Eight good deeds you can do on Akshaya Tritiya and Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Kiranostav – Festival of Sun rays

Sairam friends,

Akshaya Tritiya has always been one of my favorite holy days. I usually take opportunity of Akshaya Tritiya to give small gifts to devotee friends of Mine. Once I was giving little Paadhukas of Shirdi Sai Baba to all devotees. A aunty who comes to temple regularly saw me last month and said “You give gifts on Akshaya Tritiya. So every year when its nearing, I remember you”.

I just smiled to her and felt what I am going to do this year as am only going to be at work. So at least I want to write a good article which inspires other devotees to involve in Good deeds on this holy day. This year, I also read its Goddess Matangi Jayanthi

Note: All Mahalakshmi Photos in this article are used with courtesy of devotee who took them. Thanks to these wonderful devotees.

What is Akshaya Tritiya:

Akshay Tritiya is celebrated on the third day of the bright fortnight in the hindu lunar month of Vaishaka (April-May). The word Akshay, in Sanskrit, means imperishable or eternal or something that can never diminish. Valuables are bought in plenty on this day, and new initiations are carried out, as this is believed to guarantee lasting success and prosperity.

Its also the day Sudama met Lord Krishna and got his poverty removed. Sudama was blessed with all the prosperity and happiness there after.

First lets start with my friends in Saibaba temple:

I went to Nagasai Mandhir this evening and was roaming here and there. Summa iruka mudiyadhu. ( Can’t stay in a place accept when am at work as there’s no other go).  I used to go near the shop where they sell books, pick a book, read few lines and keep it back there. Its like my library. To show my gratitude once in a while, I buy books.

Have you ever come across this Movie named “Ordinary People”.  These Ordinary people are building our society with their hard work and physical labor. I mostly like to interact with these ordinary people.

As soon as I enter temple, the man in book shop waves his palm to me, I wave my palm with a smile..

Then the man looking after parking space.

Then when I go near the flower shop to buy three lamps, the guys there says “Vaanga” ..”Welcome”…and I say “Sairam”.

There’s this guy who completed 10th standard and didn’t continue his studies. I keep telling him, you must study. Once when he took my advice easily, I beat him hard on his back and said “I say for your welfare..You have to study”.

Now a days he keeps on looking at his Mobile Phone. So I teased him saying you are always looking at Mobile. He stood up and said “Yellam Facebooku, Googleu “. he he… ” Its all Facebook and Google that we see” . I laughed and wondered at the reach of internet in India. They watch Cricket score sitting in Flower shop in Yahoo Mobile.

Hmm….StarSai.com doesn’t have a Mobile version yet. I am behind the world by few years.

He was telling me, I have seen devotees coming here for 10 to 15 days and they say “Sai did this to me, Sai did that to me” but we are coming here for many years, Sai is only testing us.

I moved away from shop to clean the Lamps tray and lit lamp thinking deeply how true are his words.  All the while, I was imagining what to write as its Akshaya Tritiya.  I kept chanting “Sai Mahalaksmi, Sai Mahalakshmi, Sai Mahalakshmi always in mind.

Getting into Dhuni Tank and wiping hot ashes:

My friends were cleaning Dhuni – Sacred fire of Saibaba. My friend said “Its too hot today, So see if the surface doesn’t have any hot ashes and get down”.  I got down the dhuni tank where the ashes they dig fall down. I took the iron rod and wiped them shouting “Jai Nagasai, Saibabaaaa..Saibabaaaaa”.

The priest in Dhuni will keep saying hmmm hmmm hmm..” he he…..I used to tell him, “I am speaking to Baba as he’s inside dhuni tank and I alone can see him”. I shout because it will be too hot and I love calling Sai to be with me. As its sunday many devotees drop coconuts and hence it was too hot.

Sometimes, When devotees bring sack full of coconut, I get irritated and tell them “Enn kuladha adhu” …Dhuni is my child..Please don’t drop all these coconuts at once. “Baba thaanga maataru” …Sai can’t bear it because dhuni truly is my love.

