Pradosha Māhātmya

Pradosha is the sacred twilight time, about ninety minutes on either side of sunset, on Trayodaśī, the thirteenth day of each half of the lunar month. At Pradosha, Bhagavān Śiva dances in joy on Mount Meru, and all the devas and ṛshis gather to honour him and watch. Pūjā done in this window, even with the simplest things, is received by Śiva and brings the greatest increase of fruit.

The Brahmottara Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Purāṇa tells the Pradosha Māhātmya (glory of Pradosha) through two long stories: the story of Candrasena and Śrīkara (Chapter 5) and the story of Pratharatha and Dharmagupta (Chapters 6–7). Chapter 7 also gives the full method of Pradosha pūjā, as taught by Śiva.

Why Pradosha Is So Sacred

On the Trayodaśī of each fortnight, at the hour of Pradosha, Śiva performs his dance on the peak of Meru. Nandī keeps the beat on his drum. Sarasvatī plays the vīṇā. Brahmā keeps the tāla (rhythm). Lakshmī sings. Vishṇu plays the flute (vaṃśa). All the devas gather to watch. At this moment the whole divine gathering is focused on the dancing Śiva.

Any pūjā to Śiva done at Pradosha, whether grand or simple, whether by a king or a child, becomes part of this great moment and receives extraordinary fruit.

Śani-Pradosha, when Pradosha falls on a Saturday, is said to be especially powerful.

The Stories

Candrasena and Śrīkara

At Ujjayinī, King Candrasena was a devoted follower of Mahākāla (Śiva). As the fruit of his devotion he received the divine Cintāmaṇi jewel from Maṇibhadra, one of Śiva’s gaṇas (attendants). A young cowherd boy named Śrīkara watched the king’s deep Pradosha pūjā and began to copy it on his own. On a Śani-Pradosha he picked up a stone from the ground and honoured it as Śiva. The stone was wondrously transformed. Hanumān appeared to Śrīkara and foretold that Bhagavān Kṛshṇa would be born in the eighth generation of his line.

Pratharatha and Dharmagupta

King Pratharatha of Vidarbha was killed by his enemies. His queen gave birth in the forest and was then swallowed by a crocodile. The baby, Dharmagupta, was found and raised by Umā, a brāhmaṇa widow. Later the ṛshi Śāṇḍilya recognised him as a royal child. The ṛshi explained that Dharmagupta had been wondrously protected through all these troubles because of Pradosha pūjā he had done in a past birth. In the end Dharmagupta married Aṃśumatī, a gandharva princess, won back his kingdom and ruled Vidarbha, all carried forward by his stored-up Pradosha merit.

How to Perform Pradosha Pūjā

The method of Pradosha pūjā as told in Chapter 7:

Preparation: Bathe and put on clean clothes. Set up Śiva and Pārvatī at the place of pūjā. Make the saṃkalpa (a formal statement of intention).

Dhyāna (meditation) on Śiva and Pārvatī: Meditate on the divine couple. Śiva is white like the kunda flower and the moon, adorned with serpents as ornaments, and holds the gestures of blessing (varada) and fearlessness (abhaya), an axe (paraśu) and a deer (mṛga). His matted hair is tawny and holds the water of Gaṅgā. His throat is blue (nīlakaṇṭha). He has four arms, wears an elephant hide, and sits on a jewelled throne. Pārvatī has four arms and holds a noose (pāśa), a goad (aṅkuśa), and the gestures of blessing and fearlessness. A young crescent moon is in her hair, and she wears a girdle (kāñcī), anklets (nūpura), jewelled earrings, red clothes and a jewelled necklace. Both are seated in joy at the hour of Pradosha.

Āvaraṇa pūjā: Pūjā to the surrounding devatās, each in their own direction.

Upacāras (offerings): sandalwood paste, akshata (unbroken rice), flowers, dhūpa (incense), dīpa (lamp) and naivedya (food), in the set order.

Stotra verses: particular verses of praise to Śiva as the dancer of Pradosha, beginning “Pradhānaṃ sarva-dharmaṃ tava caraṇa-sarasīruha…”, asking for the removal of all pāpas and the granting of wished-for fruits.

Phala (fruit): whatever is desired, whether a son, wealth, a kingdom or liberation, is gained by sincere Pradosha pūjā. Pradosha pūjā is called the greatest remover of all stored-up karma.

The Fruits of Pradosha

• The pāpas of many births are destroyed
• Long life, health, prosperity and fame
• Sons, wealth and kingdoms are given to those who wish for them
• Liberation for those who seek moksha
• Pradosha merit protects a person across births. Even when royal families fall, the soul that carries Pradosha merit is kept safe and brought back to its rightful place.

Sources

• Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa, Uttarārdha, Chapters 5–7