Pradosh Vrat Katha

Pradosh Vrat Katha

Pradosh vrat is observed by the devotees to please Lord Shiva. It is believed that Trayodashi the period of Pradosh is one of the those days that is very dear to Lord Shiva. Therefore, the devotees take fast to delight Lord Shiva who bless all his devotees by fulfilling their wishes. The legend of Pradosh Vrat is related to the Churning of ocean or Samudramanthan.

According to the Hindu epic Shivmahapuran, Gods and devils started the process of Samudramanthan to get Amrit. During the process of Churning of ocean many things came out from the sea including the poison or Halahal. It is necessary to accept all the items that come out from the Samudramanthan but when poison came out from the sea gods and devils both denies to take it because that poison is very strong and dangerous. That poison has capacity to destroy the universe so all gods and devils pray to Lord Shiva for a solution. To save the world, Lord Shiva drinks that poison due to this his throat turns into blue colour. After this incident, both gods and devils continued the Samudramanthan and on the twelfth day of the lunar fortnight finally they got Amrit or elixir.

On the thirteenth day of Gods and Devils thanked Lord Shiva. To see their devotion Lord Shiva become pleased and danced that time was the Pradosham period. From that time, devotees started to take fast to fulfill their dreams into reality and attaining Moksha after death.

Pradosh Vrat Rules

On the day of fast devotees should perform the combined worship of Lord Shiva and his wife deity Parvati. After this, read the Pradosh Vrat Katha and do Aarti of Lord Shiva. Devotees can open their fast  after sunset later execute Lord Shiva Aarti.

Pradosh Vrat Katha

In the ancient time, there is a poor Brahmin widow lived with her son Shuchibadh. She does work with her son for their livelihood. One day she met with the prince of Vidharbh named Rajsut, which is thrown out through his kingdom by another king after killing his parents. That Brahmin lady adapts the prince and he lived with her as a son. Once she met with the sage Shandilya who narrate her the glory of the Pradosh vrat. To listen the miracles of Pradosh Vrat, she decided to perform that Vrat. Her both boys also perform the Pradosh vrat to please Lord Shiva. When they completed four months to perform Pradosh Vrat of Lord Shiva, her son Shuchibadh get the pot of gold in the bank of the river. Her mother asked them to divide that gold and live lavishly but Rajsut denied.

When they completed one year to perform Pradosh Vrat, one day Rajsut and Suchibadh went for roaming the forest. Both saw the group of Gandharva girls, Suchibadh tell Rajsut that he was going back to the home. Rajsut stay at the forest when the princess of Gandahrva girl named Ansumati saw him, she fell in love with him. After some time both started talking then Rajsut narrate her all the story of his life. She promised him for marriage and asked him to wait for her. On the decided day he again went to the forest where the Ansumati and the king of Gandharva was waiting for him. The king of Gandharva welcome him and said that he meet with Lord Shiva two days before, he ordered him to marry his daughter Anshmati with Rajsut and help him to get his kingdom return from his enemies. Later he married his daughter with Rajsut and help him to get his kingdom back. When he get his kingdom back he gave the position of Rajmata to the Brahmin lady.

It is said that, those devotees who listen the Pradosh vrat Katha regularly or in Shravan month, Lord Shiva bless him with all worldly pleasure and get Moksha after the death.