The word “Akshaya” means the “never diminishing” in Sanskrit and the day is believed to bring good luck and success. It is believed that if one were to partake in any fruitful venture or even perform charitable acts on this day, they will be blessed with fortune. Any meaningful activity started on this day would be fruitful and believed to yield great success.
The mythology and history surrounding the event:
Some elite astrological minds of India believe that Lord Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Maha Vishnu, representing planet Venus was born on this day. It is believed that Lord Ganesha began to compose one of the great Indian epics the Mahabharatha under the instructions of Maharisi Veda Vyasa on this very day. It is also believed that Mother Ganges descended from the heavens to the earth on this day.
Akshaya Tritiya in modern times:
In India, land of festivals and celebrations it is a very colorful and vibrant day. Market places are crowded with heaps of people flocking to purchase their favorite object of desire. Predominantly this day is noted notoriously for the purchase of gold and silver ornaments. While the rich folks do tend to buy luxurious gems and minerals, the dominant middle class people of India, at least make sure to purchase a small quantity even if it were a gram of gold and silver on this day. While the stock prices of gold and silver conveniently increase to about 30% higher than it’s base value on this day most of which the business class of India benefit, the general public don’t seem to mind that, as they believe in their personal vriddhi (growth) and samvriddhi (mighty growth). Lately, many people try to even schedule important events of their lives like marriages, house warming, birth of their children, purchase vehicles, start a new job/projects etc.
Astrological significance:
In India, which is a treasure house of all astrological knowledge of the east, Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated on that auspicious day which coincides with Sun entering Aries while moon is also in Taurus. Sidereal calculations wise it was celebrated on 22 April 2015 this year in India. Akshaya Tritiya is the third day of bright half (Shukla Paksha) of Vaishaka month of Hindu (April – May).
What is the specialty of this event?
Astrologically, this day is stated to be the ‘brightest day’. Some of the astrological terms have to be understood intuitively, the word brightest means that both Sun and Moon are in their best dignities. On this day Sun is in Aries and Moon is in Taurus and the positions are such that they emit maximum light. Moon reflects the light of the sun and it only emits maximum light when it is opposite the sun, which is what Poornima or Full moon day is all about. But in this case what the ancients tend to mean instead is that both Sun and moon are supposed to be ‘brightest’ or well situated by having their exalted dignities. On this day astrologically both Sun and moon will attain their best possible dignities in the sky. Sun will be exalted in Aries and Moon will be exalted in Taurus.
Discrepancy about the date of celebration:
Akin to any other field of knowledge or study, astrology too is plagued with adulterations, wrong calculations and interpretations over the ages attributed largely due to loss of divine knowledge in descending cycles of consciousness. But as per the calculations of Sri Yukteshwar Giri Maharaj, mankind has already progressed into the ascending stages of Dwapara Yuga (Yuga theory). The dreadful dark ages of Kali Yuga are long gone and even a common man who has no clue about astrology would rationally agree on this reasoning if he pays attention to the latest technological developments in both scientific or spiritual sphere.
Using tropical calculations, Akshaya Tritiya celebration date is already in the past. On 22 March 2015, the event start time was- 16:12 and end time was 21:05 (Timezone set to -5.30 hrs and 0hrs DST), which is when sun was in Aries Exalted and Moon was in Taurus also Exalted.
What is the significance in nature and that of the tropical calculations?
To begin with one should rationally understand why one has to look for significance in nature for this event. Astrology is the study of planets and time, thus everything about astrology is the study of nature or the Universe. So whenever there is a celebration of any sort or ceremony, it is to rejoice something in nature. Taking just the events of nature into account and even dropping the tropical calculations for the time being, I am convinced that Akshaya Tritiya fell in the month of chaitra and not vaishaka, this current year 2015. In lunar religious calendars, Chaitra begins with the new moon in March/April and is the first month of the year. The first of Chaitra – is celebrated as New Year’s Day, known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Chaitrai Vishu and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Persians, very famously known for worshipping the sun in the form of fire or Agni during ancient times also celebrate their new year one or two days within this window.
