Akshaya Tṛtīyā in the Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa
Akshaya Tṛtīyā falls on the Vaiśākha Śukla Tṛtīyā: the third tithi (day of the lunar calendar) of the bright fortnight of the month of Vaiśākha, usually in April or May. It is one of the most auspicious days of the year. Akshaya means “never diminishing” or “inexhaustible”, and the name says that good deeds done on this day never lose their fruit.
The Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa explains where this blessing comes from. Bhagavān Skanda (also called Kārttikeya) came down to earth in his human-time form on this very tithi. He declared that on this day a bath in the river Gaṅgā gives the merit of the great Rājasūya and Aśvamedha yajñas (fire rituals). Pūjā of the Gaṅgā offered anywhere on this day gives the same merit as bathing in her. Even a small act of charity done on this day becomes inexhaustible. The day is especially powerful when the Kṛttikā nakshatra (lunar mansion) falls on the tṛtīyā.
Skanda’s Boon to Gaṅgā
After Gaṅgā placed the divine infant Skanda on the Śveta mountain, Skanda went to her and said, “I will not come to your home.” By this he meant that he regarded Śiva (Śambhu) as his father and divine parent, not Gaṅgā. Still, out of gratitude, he gave her a great boon:
“O Kalyāṇī! On Vaiśākha Śukla Tṛtīyā, the day on which I came down into the world of mortals, whoever bathes in you will earn the merit of a Rājasūya and an Aśvamedha yajña. Whoever worships you on that day, anywhere, with fragrance, flowers and other offerings will earn the merit of having bathed in you. Whatever charity is given on that day, however small, will become akshaya, never diminishing. There is no doubt in this. The tṛtīyā that falls with the Kṛttikā nakshatra is called ‘akshaya’; it is especially fruitful. O beautiful one! Those who faithfully do these acts on that day will live in svarga for a long time and then go to the world of Varuṇa, the deva of the waters.”
Key Merits
In the table below, gandha means fragrance (such as sandal paste), pushpa means flowers, and dāna means a charitable gift.
| Act | Merit |
|---|---|
| Bathing in the Gaṅgā on Vaiśākha Śukla Tṛtīyā | The merit of the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha together |
| Pūjā of Gaṅgā with gandha, pushpa and other offerings, anywhere, on this day | The merit of bathing in the Gaṅgā |
| Any dāna on this day | Becomes akshaya and never diminishes |
| The tṛtīyā falling together with the Kṛttikā nakshatra | Especially powerful; called “Akshaya Tṛtīyā” by name |
Meaning of the Name
The tṛtīyā is called akshaya (“not destroyed, inexhaustible”) because any action done on this day, whether pūjā, dāna or tapas (spiritual discipline), never shrinks in its result. The merit keeps building up and is never used up. When Vaiśākha Śukla Tṛtīyā coincides with the Kṛttikā nakshatra, the boon becomes stronger still.
Sources
- Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 229