This special occasion is surrounded with epic mythological facts. The stories or the legends are intriguing considering how it adds value to our lives. The auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya is associated with many legends. How many allegories are you familiar with?

A festival, commemorated by both the Hindu and the Jain communities, is believed to be extremely lucky for starting a new venture. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Parasurama was born on this day. Moreover, many people believe that on this day, river Ganga came into existence to purify mankind.

However, there are two tales of Lord Krishna connected  to this auspicious day. Many of you are aware of the banishment of the Pandavas and their wife Draupadi. During their exile, a saint happened to call on them and asked for some food. There was no food left, as the brothers and their wife had already finished their meal. Out of options, Draupadi kept praying to Lord Krishna to show a way to feed the saint, as she did not want to turn away a sage who had himself requested for food. Lord Krishna, pleased with the devotion, came to their aid. When he arrived, hungry himself, he observed that only one grain of rice stuck to the pot. Picking up the grain of rice, he ate it and announced that he was full, thereby turning the pot into an Akshaya Patra. The pot of rice would provide unlimited food and whoever visited their humble abode would not return empty handed. Thus, when the saint returned with 400 disciples, Draupadi fed them all from that one single pot. The pot would remain full till Draupadi finished eating herself after feeding all her guests.

Hence, the person who is generous and helps out others in dire need, is often referred to as ‘Akshaya Patra’, a perennial source. There is another story related to rice and Lord Krishna surrounding this holy occasion. Krishna had a very poor friend named Sudama. Sudama’s wife asked her husband to take the help of Krishna so that they would be able to get out of abject poverty. Being a generous person, he refused to go empty handed, and so his wife packed three handful of puffed rice, in a scarf. Upon reaching Lord Krishna’s place, he was overwhelmed with joy and love. The bond of friendship between them was so intense, he became oblivious of the fact that he had come for help. But when the latter was about to depart, Krishna asked him to hand over the gift that he had brought with him. Krishna thanked him effusively for the gift, but Sudama still could not ask Krishna for help. He went back with his mission unfulfilled. However, a miracle took place when he reached home; Sudama found his house overflowing with rice, food, gold and riches. The tale signifies how doing good for others, being generous to others, comes back in unexpected ways.

Do let us know how you enjoyed the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, with rice delicacies like payasam and bhog.