“There are two equinoxes every year – in March and September – when the Sun shines directly on the equator and the length of night and day are nearly equal. The March equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator – from south to north. This happens on March 19, 20 or 21 every year. Equinoxes and solstices are opposite on either side of the equator, and the March equinox is also known as the “spring (vernal) equinox” in the northern hemisphere and as the “autumnal (fall) equinox” in the southern hemisphere. On the equinox, night and day are nearly exactly the same lengths – 12 hours – all over the world. This is the reason it’s called an “equinox”, derived from Latin, meaning, “equal night”. The March equinox has long been celebrated as a time of rebirth in the Northern Hemisphere. Many cultures celebrate spring festivals and holidays around the March equinox, like Easter and Passover marking new beginnings to name a few. One of the most famous ancient spring equinox celebrations was the Mayan sacrificial ritual by the main pyramid at Chichen Itza, Mexico. The main pyramid – also known as El Castillo – has four staircases running from the top to the bottom of the pyramid’s faces, notorious for the bloody human sacrifices that used to take place here. The staircases are built at a carefully calculated angle, which makes it look like an enormous snake of sunlight slithers down the stairs on the day of the equinox. It is called ‘snake of sunlight’. The Mayan Calendar was very precise in this respect, but today the Mayan calendar is most famous for ending exactly at 11:11 UTC on the 2012 December Solstice. “
Now observe what is the purpose of exalted sun and exalted moon and the idea behind equinoxes. At the very beginning of the chaitra month tropically this current year, the sun has just entered Aries and is exalted. On the third thithi, Moon will be in first 3 degrees of Taurus and is exalted. The sun will be exalted in Aries for the rest of the month too, but we want to celebrate a festival when the Sun, the Paramatham, has just entered the first sign of zodiac Aries, the sign of new beginnings. Just around that time, the moon will also go exalted, this will not occur again over the course of Krishna paksha, as sun would have moved to Taurus (tropically), when Moon goes exalted again in Taurus. Besides, Krishna paksha is not known to be as auspicious as Shukla Paksha. So this day is unique and so unique that it happens around the only time of March equinox.
The sun is the king; moon is the queen of the zodiac. They are the source of all creation. Sun rules the first half of 12hrs of the day (sunrise-sunset) and the moon the second half of the 12hrs(sunset-sunrise). On every other day of the year except the equinoxes the day and night are not equal, so the energy of sun and moon are not equal. However, the sun and moon both have equal energy on the day of the March equinox (Well almost actually). In reality though, most places on Earth get to see more daylight than nighttime on the equinoxes. This is because of two reasons: how sunrise and sunset is defined and atmospheric refraction of sunlight. Why don’t the equinoxes have equal day and night? Most locations of the Earth, except those on the Equator, do have almost equal day and night twice a year. The dates for this event, which is also known as equilux, depend on the location’s latitude and can be a few days before or after the equinoxes. ) Anyhow for all practical purposes we can consider it equal. But if you take it sidereally, the day was not equal whatsoever on 22nd April 2015, this translates to not equal energy of the sun and moon too. The importance of the “equal” energies of the sun and moon is re-iterated by one other fact. Traditional households in India tend to follow the custom of purchasing both gold and silver on this day. Gold is of the color of the sun’s rays while silver is that of Moon’s shine. Their belief is that there would be samvriddhi in the native’s life when they attain the equal blessings of their cosmic father (sun) and mother (moon).
Well one may ask there is also the September equinox during which many cultures around the world celebrate too. Does this hold the same significance as the spring equinox? The spring holds utmost precedence over the fall. It is plain simple observation, during the spring there is creation, plants come to life, flowers blossom etc. in nature. But during the fall season all that creation is “falling”, to me logically it doesn’t make sense why anyone in the northern hemisphere would celebrate during that time, but nevertheless it is an equal day for the southern hemisphere, so it is significant. Since the southerners have opposite seasons one has to consider that too and as expected the southern hemisphere nations do celebrate.
Some of the popular celebrations on the September equinox but not limiting to only these are as follows “In India many festivals line up around this time such as Krishna Janamastami, Ganesh Chathurthi etc. Although in India many festivals are based on the Vedic calendar, it is interesting to note many similarities among other cultures too. In Greek mythology fall is associated with when the goddess Persephone returns to the underworld to be with her husband Hades. It was supposedly a good time to enact rituals for protection and security as well as reflect on successes or failures from the previous months. In China the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is celebrated around the time of the September equinox. It celebrates the abundance of the summer’s harvest and one of the main foods is the mooncake filled with lotus, sesame seeds, a duck egg or dried fruit. Higan, or Higan-e, is a week of Buddhist services observed in Japan during both the September and March equinoxes. Both equinoxes have been national holidays since the Meiji period (1868-1912). Higan means the “other shore” and refers to the spirits of the dead reaching Nirvana. It is a time to remember the dead by visiting, cleaning and decorating their graves. The Christian church replaced many early Pagan equinox celebrations with Christianized observances. For example, Michaelmas (also known as the Feast of Michael and All Angels), on September 29, fell near the September equinox. On the autumnal equinox, many pagans celebrate Mabon as one of the eight Sabbats (a celebration based on the cycles of the sun). Mabon celebrates the second harvest and the start of winter preparations. It is the time to respect the impending dark while giving thanks to the sunlight.”
But celebration of the September equinox is not even remotely close to being as important as the March equinox because during that time Sun is exalted and Moon is exalted. While you still have equal day and night during the September equinox, you will not have the king and queen in highest dignities. Why I am giving precedence to the north? In the ancient Rig Vedic scripture that is the direction of Mount Meru, the abode of the gods is aligned or present. It represents the north pole of the earth where the magnetic fields align and it is common knowledge that the North Pole is where the magnetic lines of force originate, in this case that of the earth.
