Guest guest Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Dear all, Pradosham comes once in 15 days. In both Sukla paksha ( waxing moon) and Krishna paksha (waning moon) the evening of the thirteenth day or thrayodashi day is called pradosha sandhya. Pradosham starts about one and half hours before sunset and ends about half hour after sunset. This time is very auspicious to pray to Lord Shiva and we believe that all the 33 million devaas pray Lord Shiva during this time. There is an interesting story behind Pradosha and about the importance of worshipping Lord Shiva during this time. It is connected with the Amrutha madhanam or churning of the ocean. We all know that as per Lord Vishnu's advice, devaas and asuraas started churning the milky ocean and Bhagavan helped them in several ways. He took the Koormaavathaara or the form of a huge tortoise to hold the Mandara mountain and Vaasuki, the extremely poisonous snake served as the rope. The very first thing to come out of the milky ocean during churning was the deadly poison Halahala. If a drop of it fell on earth, the whole earth would be destroyed. Devendra started panicking and told Bhagavan about this danger. Bhagavan asked him to go to Lord Shiva and ask for help. When he frantically ran to Kailasa, the abode or Lord Shiva, His guard Nandi did not let him go inside. Nandi did not want his master to do anything with the fatal Halahal poison. Devendra did pradakshina (went round clockwise) of Kailasa several times and still Nandi would not let him go inside. After a few times, Lord Shiva took pity on him and came out and asked what he wanted. Devendra explained the situation and Lord Karunakara (kindness personified) told him that he would swallow the poison and would save Bhoomidevi. Lord Shiva took the Halahal in His hands and put the whole thing in his mouth. Terrified Parvathi Devi came running and held his throat tightly so that he would not swallow the poison in to His stomach. The black and thick poison just stayed on Lord Shiva's neck turning the colour of the neck into blue. So Shiva became Neelakandhan (one whose neck is blue). Soon after putting the Halahla in His mouth, Lord Neelakndha felt a little uneasy and rested on Parvathi Devi's lap. Parvathi Devi was very sad to see him uncomfortable , though very mildly, due to the bad effect of the poison. After resting and sleeping for about one and half days Lord Shiva felt better and opened his eyes and it was a Saturday and Thrayodashi, the thirteenth day of waxing moon. This happened in the evening about one and a half hours before sunset. Lord Shiva woke up as though from a sound and blissful sleep and looked fresh and energetic. Parvathi Devi's joy knew no bounds. Lord Shiva slowly got up and his anklets made heavenly sound of Pranavam (AUM) announcing the whole world that Halahalam, the strongest poison in the universe became a decoration on His neck and did absolutely no harm to Him. Lord Shiva was happy that he could save the whole earth from Halahala and was in a mood to dance and celebrate the happy occasion. Indra chanted with relief: " Nama: Paarvathi pathaye " Parvathi Devi and all Devaas chanted : Hara Hara Mahadeva " Vishnu Bhagavan blew his conch Paanchajanyam and Lord Shiva started his divine dance. Sarswathi Devi played Veena, Devendra had the mridangam, Brahma deva played Khatam, Parvathi Devi sang beautifully and Lord Shiva himself sounded the drums. The whole world watched the beautiful pradosha nruttham or pradosha dance of Lord Shiva and it was the most blissful experience for them. It was an awesome sight and Lord Shiva showered blessings on all His devotees and His kindness flowed and filled the earth. These one and half hours before sunset on Thrayodashi day is known as Pradosha sandhya. It is believed that Lord Shiva in the form of Nataraja grants all the wishes if a devotee prays during the Pradosha sandhya. When Pradosha falls on a Saturday then, it is called Mahapradosha. Regards and prayers savitri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Thank you very much, Savitriji for the story and significance of Pradosham. regards, sreedevi Om Namo Narayanaya --- On Wed, 5/20/09, Savitri Puram <savitriopuram wrote: Savitri Puram <savitriopuram[Guruvayur] Namasthe- Pradosha sandhyaWednesday, May 20, 2009, 4:21 AM Dear all, Pradosham comes once in 15 days. In both Sukla paksha ( waxing moon) and Krishna paksha (waning moon) the evening of the thirteenth day or thrayodashi day is called pradosha sandhya. Pradosham starts about one and half hours before sunset and ends about half hour after sunset. This time is very auspicious to pray to Lord Shiva and we believe that all the 33 million devaas pray Lord Shiva during this time. There is an interesting story behind Pradosha and about the importance of worshipping Lord Shiva during this time. It is connected with the Amrutha madhanam or churning of the ocean. We all know that as per Lord Vishnu's advice, devaas and asuraas started churning the milky ocean and Bhagavan helped them in several ways. He took the Koormaavathaara or the form of a huge tortoise to hold the Mandara mountain and Vaasuki, the extremely poisonous snake served as the rope. The very first thing to come out of the milky ocean during churning was the deadly poison Halahala. If a drop of it fell on earth, the whole earth would be destroyed. Devendra started panicking and told Bhagavan about this danger. Bhagavan asked him to go to Lord Shiva and ask for help. When he frantically ran to Kailasa, the abode or Lord Shiva, His guard Nandi did not let him go inside. Nandi did not want his master to do anything with the fatal Halahal poison. Devendra did pradakshina (went round clockwise) of Kailasa several times and still Nandi would not let him go inside. After a few times, Lord Shiva took pity on him and came out and asked what he wanted. Devendra explained the situation and Lord Karunakara (kindness personified) told him that he would swallow the poison and would save Bhoomidevi. Lord Shiva took the Halahal in His hands and put the whole thing in his mouth. Terrified Parvathi Devi came running and held his throat tightly so that he would not swallow the poison in to His stomach. The black and thick poison just stayed on Lord Shiva's neck turning the colour of the neck into blue. So Shiva became Neelakandhan (one whose neck is blue). Soon after putting the Halahla in His mouth, Lord Neelakndha felt a little uneasy and rested on Parvathi Devi's lap. Parvathi Devi was very sad to see him uncomfortable , though very mildly, due to the bad effect of the poison. After resting and sleeping for about one and half days Lord Shiva felt better and opened his eyes and it was a Saturday and Thrayodashi, the thirteenth day of waxing moon. This happened in the evening about one and a half hours before sunset. Lord Shiva woke up as though from a sound and blissful sleep and looked fresh and energetic. Parvathi Devi's joy knew no bounds. Lord Shiva slowly got up and his anklets made heavenly sound of Pranavam (AUM) announcing the whole world that Halahalam, the strongest poison in the universe became a decoration on His neck and did absolutely no harm to Him. Lord Shiva was happy that he could save the whole earth from Halahala and was in a mood to dance and celebrate the happy occasion. Indra chanted with relief: "Nama: Paarvathi pathaye" Parvathi Devi and all Devaas chanted : Hara Hara Mahadeva" Vishnu Bhagavan blew his conch Paanchajanyam and Lord Shiva started his divine dance. Sarswathi Devi played Veena, Devendra had the mridangam, Brahma deva played Khatam, Parvathi Devi sang beautifully and Lord Shiva himself sounded the drums. The whole world watched the beautiful pradosha nruttham or pradosha dance of Lord Shiva and it was the most blissful experience for them. It was an awesome sight and Lord Shiva showered blessings on all His devotees and His kindness flowed and filled the earth. These one and half hours before sunset on Thrayodashi day is known as Pradosha sandhya. It is believed that Lord Shiva in the form of Nataraja grants all the wishes if a devotee prays during the Pradosha sandhya. When Pradosha falls on a Saturday then, it is called Mahapradosha. Regards and prayers savitri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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