Pradhosha Vrata, or Pradhosham, is an important fasting day dedicated to Lord Shiva. Pradosha occurs twice in a month – on the 13th day (Trayodashi) – during the waxing moon fortnight and the other during the waning moon fortnight. The puja and worship is done in the evening. The Pradosha period can be loosely indicated as 1.5 hours before sunset and 1 hour after sunset.
The Shiva Purana states that one undertakes fasting on Pradhosha will be blessed with wealth, children, happiness and honor. The fasting and worship is specially undertaken by women who long to have children. It is said that those praying to Shiva during the auspicious time of Pradhosha will be freed from sins.
There are numerous legends associated with the Pradhosha Vratam. It is believed that Lord Shiva drank the Halahala poison that was churned up from the Ocean of Milk (Samudra Manthan) during Pradosham.
Another myth indicates that Lord Shiva and Parvati, the divine couple, are in a propitious mood during the evening twilight on the Trayodashi day and hence are easily pleased and grants whatever that a sincere devotee asks.
Offering Bael or Bilva leaves during the period to Lord Shiva is considered auspicious.
There are Shiva devotees that observe fast on both Pradosha days in a month. Some only fast during the waning phase of moon.
Staunch devotees opt for water only fasting and will only eat the ‘prasad’ offered in the evening. Such devotees only eat cooked from next day morning.
Another method of fasting is by eating fruits and such devotees eat cooked food on the day after the evening prayers. The strictness of the Pradosha fasting is usually decided by the devotee.
Some devotees do not fast but worship Shiva during the period or visit temples.
Since Monday is dedicated to Shiva, the Pradosha falling on Monday is referred as Soma- Pradosha and is considered highly auspicious. Pradosha falling on Saturday during the waning phase of moon is also auspicious.
How to do or observe Pradosham or Pradosh Vrat dedicated to Shiva?
Pradosh Vrat is observed on the 13th day of a fortnight and there are two Pradosham in a Hindu month. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped in the evening during twilight on this day. In some regions, the day is dedicated to Nataraja form of Shiva. The fasting on this day is observed for success, peace and fulfillment of desires. It is said that mere darshan of any of the one form of Shiva removes ignorance.
Pradosham is observed when the Trayodashi Tithi is there during the twilight period. This is important.
The importance of Pradosha Vrata and how to observe it is narrated in the Skanda Purana.
There are two methods of fasting on the day. Some people observe a 24-hour fast which includes not sleeping during night. Another method is fasting from sunrise till sunset and after Shiva puja in the evening the fast is broken.
Pradosham is the twilight period just before sunset and after sunset. Pujas and prayers are performed during this period. Many people during this period spend the time in a Shiva temple or listening to the glory of Shiva. In the evening, an hour before sunset the devotee takes bath and prayers are offered to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi, Ganesha, Kartik and Nandi. After the initial prayers, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Kalasha (sacred pot). The Kalasha filled with water is covered with darbha grass and a lotus is drawn on the pot.
Another form of worship is the puja of Shivling. The shivling is bathed with water and Bilva leaves are offered. Some people use a painting or picture of Shiva for worship. It is said that offering Bilva leaves on Pradosham is highly auspicious.
After this people listen to the Pradosha Vrata Katha or story or read chapters from Shiva Purana. Then the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is recited 108 times.
After this the water used in the puja ceremony is given as ‘Prasad’ along with sacred ash. The ash is applied on the forehead.
It is said that just lighting a single lamp during Pradosham period is enough to please Lord Shiva and the act is highly rewarding. Majority of Shiva devotees have a darshan of Shiva during Pradosham in a nearby temple.
