Pradosh and Pradosh Vrat

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Pradosh and Pradosh Vrat
For all kinds of Vrat and Fasts see Vrat and Fasts

When the 6th day (Shashthee) ends before 1.5 Prahar of night, or 3rd Tithi ends before 1 Prahar of night, it is called Pradosh.

But generally people observe Pradosh on the 13th day of both Krishn Paksh and Shukla Paksh of a month during Sandhyaa time - up to 1 and 1/2 hours after sunset. The Lord of 13th day is Kaam Dev and the Lord of 14th day is Shiv Jee. The 14th day of Krishn Paksh (dark half) is Shiv Raatri.

Vrat Kathaa
The Skand Puran describes a story of a Braahman woman that how Shaandilya Muni prescribed this Vrat to a Braahman woman. She came to the Muni with her two sons Shuchivrat who was of her own, and the other one who was an orphan Prince - Dharmgupt whose father was slain in a battle. Upon the advice of the Rishi the woman and both boys kept the Pradosh Vrat with great devotion. After four months, on the 8th Pradosh, Shuchivrat received a pot of Amrit. He drank it. While Prince Dharmgupt won the hand of a celestial Princess, as ordered by Shiv. He won his enemies and got his lost kingdom back.

Method of Vrat
One should take this Vrat and fast on this day, and keep awake the whole night after the fast is over. Taking bath an hour before sunset, the worshipper should first perform a preliminary worship of Lord Shiv along with Paarvatee, Ganesh, Nandee and Skand. After the worship of Ganesh, Lord Shiv is invoked in the special Kalash placed on a square Mandal with a lotus flower figure drawn in it and spread over with Doorvaa grass. After the formal worship has been completed, a Pradosh story is read and heard by the devotees. This is followed by the recitation of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra 108 times. In the end, the sacred Kalash water is partaken of, the sacred ash is applied to the forehead, and the water which was used to bathe the Lord, is drunk. A gift of a pot, a cloth and an image of the Lord Shiv are given to a Braahman to conclude the worship.

A very important point to be remembered in this connection is that during this auspicious period, all the hosts of celestial beings and gods come down from the heavens and attend the worship in their subtle forms. This adds immensely to the sanctity of the worship.

The mere sight of the Deity in a temple during this period will destroy all sins and bestow bountiful blessings and Grace upon the fortunate beholder. Even a single Bel leaf offered to the Lord at this unique, auspicious moment equals to a hundred Mahaa Poojaa. It is usual to have special additional lights in the shrine during the Pradosh.

To light even a single wick at this juncture is highly meritorious and productive of untold benefits, spiritual as well as material. Most fortunate and blessed is the person who performs the Pradosh Vrat, for upon him Lord Siva showers His choicest Grace and blessings in a very short time.

Taken from Vishnu Mandir's Web site

Another Description
Once Devtas and Demons churned the milky ocean with snake Vaasuki as the rope to get nectar to increase their longevity. Not withstanding the pressure, the snake spilled the poison. In order to save everyone, at the behest of Lord Shiv, Nandee and Sundarar brought the poison and Shiv shaped it like a round naval fruit and just swallowed. Now if he swallowed it, the whole life on all the worlds (not only our earth) would be gone, if he didn't, the Devataa and Demons would be gone. So Goddess Paarvatee Jee just held his throat gently and the poison stayed there. Because of this, Shiv felt a little dizzy and rested in the laps of Paarvatee. On waking up, he found that everyone was happy and felt relieved since a big disaster was averted. So, happily, he then began his cosmic dance accompanied by Indra reciting flute, Mahaa Lakshmee singing, Brahmaa Jee playing the Jalaraa, and Mahaa Vishnu playing the Mridang in the presence of all Devtaa and Rishi. This is what is being celebrated as "Pradosh" every fortnight.

Pradosh Worship Procedure:
Pradosh time is between 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM, normally, depends upon the time of sunset because of season and latitude. All the Gods and Goddesses assemble during Pradosh time. So Pradosh worship gives the blessings of all these Gods and Goddesses. We should not go in between Shiv Lingam and Nandee in any temple even in normal time but especially during the Pradosh time, we strictly should not. We should first worship Nandee Jee, then Shiv Jee through the gap in between the two horns of the Nandee. Since Nandee is the one who takes one's prayers to Shiv, we can tell our wishes and prayers in the ears of Nandee. Very sacred to chant Rudra during Pradosh, offer red flower garland and Naivedya to Nandee are very sacred.

Types of Pradosh:
It is believed that each day of the week has different benefits during Pradosh time:

Sunday: Shubha Mangal
Monday: Good thinking
Tuesday: Removal of poverty
Wednesday: Blessing of child, Knowledge and education
Thursday: Divine blessings through the Pitars, all dangers will be eliminated
Friday: Nullifying opposition
Saturday: Promotion, get back the lost wealth

Pradosh comes on the Trayodashee day every fifteen days. Mahaa Pradosh comes yearly during the month of Maagh before Mahaa Shiv Raatri The Pradosh coming on Som Vaar (Monday) is called Som Pradosh. Monday is a special day for Shiv. If the Mahaa Pradosh comes on Saturday, it is called Shani Mahaa Pradosh. Saturday is the day when Shiv swallowed poison and this is called Shani Pradosh.

It is categorized into three depending upon the month of the Pradosh:
(1) Uttam Shani Pradosh (Maximum power) - The Shani Pradosh that comes during the months of Chaitra, Vaishaakh, Aashaadh and Kaartik during the Growing Lunar Cycle (Shukla Paksh), ie New moon to Full moon period.
(2) Madhyam Shani Pradosh (Normal power) - The Shani Pradosh that comes during the months of Chaitra, Vaishaakh, Aashaadh and Kaartik during Diminishing Lunar Cycle (Krishn Paksh), ie Full moon to New moon period. and
(3) Adham Shani Pradosh (Minimum power) - All the other Shani Pradosh.

The Pradosh that falls on any Saturday is called Mahaa Pradosh (Shani Pradosh). Worshipping Shiv on this day is bound to give the efficacy of a period of 5 years. Worshipping of Pradosh Utsav Moorti (procession of the idols along the corridors) is equal to witnessing the rejuvenation of three temples (Kumbh Abhishek) and also equal to visiting 100 holy shrines.

Pradosh denotes the end of day time and the beginning of night. This is also called the period of Asur (Raakshas Belaa). So during this period one is forbidden to eat or drink. One is advised to perform Shiv Pooja in this period. The duration between 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm everyday is called Nitya Pradosh.

The same duration of time on the Trayodashee day immediately following the New Moon day is called Monthly Pradosham (Maas Pradosh) and the same duration on the Trayodashee day following the Full Moon day is called Paksh Pradosh.

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