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ShivaPradosham
Pradosha,alsospelledPradoshorShivaPradosham,fallsonthe13thlunarday(Trayodashi)
duringthewaxingandwaningphaseofmoonintheHindulunarcalendar.
Occurring between 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm on Trayodashi, the Pradosha time is propitious to pray Lord Shiva and invoke his
blessings. It is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva at Pradosh day will relieve from sins and gives Moksha. Among the
poojasperformedbythedevoteesofLordShiva,thePradoshapujaisconsideredtobemoreauspicious.Itisbelievedthat
duringPradoshaperiodalltheuniversalbeingsandGodscomedowntoearthandattendtheworship.

TheimportanceofobservingPradoshaisdescribedinPradoshaMahatmyamfromShivaPuranaandhenceShivadevotees
observe Pradosha Pooja with high sanctity. Pradosha indicates the meeting of the Sun and the Moon in a horizontal line
duringtheirmovementontheirAxis.

PradhoshaVrataSignificance:
According to the Shiva Puranas, observing a fast on Pradosham Vratam is regarded as highly auspicious and
beneficial.Onewouldbeblessedwithwealth,children,happinessandhonor.WhilethefastisundertakenbyallShiva
devotees, but all women who have been longing for a son specially observe this. Also, praying to Lord Shiva during the
courseofthefastissaidtoliberatethedevoteefromallhispreviousandpresentsinsandevildeedscommitted.According
toonelegend,LordShivaisbelievedtohavedrunktheHalahalapoisonduringPradosham.Thispoisonwasmixedwiththe
OceanofMilk(SamudraManthan).

ShaniPradoshSaniPradosham
AccordingtoHindubelief,LordShivaswallowedthepoisononaSaturdayandthisiscalledSani
Pradosh or Shani Pradosha. Sani Pradosham is classified into Uthama Shani Pradhosham,
MathimaSaniPradhosham,andAthamaSaniPradhosham.

UthamaSaniPradhoshaistheSaniPradhoshamthatcomesduringtheTamilmonthofChithirai,
Vaigasi, Ayppasi and Karthigai during the waxing period. Mathima Sani Pradhosham occurs
duringtheTamilmonthofChithirai,Vaigasi,AyppasiandKarthigaiduringwaningperiod.Allother
ShaniPradhoshamscomeunderthiscategoryAthamaShaniPradhosha.

MahaPradhosham
MahaPradhoshaisayearlyritewhichfallsduringFebruaryMarch(MaghainSanskrit,KumbhaMasaminMalayalam,and
MaasiinTamil)beforeMahaSivarathri.PradoshamiscarriedoutregularlyinallLordShivaTemplesacrossthecountry.

HistoryofShivaPradoshamVratorWhytoobserveShivaPradosham
According to Hindu Puranas, the gods (Devas) and the demons (Asuras) were stirring the milky ocean to extract amritam
(nectar),withVasuki(theserpentking)asarope.AsVasukiunderwentseverescratchesduetothechurning,sheemitteda

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powerfulpoisonwhichiscapableofdestroyingtheworld.ThehelplesscelestialspleadedLordShivatosavethem.Inorder
tosavethem,LordShivaswallowedthepoison.GoddessParvatistoppedthepoisoninLordsthroatanditisbelievedthat
histhroatturnedtoblue.

Asaresultofthis,LordShivacametobeknownasThiruneelagandanorNeelakandan(theonewithBlueThroat).

It is said that on the Trayodhasi (thirteenth moon day) day, the gods and
demonsrealizedthattheyhadcommittedasinofnotprayingtheGodand
prayed for forgiveness. Lord Shiva Shankar forgave them and danced in
betweenthehornsoftheNandhis(CelestialBull)forehead.

This time is called Pradhosham. It is believed that if anybody prays Lord

Shivainthattime,hefulfillstheirwishesandgivesthemmukthi.

Pradoshapoojaisoneofthemostsacredandimportantamongthepoojas
performed by Shivites to the Graceful Lord Shiva. In Shukla Paksha (15
moon days from new moon to full moon) and Krishna Paksha (15 moon
daysfromfullmoontonewmoon)theeveningoftheTrayodasi(thirteenth
moon day) between 4.30 pm to 6.00 p.m. is called Pradosham. It comes
onceinfifteenmoondays.PradoshatimeistoprayLordShivaandinvoke
HisBlessings.PrayinginthistimewillfreeusfromsinsandgivesMoksha
ShivPradoshPuja (hence the name Pradosha). During Pradosha time, a special type of
circumbulating called Somasutra Pradakshinam. During Prodhosha time
anointing(Abhishekam)theShivadeitywiththeFollowingisconsideredfruitful.

PradoshamCalender2016
Milk GivesLongLife

Ghee GivesMokshastate
Curd GivesGoodChildren
Honey GiveMelodiousVoice
RicePowder
FreesfromDebts
[ArisiPodi]
SugarCaneJuice Givesgoodhealthandremovesenmity
Panchaamrutham GivesWealth
LimeJuice RemovesfearofDeath
TenderCoconut Givesenjoymentandfullsatisfactioninlife

CookedRice[Annam] GivesMajesticlife
Sandal GivesLakshmisgrace
Sugar Removesenmity
RudraisalwaysknowntobeeasilypleasedandthroughthepraisecontainedinSriRudram,thefierceRudraiscalmedand
becomesreadytograntuseveryconceivableblessingasrequestedintheChamakamhymn.

Buy the ShivaParvati Pradosha lamp here: Shiva Parvati Pradosha lamp
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pleaseShivaandKarmaremoval
HowtoperformSomasutrapradakshinamduringshivapradosham
Explainedby:CSRajGopalan
During the Pradhosham time Somasutra pradakshinam is the suggested way of
circumambulating Sivalingam. In some of the temples this is followed always. A
point to note here is that the Gomukhi is never crossed. Gomukhi is the place
wherethewaterafteranointing(abhishekatirtham)wouldbeflowingnorthwardsout.
Bydoingthiswayofpradakshinamonedoesnotstepoverthisholywater.

vrushamchandamvrushamsaiva
somasutrampunavrusham
ShivaParvatiPradoshamLamp
chandamchasomasutramcha
punachandampunarvrusham

First saluting the Rishabha devar (Holy Bull) go anticlockwise and salute SomaSutraPradikshinam
chandishwar(notcrossingthegomukhi).Nowreturnintheclockwisemannersalute
Rishabham and continue clockwise till the Gomukhi (not cross it again). Then return in anticlockwise direction salute the
Rishabham again and proceed towards chandishar. From there return back clockwise without worshiping Rishabham and
reachthegomukhi.FinallyreturnbackanticlockwisefromtheretosaluteRishabhamandcontinuetochandishwarandreturn
back to Rishabham and worship the shiva lingam (at the altar) by viewing through the space between the two horns of the
Holybull.Thisisonepradakshinam.Threesuchtimespradadakshinamtobedone.

IfyoucarefullyobservethecurvetracedbydoingthepradakshinamisverysimilartotheperipheryoftheCRESCENT.
HencethiswayofcircumambulatingiscalledSOMASUTRAPRADAKSHINAM.

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