Akshaya Tritiya: A Brief History

Source : "The Hindu" Legends say that it is on the akshaya tritiya day that Lord Brahma started his work of creation. Pious Hindus that going to the Holy Ganges and paying obeisance to the departed, and offering cereals, rice, salt, milk, curd, cow, gold, land, palmyra fronds, umbrella etc to the needy is apt to bring in endless prosperity to the giver. As a result of all these virtues they became a king in his next birth and even then he continued with this same practice as he did in his previous birth and reached `moksha'. Kusela, a childhood friend of Lord Krishna went to see the Almighty with a pouch of puffed rice and he was in a dilemma whether to offer it or not. But the Lord snatched the pouch from him and gulped some pieces and said `Akshayam'. This magic word transformed Kusela's simple house to a magnificent palace and the Lord's poor friend became as rich as Kubera. When Draupadi was humiliated in the court of Kauravas, she cried for mercy to Lord Krishna uttered a single work `akshayam' and her sari grew long and long to safeguard her chastity. Chandra, the Moon was cursed to wane. He ran to seek refuge in Lord Shiva and the Lord in turn gave refuge to the deformed Chandra and guarded him. Legends and Puranas say that all the above mentioned incidents happened on this day. People believe that everything done on this day namely paying obeisance to the Divine and offerings to the poor grows in leaps and bounds eradicating ill luck from the practioner.