nadīṣu jalaṁ bhavati | parantu nadya: svayameva tat jalaṁ kadāpi na pibanti | vṛkṣeṣu phalāni bhavanti | te vṛkṣā: api svayameva tāni phalāni kadāpi na khādanti | jalavarṣaṇena sasyāni yathā samyak pravṛddhāni bhaveyu: tathā kurvanti meghā: | parantu te svena vardhitāni sasyāni svayameva na khādanti | evameva sajjanā: svasamīpe vidyamānānāṁ sampattīnām upayogaṁ svayaṁ na kurvanti | api tu paropakārārthameva tāsāṁ viniyogaṁ kurvanti |
पिबन्ति नद्य: स्वयमेव नाम्भ: स्वयं न खादन्ति फलानि वृक्षा: । नादन्ति सस्यं खलु वारिवाहा: परोपकाराय सतां विभूतय: ॥
सु.भा. – सज्जनप्रशंसा (५१/१७०)
नदीषु जलं भवति । परन्तु नद्य: स्वयमेव तत् जलं कदापि न पिबन्ति । वृक्षेषु फलानि भवन्ति । ते वृक्षा: अपि स्वयमेव तानि फलानि कदापि न खादन्ति । जलवर्षणेन सस्यानि यथा सम्यक् प्रवृद्धानि भवेयु: तथा कुर्वन्ति मेघा: । परन्तु ते स्वेन वर्धितानि सस्यानि स्वयमेव न खादन्ति । एवमेव सज्जना: स्वसमीपे विद्यमानानां सम्पत्तीनाम् उपयोगं स्वयं न कुर्वन्ति । अपि तु परोपकारार्थमेव तासां विनियोगं कुर्वन्ति ।
There is water in the rivers, but the river never drinks its own water. There are fruits on the trees, but those trees also never eat their own fruits. It is through rainfall that all plants and trees grow lusciously, but the clouds never eat the plants brought up by their own water. In the same way, Virtuous People use their abundances such as wealth, knowledge, etc. not for themselvesbut for others.
പിബന്തി നദ്യ: സ്വയമേവ നാംഭ:
സ്വയം ന ഖാദന്തി ഫലാനി വൃക്ഷാ: |
നാദന്തി സസ്യം ഖലു വാരിവാഹാ:
പരോപകാരായ സതാം വിഭൂതയ: ||
സു.ഭാ. – സജ്ജനപ്രശംസാ (51/170)
നദീഷു ജലം ഭവതി | പരന്തു നദ്യ: സ്വയമേവ തത് ജലം കദാപി ന പിബന്തി | വൃക്ഷേഷു ഫലാനി ഭവന്തി | തേ വൃക്ഷാ: അപി സ്വയമേവ താനി ഫലാനി കദാപി ന ഖാദന്തി | ജലവർഷണേന സസ്യാനി യഥാ സമ്യക് പ്രവൃദ്ധാനി ഭവേയു: തഥാ കുർവന്തി മേഘാ: | പരന്തു തേ സ്വേന വർധിതാനി സസ്യാനി സ്വയമേവ ന ഖാദന്തി | ഏവമേവ സജ്ജനാ: സ്വസമീപേ വിദ്യമാനാനാം സമ്പത്തീനാം ഉപയോഗം സ്വയം ന കുർവന്തി | അപി തു പരോപകാരാർഥമേവ താസാം വിനിയോഗം കുർവന്തി |
Here is a beautiful message for most of us which I humbly believe not only as to be nice to have but how nice if we are able to practice!
The Art Of Giving
“Rivers do not drink their own water, nor do tree eat their own fruit, nor do rain clouds eat the grains reared by them. The wealth of the noble is used solely for the benefit of others!
Even after accepting that giving is good and that one must learn to give, several questions need to be answered.
The first question is:
When should one give?
We all know the famous incident from Mahabharat.
Yudhisthir asks a beggar seeking alms to come the next day. On this, Bhim rejoices that Yudhisthir his brother, has conquered death! For he is sure that he will be around the next day to give. Yudhisthir gets the message.
One does not know really whether one will be there tomorrow to give!
The time to give, therefore, is now.
The next question is:
‘How much to give?’
One recalls the famous incident from history.
Rana Pratap was reeling after defeat from the Moghals. He had lost his army, he had lost his wealth, and most important, he had lost hope, his will to fight. At that time, in his darkest hour, his erstwhile minister, Bhamasha, came seeking him and placed his entire fortune at the disposal of Rana Pratap. With this, Rana Pratap raised an army and lived to fight another day.
The answer to this question how much to give is:
“Give as much as one can!
The next question is:
‘What to give?’
It is not only money that can be given away. It could be a flower or even a smile.
It is not how much one gives but how one gives that really matters. When you give a smile to a stranger that may be the only good thing received by him in days and weeks!
“You can give anything but you must give with all your heart!”
One also needs answer to this question
Whom to give?
Many times we avoid giving by finding fault with the person who is seeking. However, being judgmental and rejecting a person on the presumption that he may not be the most deserving, is not justified.
“Give without being judgmental!”
Next we have to answer:
‘How to give?’
Coming to the manner of giving, one has to ensure that the receiver does not feel humiliated, nor the giver feels proud by giving.
In giving, follow the advice ‘Let not your left hand know what your right hand gives? Charity without publicity and fanfare is the highest form of charity.’
‘Give quietly!’
While giving, let not the recipient feel small or humiliated. After all, what we give never really belonged to us. We come to this world with nothing and will go with nothing. The thing gifted was only with us for a temporary period. Why then take pride in giving away something which really did not belong to us?