Sidereal calculations take into account only one aspect of the festival, which are the luminaries Sun is exalted and moon is exalted. Yes they are but what does the day of your celebration have any significance in nature? Or is the day you celebrate the festival have equal day and night? If day is not equal, then you may as well celebrate on any other day when Sun is exalted and moon is exalted during that month?
Here is the irony, in south of India they do celebrate it but without their knowledge and think they are celebrating their New Year while in fact they did celebrate both Akshaya Tritiya and New Year at the same time this year (2015). Why did I mention New Year? Ugadhi is the New Year celebration traditionally held in the month of chaitra just around the corner of the spring equinox according to sidereal calculations. It totally makes perfect sense to celebrate New Year on the start of spring as explained earlier. In addition people should also pay attention to one of the most important astrological events at the same time or they may totally miss it.
Mars and his significance on Akshaya Tritiya:
Students of astrology are well aware of the significance of Mars for people on Earth. Mars is the son of the earth and rules our drive, initiative and most importantly our will power. In order for a native to be rid of his karmas indicated in the birth chart and make a conscious effort to steer his life in a different direction other than that indicated by the birth chart, the native has to exercise mars energy.
Maharisi Jaimini’s astrology techniques reveal that whenever Jupiter or Mercury or Lord of the sign aspect or are present in a particular sign they will assist in the manifestation of the indications represented by that particular sign. Also whenever Mars and Venus are in conjunction in a sign or aspecting each other via rasi aspect they create a lot of hunger (Mars) and passion (Venus) to fulfill tasks.
If we fix the idea that Akshaya Tritiya falls only in the month of Vaishaka, we may be missing one the most important days of the year, around the time of the March equinox. On the other hand if we take the above arguments and leave the window of the festival open from month of Chaitra- Vaishaka, we will have interesting planetary forecast in the sky. Around the time of March equinox on alternate years Mars will also be in Aries; Venus will be in Taurus or Aries depending on his retrogression that particular year. But on some occasions Venus will also be deeply exalted in the last few degrees of Pisces (27 degrees exactly). If Venus is in Aries he will be conjunct mars and sun where as if he is in Taurus he will be in his own house of Taurus assisting the moon. Mercury will either be in Pisces or Aries again depending on his retrogression that year. If in Pisces Mercury is debilitated like this year on 22/3/2015. But if he is with the sun or mars in Aries, Mercury will be assisting them.
Of course using advanced astrological concepts we can also note that mercury being enemy to mars, if he joins him every other year will hurt him and the same applies to Venus if he joins sun or moon on one of those years, he will hurt the m too. But consider a year where Venus goes in Taurus with moon in exaltation or Venus himself is exalted in Pisces and Mercury is in Aries, with mars and exalted Sun. If that is the case since all these planets join exalted planets (sun and moon), they will become extremely auspicious.
Further, tritiya means ‘3rd thithi’. So three is an important number for this day. On the alternate years Mars, the third planet, the most important planet for us earthlings, also will be in Aries making it three important planets on that day.
Furthermore, Aries is the natural first sign of the zodiac of new beginnings and is also a male fire sign. I am a sure every astrologer either tropical or sidereal will agree on the traits of Aries at least without debating. Now it gets interesting when many planets gang up in Aries on alternate years with Mars also in Aries. Akshaya Tritiya is infamous for people starting ‘new events’ which are a characteristic of Mars ruled Aries. Thus the years when Mars is also in Aries, Akshaya Tritiya becomes even more auspicious. People traditionally do buy gems, jewels etc. on Akshaya Tritiya, and Mars is the karaka for mineral wealth.
Some other interesting things to note from mythology are historians claiming Maha Vishnu’s Parasurama avatar incarnating on this particular day. Parasurama is the incarnation of the planet Venus. Then isn’t it hinting that Venus is a big player on this day too? Another important fact about the Parasurama avatar is that although born into a “Brahmin” family (Venus exalted in Brahmin sign of Pisces), he had to resort to “Kshatriya” means (Sun in Aries and Mars in Aries, making him even more so brutal) in order to bring balance to the world.
So with all the above points taken into account, I begin to speculate if all Akshaya Tritiya years hold significance or only the one’s on alternate years? Could it be possible that the first Tritiya was observed on the third day of March equinox? Further could it be that when Lord Parasurama was born, not only was Venus exalted in Pisces (as he is the descendent of Bhrigu clan and avatar of Venus) but both Sun and Moon were also exalted in their respective signs and Mars was in Aries while Mercury was either in Aries or last degrees of Pisces out of debilitation?
Hence in conclusion and in my opinion not all years of Akshaya Tritiya are important as the ones when Mars is with an exalted sun, Venus also is in Taurus with exalted moon/Venus himself is exalted in Pisces and Mercury is out of debilitated Pisces while conjunct an exalted Sun assisting him as a friend. Maybe one has to think in this direction and take the off beaten path once in a while to draw more information from such celebrations and festivities.