Akshaya Navami 2025
Akshaya Navami, also known as Amla Navami or Dhatri Navami, is an extremely significant and sacred festival in Sanatan Dharma. It is celebrated on the ninth day (Navami Tithi) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik. The word 'Akshaya' means 'that which never diminishes' or 'eternal'. Any auspicious deed, charity, or religious observance performed on this day yields Akshaya (imperishable) result meaning the fruits of these actions never end and return manifold.
Akshaya Navami 2025: Date and Auspicious Timings
In the year 2025, Akshaya Navami will be celebrated on Friday, 31st October.
• Navami Tithi Begins: Thursday, 30th October 2025 at 10:06 AM
• Navami Tithi Ends: Friday, 31st October 2025 at 10:03 AM
• Akshaya Navami Auspicious Morning Muhurat: Friday, 31st October 2025 from 06:32 AM to 10:03 AM
This auspicious day falls exactly two days before Devuthani Ekadashi, the day when Lord Vishnu awakens from His four-month-long cosmic slumber.
The story of Akshaya Navami
In ancient times, Goddess Lakshmi set out to roam the Earth and pondered how she could worship both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva together. But Shiva is pleased with Bel Patra (Bael leaves) while Vishnu favors Tulsi (holy basil). She wondered—how she could offer devotion to both simultaneously? Just then, she came across an Amla (Indian gooseberry) tree and realized that its fruit embodied the qualities pleasing to both deities. It was a supreme and highly beneficial fruit. Under this very tree, the Goddess performed joint worship of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu and also served food to sages. Since then, the tradition of observing Amla Navami on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Kartik month has continued. On this day, the Amla tree is worshipped, which is why the Navami is also called Amla Navami.
On Amla Navami, men and women who are observing the fast listen to this sacred story:
A long time ago, there lived a righteous but childless merchant. One day, a neighbor told his wife that if she offered a child as a sacrifice in the name of Lord Bhairav, she would be blessed with a son. The merchant refused to accept such a terrible act, but his wife secretly believed it. One day, finding an opportunity, she abducted a young girl and threw her into a well as a sacrifice in Lord Bhairav's name.
As a result of this heinous act, the merchant's wife contracted leprosy, and the spirit of the sacrificed girl began to haunt her. The merchant questioned his wife, and she confessed everything. Disheartened, he told her that there is no place in this world for those who commit sins like cow slaughter, Brahmin murder, or child sacrifice. He advised her to go to the banks of the Ganges, repent, sing the Lord's praises, and bathe in the holy river to seek relief from her suffering.
The wife then went to the Ganga and began living on its banks. After some days, Goddess Ganga appeared to her in the form of an old woman and advised her to travel to Mathura, observe the Kartik Navami fast, and perform rituals by circumambulating and worshipping the Amla tree. She was told that doing so would cure her leprosy.
The merchant's wife obeyed the old woman's advice and began the Amla Navami Vrat in Mathura with proper rituals. Through this devotion and sincere worship, she earned divine blessings and was cured. Eventually, she was also blessed with a beautiful son.
This story reflects powerful messages about human behavior, divine grace, repentance, and the enduring strength of faith and righteousness.
Akshaya Navami Puja: Rituals and Procedure
The worship of the Amla (Indian gooseberry) tree holds special significance on Akshaya Navami.
1. Puja Preparation
• Bathing: Wake up before sunrise on Akshaya Navami and bathe in a holy river. If that’s not possible, add a few drops of Gangajal to your bath water at home.
• Clean Clothing: After bathing, wear clean clothes, preferably yellow in color.
• Resolution (Sankalp): Before beginning the puja, take a vow for fasting or worship while meditating on Lord Vishnu and the Amla tree.
2. Puja Items
• Fresh Amla fruit
• Turmeric
• Kumkum (vermilion)
• Akshat (unbroken rice)
• Fresh flowers
• Raw milk
• Water
• Yellow thread or Mauli
• Incense and oil/ghee lamp (or camphor)
• Naivedya (kheer, puri, sabzi, sweets)
• Cooked pumpkin
3. Puja Procedure
If there is an Amla tree in your garden, or at a nearby temple or public place, perform the rituals there. Begin by offering a small amount of water and raw milk at the roots of the tree. Then, they offer turmeric, kumkum, rice grains, and flowers to the tree. While meditating on Lord Vishnu, chant either “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” or “Om Dhatrye Namah” 11, 21, or 108 times, as per your capacity.
Next, circumambulate (parikrama) the tree 8, 54, or 108 times, tying raw yellow thread or mauli around the tree while praying in your heart to Lord Vishnu and the sacred tree for your wishes to be fulfilled. Light incense and a ghee or camphor lamp. Perform aarti to the tree using pure ghee or camphor. Offer bhog like kheer, puri, sabzi, and sweets beneath the tree.
Then, as per your ability, place some donation (dakshina) inside a cooked pumpkin and donate it to a Brahmin. After completing the puja, read or listen to the Akshaya Navami Vrat Katha.
