Today is the Holiday Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej- celebrated by Hindus and Jains. It is an auspicious day for setting intention, starting a new venture, buying valuables and doing charity. It is a popular day to buy and wear gold jewelry- signifying good fortune and wealth…the original glitz day. The Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh are both honored today.
The myth that resonates for me is the legend of Lord Krishna and Sudama, his poor Brahmin childhood friend. On this day, as the tale goes, Sudama came over to Krishna’s palace to request him for some financial help. As a gift for his friend, Sudama had nothing more than a handful of beaten rice or ‘poha’. So, he was utterly ashamed to give it to Krishna, but Krishna took the pouch of ‘poha’ from him and relished having it. Krishna followed the principle of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ or ‘the guest is like God’ and treated Sudama like a king. His poor friend was so overwhelmed by the warmth and hospitality shown by Krishna, that he could not ask for the financial favor and came home empty handed. Lo and behold! When he reached his place, Sudama’s old hut was transformed into a palace! He found his family dressed in royal attire and everything around was new and expensive. Sudama knew that it was a boon from Krishna, who blessed him with more than the wealth he actually intended to ask for. Therefore, Akshaya Tritiya is associated with material gains and wealth acquisition.-http://hinduism.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/a/akshayatritiya.htm
This is a story that appears in all religions: when you give from your heart and treat others as a Divine Expression, everything changes. You move into an abundance paradigm and see life through the heart. It is a way of acknowledging that we are all part of the same Divine Source no matter what are personalities reflect. We can chose to acknowledge what is, yet focus on the Higher Potential that we all have access to .
So for today, treat everyone you meet as God/Goddess and see what happens. The Divine wears many costumes. Open to receiving the abundance of the Universe.