I have no rights to restrict others devotion but devotees must realize, every devotee must have space to do their offerings in holy fire of Sai. Today while wiping the ashes, the rod fell on my head and I felt heat getting into me. Sai, How many times, You did this to me all these years. In my palm, face, head, legs.

Every time, I get the skin in my palm peeling off due to heat, I say “Idhu Baba giftu” to my friends proudly. Its Baba’s Gift…My body, Mind and Soul belongs to Sai.

After the Night Aarti was over, I was distributing Dhuni Baba’s prasad as usual and was about to start home. My friend asked me “Tell me few things about what we can do tomorrow”. I quickly told him

We can do chanting in mind

We can light a lampand …and

We can give gifts to our family members or friends, even if its chocolates.

We can read a sacred mantra or Book…

Telling this, I walked fast and started home…

My Love for Kolhapur Mahalakshmi:

I was thinking about my desire to travel to Kolhapur Mahalakshmi temple in Maharastra when I was in Mumbai but never got opportunity. Mahalakshmi here is called as Sreekarveer nivashini.  Her statue of is made of gemstone which is at least 5000 years old.

I used to visit the Siddhi Vinayak Mandhir in Andheri East regularly. There’s this cute beautiful Mahalakshmi sannidhi there. One of my student sandeep said he is going to Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Mandhir. I was exited and told him “Get me prasad of Mahalakshmi”

He came back after a week and gave me a coconut along with sacred prasad from Kolhapur Mahalakshmi. I was too tired traveling in train. So kept the prasad near me and slept off. I had a blissful dream the next morning..

Mahalakshmi bending down to get my Jasmine garland offering:

I saw that am coming around the Mahalakshmi Sannidhi in Andheri east Siddhi Vinayak Mandhir. Group of other devotees are also coming around doing pradhikshana. I have garland of Jasmine with me and wanted to offer to Mahalakshmi. I am not able to offer as usually the priest’s don’t allow devotees to touch Laksmi Devi.

So when I am struggling to offer the garland, suddenly to my surprise, Mahalakshmi gracefully bends down herself. I am surprised to see how Maa is bending her head so beautifully to show that she’s pleased with my devotion and offer her the Jasmine Garland.

I woke up and found the coconut applied with tumeric powder and other prasad. Then only I remembered that I got prasad from Kolhapur Mahalakshmi mandir. Me and my friend Ashish had the prasad and I told him about the dream with excitement.

Coming back to Akshaya Tritiya, I wish to write eight things you can do on Akshaya Tritiya day. It also applies to celebrating any festival of Mahalakshmi or any friday you choose to worship Goddess Mahalakshmi.

About Kiranostav – Festival of Sun Rays in Kolhapur Mahalakshmi temple:

Kirnotsav (festival of Sun rays) is celebrated when the sun rays fall directly on the deity’s idol at the time of sunset on the following days :

31st January & 9th November : Sun rays fall directly on the feet of Mahalakshmi.

1st February & 10th November : Sun rays fall directly on the chest of Mahalakshmi.

2nd February & 11th November : Sun rays fall directly on the entire body of Mahalakshmi

Kolhapur Kiranostav happens during a different dates and not connected with Akshaya Tritiya but since I love to inspire devotees to remember Mahalakshmi on this sacred day and also found beautiful photos of Kiranostav, I wish to post each good deed you can do on Akshaya Tritiya day along with a Photography done by a devotee ( used with courtesy) during Kiranostav.

Eight good deeds you can do on Akshaya Tritiya and Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Kiranostav

1.Naam Smaran – Chanting holy name of Saints and Goddess

Most of you reading this will be busy at work or other places. Some of you may be gifted to be at home or have chance to visit near by temple.  No matter where you are, you can show your devotion to Goddess Mahalakshmi by chanting her holy name. You can simply chant

Om Maha Lakshmi Namo Namah

Om Maha Lakshmi Namo Namah

Om Maha Lakshmi Namo Namah

I usually feel comfortable chanting – Sai Mahalakshmi, Sai Mahalakshmi, Sai Mahalakshmi as its my habit to add Sai before the Goddess I wish to remember. You can choose to chant holy name of any Goddess or Gods you love.

