The Sankara Jayanthi Mahotsav commences at Sri Gnanananda Niketan on Akshaya Tritiya day. Akshaya Tritiya was celebrated with Annadana. Annadana was organized for the school children and people of the nearby villages on the auspicious day and is done as Narayana seva or service to God to help increase our wealth of spiritual values.
Some pictures from the function is attached below:
“Akshaya” means never diminishing. Many things happened on this sacred day.
Lord Krishna blessed Draupati with Akshaya Patra (bowl which supplied unlimited food to the Pandavas and to all the guests during their vanavasa). Kubera who is treasurer of god prayed to Sri Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth to fill his treasury. Lord Vishnu took his sixth avatar as Parasurama. After the end of Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga commenced on this day. Ganga descended from heaven in response to the tapas of Bhagiratha. Veda Vysasa began dictating the epic Mahabharata to his scribe Ganesa. Sudhama came to Dwaraka to see Lord Krishna. He could bring only a handful of beaten rice which the Lord received with great happiness and blessed him with immense wealth on this day. Gates of the temple of Badri Narayana open on this day after winter.
Construction of the chariots for Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri commences on this day. This is also important day for Jains for fasting and prayer marking the breaking of one year long fast by king-turned-muni Rishabadeva.
