What is the meaning of Akshayapathram?
The Akshaya Pathram or Akshaya patra was a magical vessel that provided an endless supply of food, even whatever was kept inside the vessel that gets multiplied.
The Pandavas were in a tough spot with little food to offer the visiting sages. Yudhishthira, deeply troubled by his inability to provide for everyone, asked the sages to return to Indraprastha. They advised him to pray to the Sun God, Surya. Yudhishthira devoted himself to punishment, praying with such dedication that he didn’t notice when Surya appeared before him. Impressed by his devotion, Surya god gifted him the Akshaya Patra.
As long as Draupadi the last to eat among the Pandavas, hadn’t taken her meal, the Akshaya Pathram would never run out of food. This magical gift allowed the Pandavas to feed all the sages and guests who visited their hermitage, ensuring no one ever went hungry. With the Akshaya Pathram, the Pandavas were able to survive in the forest without any worries about food. The sages who visited were always satisfied with the hospitality of the truthful and honest son of Pandu, Yudhishthira. This wonderful vessel brought great relief and happiness to the Pandavas during their time in the forest.
Panchali used it for serving food to Lord Krishna. But if akshaya pathram is treated with soil or something like dirt it will immediately change into a normal vessel.
Akshaya Pathram Bhagavad Gita
In the Bhagavad Gita, it’s said that God takes care of all the material needs of a true devotee or spiritual seeker. These seekers usually don’t have material ambitions and wouldn’t use dishonest means to earn money. So, how do they get what they need? God himself promises to provide for them. This doesn’t mean everything is handed over without effort. It means God provides opportunities for them to support themselves using their intelligence and abilities. This idea is similar to the concept of the Akshaya Pathram from the Mahabharata.
The Akshaya Pathram was a magical vessel that provided endless food to the Pandavas during their exile. But in a broader sense, Akshaya Pathram symbolizes the way God or nature sustains all living beings. Even as the world population has grown dramatically over the past century, the Earth continues to provide for everyone. Some call this the inherent capacity of nature, while others see it as the hand of God.
So, while the Mahabharata is a mythological tale, the Bhagavad Gita, which is part of it, teaches spiritual truths. The idea is that just as the Akshaya Pathram fed the Pandavas, God or nature continues to meet the needs of all creatures today. However, it’s also a reminder that we need to manage our resources wisely, especially with the challenges of overpopulation.
Where is Akshaya Pathram now?
It just turned into a normal copper vessel when Draupadi finished her meal, no longer possessing the magic it once had.
The Akshaya Patra lost its magical powers after the Pandavas’ exile ended. The Sun God had blessed Yudhishthira with the vessel, which would provide unlimited food until Draupadi finished her meal each day, but this boon was only meant to last for 12 years. So, at the end of the Pandavas’ 12-year exile, the Akshaya Patra’s power was exhausted, and it turned back into a regular copper vessel with no magical abilities.