged!! See how the JKYog volunteers community is contributing to the noble cause!!!

The Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas (Allen) will host a blissful Mahamantra Yagya on the auspicious occasion of  Akshaya Tritiya. Attend in person or online. Check program details here

FAQs about Akshaya Tritiya

What is the meaning of Akshaya Tritiya?

Akshaya Tritiya comes from two Sanskrit words: "Akshaya" meaning "eternal" or "imperishable," and "Tritiya" meaning "third lunar day." This day, any new beginnings are believed to bring enduring success and prosperity.

When is Akshaya Tritiya celebrated?

Akshaya Tritiya falls on the third lunar day (Tritiya) of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) in the Hindu month of Vaishakha, typically corresponding to April or May in the Gregorian calendar.

When is Akshaya Tritiya in 2024?

Akshaya Tritiya 2024 is being celebrated on May 10, 2024.

What is the spiritual significance of Akshaya Tritiya?

Spiritual aspirants take advantage of the auspicious Akshaya Tritiya Day to embark on spiritual journey in the hope to attain the ultimate goal of human life which is God Realization.

What is the story about Akshaya Tritiya and Lord Krishna?

Yes, the story of Sudama and Krishna is associated with Akshaya Tritiya. Sudama, Krishna's childhood friend, visited him on this day and received immense blessings despite offering only a simple gift. This story emphasizes the power of selfless devotion.

What are some popular traditions that are observed on Akshaya Tritiya 2024?

Puja and Offerings, Fasting, Worship of Deities, Starting Agricultural Work, purchase of Gold, etc are some of the traditions and rituals observed on Akshaya Tritiya.

What is the significance of Akshaya Tritiya 2024?

Akshaya Tritiya is significant for several reasons:

New Beginnings It's considered an auspicious day to start new ventures, businesses, or spiritual practices.

Charitable Giving It's believed that donations made on this day have a multiplied effect.

Gold Purchase Many Hindus consider it especially auspicious to buy gold on Akshaya Tritiya, symbolizing lasting prosperity.

Astrological Influences The unique planetary alignment on this day is believed to empower new beginnings and attract positive influences.

Vedic References Several legends and stories in the Vedas highlight the importance of Akshaya Tritiya.

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