Give with grace and with a feeling of gratitude.
“What should one feel after giving?”
We all know the story of Eklavya. When Dronacharya asked him for his right thumb as “Guru Dakshina, he unhesitatingly cut off the thumb and gave it to Dronacharya.
There is a little known sequel to this story.
Eklavya was asked whether he ever regretted the act of giving away his thumb. He replied, and the reply has to be believed to be true, as it was asked to him when he was dying.
His reply was “Yes! I regretted this only once in my life. It was when Pandavas were coming in to kill Dronacharya who was broken hearted on the false news of death of his son, Ashwathama, and had stopped fighting. It was then that I regretted the loss of my thumb. If the thumb was there, no one could have dared hurt my Guru?
The message to us is clear.
Give and never regret giving!
And the last question is: ‘How much should we provide for our heirs?’
Ask yourself ‘are we taking away from them the gift of work? – A source of happiness?
The answer is given by Warren Buffett:
“Leave your kids enough to do anything, but not enough to do nothing!”
I would conclude by saying:
Let us learn the Art of Giving,
and quoting the Saint Kabir:
“When the wealth in the house increases, when water fills a boat, throw them out (for good causes) with both hands!”
Truth is always like oil in water. No matter how much water you add to depress it, it always floats on Top…========================================================
Joe: “Now I’ve seen everything!”, and be happy. But a teacher might say we have not entered the door, yet.
Suresh: Who is teacher? If the whole universe is not your teacher, how can some human form be teacher? Even if I accept your argument to have a teacher; how one to recognize an enlightened teacher?
In India there are crores of teachers, each claim to be seen god or vision of god or enlightened and each has tail of gurus inherited. You should go and see in Kasi or even in Thiruvannamalai.
There are very famous gurus like Jaggi Vasudev or Sri.Ravi shanker etc., you can read their books, but to meet them personally is not easy and it could be even expensive. I have visited Jaggi Vasudev established temple and ashram (Isha Foundation). He claims that those who do not have any idea of meditation can also feel meditation experience while sitting in front of the Shiva linga which he established. Since I went with children, I could not sit there for a while, just taken a round of shivalinga and came out. But I was attracted by it.
Now when you have no access to guru, only books can be of any help. That too well known gurus like Ramana Maharishi. Reading a book is different, but reading a book of guru is different. When you put all your attention to read and understand a guru book, that itself take you to meditative mood. Those words carry the guru’s power. A guru is not dead at any time. In truth there has been only one guru, who only manifest in different human form at different places and at different time.
You guys are opportunistic and hence you had gurus and live in isolated areas and drown in meditation. But you all are not world. The reality world is in cities, in towns, in villages, those mass where they will get gurus and isolated places? So a book helps those mass, or a temple or that kind of place helps those people to feel certain amount meditation or divinity.
Our divinity or meditation should be such that it should not get disturbed or diluted even while living in crowd. You should radiate peace/mediation around you wherever you go just like a flower. A flower gives irrespective of where it is kept. It can be kept on Buddha or any god idol or it can be on any ladies head or it can be in the hands of man as bouquet or it is in the road side stall but it continues to give its fragrance. That should be our mediation power; you radiate it wherever you are.
After reading a book if anyone claims to be enlightened it can be true or it can be false. If it is false it will be immediately known to all, the god will remove his false mask through environment. (One will be tested), if you are really enlightened, that too will come out in the open, god will reveal himself through enlightened soul.
If one can see a guru in human form, then book is also a form, guru can come to you like book also. Reading again and again will be like guru is teaching day by day. Any false interpretation of yours will be cleared and truth will reveal by reading the book again and again. Once you tasted the guru’s book, reading again and again is a voluntary process. Guru will pull you towards him.
It is far better to read enlightened guru books then getting caught by a false guru and go astray.
It all started with small talk, what you’d call a casual talk during travel from Delhi to Chennai in Duranto Express. Just to kill time, we started talking without any formal introduction. The conversation was about corruption in Commonwealth games, Inflation, law and order and like any news channel or news paper from first page to last page we discussed all things under the sky and above the earth. Finally the topic came towards Spirituality. ” It is said that Where Science ends, Spirituality begins” but here it was where all rubbish talk ended something meaningful came up. The gentleman and his wife who were my co passengers were practitioners and followers of Sahaja Marga a school of thought where there was no idol worship, no rituals, no customs, no religion but only you and the supreme power. No intermediary, nothing between you and supreme power, whether you call it nature, or by any other name. As all religion believes the Almighty by different names but accept him as supreme to every existent, non existent being.
My blog- K. Hariharan 