Akshaya Trithiya and grace of Goddess Lakshmi

AKSHYA TRITHIYA-The day which is never lost in the lunar calendar. According to Hindu mythology, Akshaya Tritiya is one of three days in the Hindu calendar when one does not need an exact muhurat to start something auspicious Hindus have always been believers in the concept of auspicious timings and days to make purchases so, there could be no better alternative than this day. For any sort of purchases be it land,house or the favourite metal of Indians-gold,there has to be the grace of the goddess of wealth-goddess lakshmi. Goddess lakshmi is worshipped on this day.The devotion towards goddess laksmi during ancient period can be seen on the ancient coins. Many Indian rulers minted coins with goddess lakshmi motif from ancient period to modern period. Not only Indian rulers but foreign invaders also minted coins with gaja lakshmi- lakshmi with elephants or abhisheka lakshmi motif as a significance of wealth and prosperity for their reign ,such is the significance of goddess lakshmi.

The first gajalakshmi coin issued in india

This coin was issued by the saka ruler Azilises (1st cent BC)which shows the Indian influence depicting gaja lakshmi ,a prominent Indian motif.

This coin was issued by indo –greek king Agathocles(190 and 180 BC) which shows gaja lakshmi on one side and lion on other side.

On Akshya trithiya hindus from all over the world purchase gold as a custom .But the ancient gold coins do not only have monetary value but also a huge amount of our culture is hidden in them.They display the wealth and prosperity during those times and also the artistic skill during those days.

The Gupta period is considered the "Golden Age" of classical India(320-550 CE).The gajalakshmi coin of the gupta dynasty are the most beautiful and indigenous of all the time.

This coin is one of the first Gupta coins

Samudragupta, gold dinar, c. 335-375 CE

The coin shows king standing left holding the royal sceptre(rajadanda) on the other side goddess laksmi is enthroned.

Samudragupta, gold dinar, c. 335-375 CE
Weight: 7.85 gm,

The coin shows King seated left on a couch, playing the vina

Lakshmi seated left on a stool, holding a cornucopia and diadem

Chandragupta II, gold dinar, c. 375-414
Weight: 7.91 gm,
The coin shows King standing left, holding an Indian long bow in his left hand and an arrow in his right

Lakshmi seated facing on a stylized lotus in padmasana, holding lotus blossom and diadem

This day might be the perfect day to know about the most prominent Indian motif gaja lakshmi on our ancient Indian coins.Not only goddess lakshmi is worshipped on this day but several important moments and incidents described in Hindu mythology made Akshaya Tritiya one of the most culturally significant dates. Akshaya Tritiya is also the day when, according to popular belief, the Pandavas discovered buried weapons which helped them achieve victory in the last battle of MahabharataIt is on this day that Kubera, the custodian of Goddess Laxmi’s wealth and property, received this position. Tritiya was the day when Ganesha (Vinayaka), the god of wisdom and obstacle removal, started writing the epic Mahabharata to Ved Vyasa’s dictation. This day is ruled by god Vishnu, the preserver-god in the Hindu Trinity. on this day the Treta Yuga began and the river Ganges, the most sacred river of India, descended to the earth from the heaven. Akshaya Tritiya, also known as “Akha Teej”, is traditionally the birthday of Lord Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The day also marks the beginning of the “SatyaYug” or the Golden Age – the first of the four Yugas.

All of the above suggest that Akshaya Tritiya is a divine day for the start of any activities, most especially investments and business ventures. Property brought on this day brings with it the assurance of non-diminishing (‘akshaya’) good fortune.

By K Lavanya