Thursday, May 08, 2008

Akshaya Tadige : Why is it such a big deal ?

I'm sure there is NOT a single person in Bangalore (beyond the age of 6 years atleast) who has not figured out that yesterday was Akshaya Tritiya. I mean, how can people miss this grand event of the year ? TOI carried a very "glossy" addendum that listed the superlative products and excellent "offers" and reasons as to why EVERY SINGLE person in the world had to rush off and buy GOLD!!

What a marketing driven feeding frenzy !

I'm sure if we had someone with a Rip Van Winkle syndrome wake up today, they'd be distraught that they've missed the greatest opportunity and good fortune this year.

Seriously, as an youngster, I did know of Akshaya Tadige (in Kannada, it is Tadige not Tritya - but that is just semantics). Did I pay any attention ? Not at all !!.
Not only did I NOT pay any attention, I do not remember ANYONE paying attention.

Nobody offered special discounts on Gold coins (Infact, there no coins sold and no ads put up)
Nobody listed out the reasons that made buying gold on this day
No shop put up a pandal (makeshift tent) in front to seat the enthusiastic shopper and then fed them glasses of fruit juice, snacks etc.
Nobody put up hoardings that said "We are extending shopping hours for the convienience of our esteemed shopper" (like I care !)
No special editions on paper
No "exhibitions" of the latest design
No......

Is this the consumerism that I had been warned about when discussing the American Consumption ?

1 comment:

Shridhar said...

AKSHAY TRITIYA – do not follow blindly
-- by V K Shridhar
---- USE YOUR PRUDENCE IN MUHURTAS (ELECTIONS) ----
Akshay Tritiya is held as one of the most auspicious Tithi in Hindu calendar and is covered under Sade Teen Muhurtas, which is held by all the exponents as extremely auspicious period in Muhurt (electional) astrology. “Akshay” literally means which can not be destroyed. But the question is whether all the living-beings should follow this period for their auspicious Muhurta and for initiation of “all” the life activities. The answer certainly is “NO”.
It is not feasible to throw full light on the Hindu system of electional astrology in an article of this nature but effort is made to enlighten professional astrologer not to misguide the masses. Ashay Tritiya is the third lunar day (Tithi) of bright half (Shukla Paksha) of Vaishakha lunar month. It was the Tithi prevailing at the start of Treta Yuga & is called as Yugadi Tithi. Its Devta is Lord Vishnu, and it coincides with Parshuram Jyanti. Punya Karma such as Japa, Tapa, Dana, Snaana, Havan, Hooma performed in this Tithi is extremely meritorious. During currency of Yugadi and Manvadi Tithis prohibited activities are, Upnayana, marriage, ending of fast, house construction & entering thereof, travailing and plantation. Thus following dictums of Hindu electional astrology the said activities should be prohibited on Akshya Tritya. The said Tithi is beneficial for Punya Karmas and not for the worldly activities.
Selection of an auspicious Tithis for initiating an activity in the first fundamental of Hindu electional astrology. It has to be ensured that the Tithi is not sullied or become inauspicious by virtue of presence of other adverse electional element. Further there can not be said with certainty that a particular time is auspicious for all the human beings for all types of life activities. Auspiciousness of a Tithi is decided based on Janma Rashi and name of the doer, transits of planets , Sartvatobhadra Chakra, its favourable / unfavourable durations, its sub-divisions (Kshana Tithi), Muhurt Yoga formed with prevailing week-day & constellation, maleficenece due to Mass –Shunya Tithi, Tithi Shunya Nakshatra, Tithi-Shunya Lagna, Kshaya Tithi, Vridhi-Tithi, Pradosha, its Vish-Ghati & Amrit Ghatis, Ghaata Tithis, malefic Tithis for certain Rashis. etc. – to name some of the elements in its selection. Better the work is left to specialists in the field.

Now referring to the Akshay Tritiya falling on 7th May, 2008 in light of the some of the above elements we may examine how it is limited to its usefulness. The said Tithis starts at 10.08 IST (04.38 GMT) and ends at 06.34 IST (01.04 GMT). It coincides with currency of Krittika Nakshatra up to 20.01 IST (14.31 GMT) on 7th May, 2008 and there after Rohini nakshatra prevails up to 17.34 IST (12.04 GMT) on 8th May, 2008. Currency of the Tithi and Nakkshatra are universal phenomenon. However weekday is Wednesday in India which is based on local sun-rise. ‘Atiganda Yoga’- a malefic Yoga – prevails up to 01.00 IST on 8th May, 2008.

Incidentally the Tithi is not Kshaya in India, but it is Kshaya in the geographical regions where the local sunrise is between 01.04 GMT to 04.38 GMT. In those regions the weekday shall be sullied due to “Tithi Kshay”.Its portion (9th Ghati to 12th Ghati – considering day length as 60 Ghatis) is Vish Ghati. This period starts from 12.51 IST (07.31 GMT) to 14.12 IST (08.42 GMT) - which is considered as highly poisonous- and should be prohibited. in good elections.


The Tithi coincides with Wednesday, which forms “Mrityu Yoga”- deadly Yoga- prohibited for any good election. According to Sage Brihaspati concurrence of Wednesday and 3rd Tithi forms “Dagdha Yoga”- another deadly Yoga.
During 3rd Tithi: Leo and Capricorn ascendants are “Tithi –Shunya Lagnas” ; and also Gemini & Virgo ascendants , being malefic ascendants for Jaya Tithis – therefore the periods coinciding with these ascendants should be avoided- it is a local phenomenon. should be calculated. Further 3rd Tithis is held as inauspicious for peoples having Leo, Sagittarius and Aquarius as Janma Rashis; some opine that it is malefic for Gemini as Janma Rashi.


However the Tithis coincides with Rohini Nakshatra up to 20.01 IST – which forms “Amrit Siddha Yoga" or “Prashata Yoga”; and thereafter with Mrigshira Nakshatra it forms “Sarvartha Sidhha Yoga”. Both the Yogas are held as highly auspicious Muhurt Yogas. It also forms auspicious “Ravi Yoga” from 20.01 IST on 7th May, 2008 to 17.34 IST on 8th May, 2008- another powerful electional Yoga.

Thus it is observed that all the moments of the Akshay Tritiya falling on 7th May, 2008 are not auspicious, and certainly not for all the said Tithi is auspicious. It is sullied to some extent. Further for precise auspicious moments in the Tithi, one has also to calculate Kshana Tithi (sub-division of Tithi) period.

From the above it shall be concluded by the learned readers that they should not blindly use the Akshay Tritiya falling on 7th May, 2008 for beneficial elections (Muhurtas) especially worldly activities, rather they should follow cautiously and in consultations with astrologers having specialization in Hindu Electional astrology.

Readers may refer to book titled “Hindu Electional Astrology”, & log on to website
http://www.besttime-election.com