Akshayatritiya, according to the Vedic calendar, is a day conducive to the success of any significant endeavor. Those aware the boundless benefits of Akshaya Tritiya, traditionally schedule major life events, such as marriages, initiations, business ventures, establishing a new place of residence, etc. on this auspicious day.
Akshayatritiya is the first day of Chandanyatra, wherein the Lord is smeared with sandalwood paste, due to the scorching heat of the summer season. During the Chandanyatra festival, which is celebrated for a period of 21 days, the devotees arrange to cool the Lord by smearing His transcendental form with refreshing sandalwood paste, thus giving Him relief from the intense heat.
Taking Krishna to be their life and soul, and most beloved friend, the devotees cannot bear the thought of the Lord having to endure the burning heat of the summer sun. Although the Lord is self sufficient and does not require anything, still, wanting to please Him, they render suitable service with love and affection.
Candanayatra starts on the third lunar day of the waxing moon of Vaisakha month and continues, without interruption, for twenty days. Lord Jagannatha gave direct instructions to King Indradyumna Maharaja to perform the festival specifically during this time. Smearing the body of the Lord with ointments is an act of devotion, and the finest of ointments is sandalwood paste. Since the month of Vaisakha is very hot in Bangladesh and India, the cooling effect of the sandalwood, on the body of the Lord, is very pleasing. Sandalwood paste is applied all over the body of the deity leaving only His two eyes visible.
For Gaudiya Vaishnavas, the most significant pastime, regarding Chandan Yatra, is that of Srila MadhavendraPuri. After having installed Gopal Deity, with a great festival on the hill of Sri Govardhan, Sri Gopal one night appeared to MadhavendraPuri in his dream. In the dream, the Lord requested Srila MadhavendraPurito bring sandalwood(Chandan) from the Malaya province and apply it on His transcendental form, thus relieving Him of the scorching heat He was feeling, having been hidden in the bushes for such a long time.
Sri Caitanya Caritamrita: Madhya Lila (4.106) mentions,
Gopala kahe, puriamara tapa nahiyayamalayaja-candanalepa’, tabe se judaya.
“In his dream, MädhavendraPuri saw Gopala Detiy, Who said, “My bodily temperature still has not decreased. Please bring sandalwood from the Malaya province and smear the pulp over My body to cool Me.
Being a pure devotee of the Lord, MadhavendraPuri, desiring to please Him, set off immediately for JagannathaPuri. On the way he took darshan of Sri Gopinathat Remuna, and the pastime of Gopinath stealing sweet rice for him, happened on that occasion, after which the Deity became famous as Ksheerchor Gopinath. Srila Madhavendra Puri journeyed on to Jagannath Puri and there, with the assistance of the king, he acquired a huge quantity of chandan for Gopal. On the way back to Govardhan whilst passing the temple of Gopinath, again he had a dream in which Gopal instructed him to apply the chandan on Gopinath instead of bringing it all the way back to Govardhan, as there is no difference between Gopal and Gopinath. Madhavendra Puri then ground the chandan and applied it on the form of Gopinath which gave immense pleasure to both Gopal and Gopinath. Thus the festival of Candana-yatra was revealed to the devotees.
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