Finally, serve food to Brahmins under the shade of the Amla tree, and then partake of the meal with your family. Doing so brings health, happiness, and prosperity.
Benefits of Akshaya Navami
• All acts of charity, virtue, and auspicious deeds performed on this day never diminishing, they return manifold.
• It brings peace, prosperity, and an abundance of wealth and grains into the home.
• It helps in curing diseases and bestows good health and longevity.
• It resolves marital discord, enhances harmony in married life, removes obstacles in marriage, and creates favorable conditions for early marriage.
• Childless couples are blessed with children, and existing children flourish and succeed.
• All kinds of heartfelt wishes and desires are fulfilled.
• This day also opens the path to attaining moksha (liberation).
• Charity and worship performed on this day free a person from debt and financial difficulties.
Mantra Chanting on Akshaya Navami
While worshipping the Amla tree and Lord Vishnu on Akshaya Navami, chanting the following mantras is considered highly auspicious and rewarding:
• Main Mantra of Lord Vishnu: "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya"
• Mantra for the Amla Tree: "Om Dhatrye Namah"
• Another Mantra for Lord Vishnu: "Om Vishnave Namah"
Chanting these mantras using a Rudraksha mala is considered especially beneficial, as it ensures eternal and multiplied results from worship.
Significance of Akshaya Navami
In Indian culture, the Amla tree holds great significance. According to the Skanda Purana, this tree is extremely dear to Lord Vishnu and is considered the first among all trees, hence also known as Adiroha (the primordial tree). The scriptures describe the Amla tree as a destroyer of all sins and a fulfiller of all desires.
During the month of Kartik, worshipping Lord Hari and partaking of food beneath the Amla tree is believed to destroy all sins and multiply the merits (punya) manifold. In Sanatan Dharma, it is believed that all deities reside within the Amla tree, making its worship and protection a sacred duty of mankind. Even Goddess Parvati is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu under the Amla tree on Kartik Navami.
In Ayurveda, Amla is regarded as a powerful medicinal herb and a divine fruit, rich in health-enhancing properties. It is an excellent source of Vitamin C, which helps boost immunity and protect the body from diseases. Regular consumption of Amla brings a natural glow to the face, improves eyesight, and increases blood levels. It is also highly beneficial for skin and hair and supports heart health as well.
Unique Features of Akshaya Navami
• It is a tradition to sit and eat beneath the Amla tree on this day. Doing so is believed to cleanse one of all sins and bestow good health.
• Planting an Amla tree at home, especially in the east or north direction, is considered highly auspicious. It removes negative energies and brings positivity.
• In West Bengal, Jagaddhatri Puja is performed on Akshaya Navami, dedicated to a divine form of Goddess Durga.
• In the Mathura-Vrindavan region, the Panchkoshi Parikrama begins on this day, a spiritual pilgrimage that continues for several days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. In which states is Akshaya Navami celebrated?
Akshaya Navami is widely celebrated in North India, especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana. Additionally, in West Bengal, it is observed in the form of Jagaddhatri Puja.
2. Why do we celebrate Akshaya Navami?
We celebrate Akshaya Navami because it is believed that all auspicious deeds, charity, and worship performed on this day yield imperishable (Akshaya) rewards. The day is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the Amla tree, and their worship brings happiness, prosperity, good health, and the fulfillment of all desires.
3. What should we do on Akshaya Navami?
• Wake up early, take a bath, and wear clean clothes.
• Worship the Amla tree by offering water, milk, turmeric, kumkum, rice, and flowers.
• Circumambulate the tree while tying raw thread or mauli around it.
• Chant mantras dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the Amla tree.
• Perform charity based on your capacity, especially food, clothes, and money.
• Sit and eat with your family under the Amla tree.
• Offer Tarpan and donations in the name of ancestors.
4. How do you perform Akshaya Navami puja at home?
If you don’t have an Amla tree at home, you may go to a temple or public garden where one is present and perform the rituals there. If that’s not possible, bring fresh Amla fruits from the market and place them at your home altar. Meditate on Lord Vishnu and the Amla tree and perform the puja with proper rituals.
5. When will Akshaya Navami begin in 2025?
Akshaya Navami in 2025 will be celebrated on Friday, 31st October. The Navami Tithi will begin on 30th October 2025 at 10:06 AM and end on 31st October 2025 at 10:03 AM. The auspicious time for puja will be from 06:32 AM to 10:03 AM on 31st October.
6. What should we avoid on Akshaya Navami?
• Do not lend or borrow money on this day.
• Keep your home and place of worship clean.
• Do not cut or harm the Amla tree in any way.
• Do not litter near the Amla tree.
• Avoid consuming tamasic food (like non-vegetarian or overly spicy food).
• Refrain from any actions that cause harm to others, as negative deeds too yield imperishable results.
• Do not discard Amla fruit outside the home.
7. Why is it called Akshaya Navami?
It is called Akshaya Navami because the word "Akshaya" means "that which never perishes" or "eternal." It is believed that any good deed, charity, worship, mantra chanting, or penance done on this sacred day yields endless rewards, the benefits of which last for many lifetimes.