2. Light Lamps:

You can light lamps with Ghee or gingelly oil at home in a safe place. Make sure you stay at home when lamps slow. If you get chance to visit near by temple, Please light a lamp to any Gods or Goddess you love. Lighting lamps is so auspicious and doing it on Akshaya Tritiya adds more divinity.

Click here for 108 deepam pooja done by a devotee

3. Recite any Mantra of Goddess Mahalakshmi:

I would suggest you recite any small mantra or sloka of Mahalakshmi or atleast listen to it peacefully. You can try Mahalakshmi Ashtothram in SaiMahalakshmi.com

4. Do Vaibhav Lakshmi Pooja:

If you are lucky to be at home, do Vaibhav Lakshmi Pooja as given in below article a devotee friend of mine contributed. She lives in Ranikhet, a Hill station in Uttarakhand. See how beautiful Sai is. He made someone living in Uttarakhand to inspire thousands of devotees do pooja.

Prasanna Vaibhava Lakshmi vrata for Goddess Mahalakshmi

5. Listen or learn to recite Mahalakshmi Sahasranamam – 1000 Holy names of Goddess Mahalakshmi

I remember few years back I sat for hours together doing Kumkum Archana for Goddess Mahalakshmi reciting Mahalakshmi Sahasranamam.

Click here for Mahalakshmi Sahasranamam page in StarSai

6. Do any Good deed – Give Gifts:

People always think about buying something on Akshaya Tritiya day mostly Gold. I have seen devotees coming with a New Car to Saibaba temple to do pooja. All is well. You will be blessed with lots of Cars i hope !

Remember. You can also “Give”.

You can gift the needy. You can give food to the hungry. Sarees to poor women with kumkum and flowers. You can gift your friends or close relatives or even kids. Even if you give chocolates, It a blessing.

7. Visit near by Temple or Read Sacred Book:

If I write visit near by temple, devotees abroad or who can’t travel easily to temple will say, Its not possible for us. So I give you option. he he…Visit near by temple, offer flowers to Gods/Goddess there, Light lamps in temple or read any sacred book. You can even read Sai Satcharitra or Durga Saptashati or Guru Charitra.

8. Be Kind and Spread Love:

Hinduism is so beautiful that we never realize the inner meaning in every auspicious day. The word “Akshaya” means imperishable or eternal – that which never diminishes. Initiations made or valuables bought on this day are considered to bring success or good fortune. That’s why people buy Gold on this auspicious day.

I believe You can also spread love by being Kind and pure at heart on Akshaya Tritiya. So imagine how sweet it is if  “Love” is never going to diminish in your family and life.

I see Goddess Mahalakshmi as someone who’s very caring and protective like a mother towards her devotees. So its really going to be beautiful if you learn to give up being harsh, getting angry ( I myself have to change) and being Kind to everyone around you. At least do it on Akshaya Tritiya so that our entire life be filled with undiminishing love and affection.

Love your parents

Your brother…Sister

Friends…

Cousins…

Show love on your husband,

Be kind to your wife

Kiss your children and get them gifts so that your family will be filled with Love that ever grows.

Anbe Shivam  – “God is Love”

I wrote this article until late night. My father came and sat near me asking what I am doing. I don’t know what to tell him. Sai, I love my parents so much but these days all they want from me is to get married. I pray you do leela baba. Please make them happy.I am really not understanding which girl is right for me. Its kind worry that the girl I marry might not like me doing such work during my free time and eventually I might loose my freedom..he he…

Freedom to do what I love to do.

Spread Love through Star Sai !

Spread Humanity.

Let there be auspiciousness everywhere !

This article is dedicated to my breath – My Amma, Appa and Sai

This morning of Akshaya Tritiya, I did abishekam – Holy bath to Mahalakshmi, Saraswthi, Sai Dattatreya and all gods in our home with honey and water. You can also do holy bath and offer flowers to Mahalakshmi at home.

You can write me your experiences  to email ID in contact page.

Love,

C.Venkatraman

Always in the holy feet of Shirdi Saibaba

13/5/2013