Akshaya Tritiya
History & Mythology
Akshaya Tritiya—"the undecaying third"—is considered svayam siddha, inherently auspicious without requiring any further astrological calculation. The Treta Yuga is said to have begun on this day, and both the Sun and Moon occupy their signs of exaltation simultaneously—an astronomically rare alignment.
Lord Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu who wields the axe of destruction against adharma, was born on this day. The god of wealth Kubera received his divine treasures from Shiva on Akshaya Tritiya. One of the most beloved legends concerns the Pandavas' forest exile: their friend Krishna gifted them the Akshayapatra—a divine vessel that produced unlimited food for every guest until Draupadi herself had eaten. This inexhaustible vessel fed thousands of visiting sages throughout the long years of exile.
Another legend tells of the impoverished brahmin Sudama, childhood friend of Krishna, who visited Dwarka carrying a small torn cloth of beaten rice as a gift. Krishna welcomed him with divine love, pressing the offering to his heart. Sudama returned home to find his humble hut transformed into a palace—Krishna had quietly blessed him without even being asked. The eternal teaching: a pure gift offered with sincerity on an auspicious day returns as an inexhaustible blessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Hindu festival dates calculated?
Hindu festival dates are calculated using the Panchang — the Vedic almanac based on Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (Moon's asterism), and other astronomical factors. Most festivals fall on specific Tithis in particular lunar months. AstroJanamPatrika calculates these using Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day in the Hindu calendar, determined by the angular distance between the Moon and Sun in multiples of 12°. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) and 15 in the waning phase (Krishna Paksha). Most Hindu festivals are tied to specific Tithis, which is why their Gregorian calendar dates change each year.
Why do Hindu festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian solar calendar. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, festivals drift earlier each year — and an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) is added roughly every 2–3 years to realign the calendar with the solar year. This is why Diwali, Navratri, and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing festival rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara, and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika calculates the precise muhurta for each festival based on local sunrise, Tithi end times, and auspicious Nakshatras.
What is Purnima and Amavasya?
Purnima is the full moon day (15th Tithi of Shukla Paksha) when Moon and Sun are 180° apart. Amavasya is the new moon day when they are conjunct. Both are highly significant in the Hindu calendar — Purnima for celebrations and Amavasya for ancestor rituals (Pitru Tarpan). Festivals like Holi, Guru Purnima, and Sharad Purnima all fall on Purnima.