Parasnath Jain Society - Akshay Tritiya

AKSHAYA TRITIYA - AKHA TEEJ

In Jainism, Akshaya Tritiya (also known as Akha Teej) is one of the most sacred festivals, commemorating the end of the first Tirthankara Lord Rishabhanatha's (Adinatha) year-long fast. While it shares a name with the Hindu festival, the Jain observance focuses on asceticism, the merit of charity, and the spiritual "unending" (Akshaya) benefits of good deeds rather than material wealth. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Akshay tritiya (Aakha teej) in Jainism Parna Day -20/04/26 ...
Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej) in Jainism 🙏 #adinath ...

The Origin: Lord Rishabhanatha's Fast

After renouncing his kingdom to become a monk, Lord Rishabhanatha wandered for a full year without food or water. Because he was the first monk of this era, people did not yet know the proper way to offer alms (Aahar Charya) to a Jain ascetic. Instead of food, they offered him jewels, horses, and gold. [1, 5, 6, 7]

Breaking the Fast: On the day of Akshaya Tritiya, King Shreyansa Kumar of Hastinapur used his "recollection of past lives" to understand that the Lord needed food. He offered sugarcane juice (Ikshu Ras) into the Lord's cupped hands, successfully breaking the 400-day fast.
Significance of Daan: This event established the tradition of Aahar Daan—the ritual of giving pure food to Jain monks. [1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11]

Observances & Rituals

Varshi Tapa (The Year-Long Fast): Many Jains observe a rigorous fast throughout the year, eating only on alternate days.
Parna (Breaking the Fast): Those who complete the Varshi Tapa gather at pilgrimage sites to break their fast with sugarcane juice.
Pilgrimage Sites: Huge celebrations take place at holy sites such as Palitana (Gujarat) and Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh), where thousands of tapasvis (fasting devotees) conclude their penance together.
Spiritual Charity: Devotees focus on three types of charity: Anna Daan (food), Gyan Daan (knowledge), and Aushadhi Daan (medicine). [1, 10, 12, 13, 14]