HOW TO OBSERVE PRADOSHAM IN SIVA TEMPLES

Wednesday, 1 January 2014

HOW TO OBSERVE PRADOSHAM IN SIVA TEMPLES

 HOW  TO OBSERVE PRADOSHAM IN SIVA TEMPLES
 
When it occurs ?: On the 13th moon day(trayodasai) 04.30 to 06.00 pm. In Shukla Paksha - New moon to Full moon Krishna Paksha- Full moon to New moon. Worshipping Lord Siva during Pradhosha frees the devotees from all sins and grants Moksham. Pradhakshinam at this time (circumambulating the praharam) is known as Somasutra pradakshinam.
Pradhosha Purana:
By churning the Ksheerasagaram (thiruparkadal) using the huge snake Vasuki as the churning rope and Mandhara hill as the central piston, (Lord Vishnu serving as the base for bearing all the weight atop, as the huge tortoise) once Devas and Asuras they first obtained the terrible poison Halahalam came up. None but Lord Shiva could rescue them from the deadly poison. To save all the mercyful Lord Shiva swallowed that poison. His consort, Parvathi devi pressed his neck to prevent the poison entering his system. Hence it stuck there at his neck. (Neelakantan). Then Lord Siva instructed them to churn further and obtained Amrutham. (nectar). It was on a Dhwadhasi (twelfth moon day). Devas were so happy that they got Amrutham, and forgot Lord Siva's efforts.
The next day,thrayodhasi (thirteenth moon day) they became aware of their ingratitude and pleaded to Lord Siva to fogive them for their sins. Lord Siva is sthothrapriyan (easily pleased) and did forgive them. When happy He dances. He chose to dance then on Nandhi (His bull) in between the two horns. That time is called Pradhosham. Hence, prayers to Lord Siva during pradhosha time grans Mukthi and relieves one of all sins.

PRADOSHA POOJA DHRAVIYA LIST AND THE BENEFITS OBTAINED USING THEM DURING THE PUJA:


 
1. Milk                                        for long life
  2 Ghee                                         Moksham
3 Curd                                         sath puthra,puthri
4 Honey                                      melodious voice
5 Rice powder                            relief from debts
  6 Sugar cane juice                      good health
7 Panjamrutham                         wealth
8 Lemon                                     freedom from fear of death
9 Sugar                                       no enmity
  10 Tender coconut                     comfort in life
11 Cooked Rice(Annam)           majestic stature
12 Sandal paste                         Lakshmi kataksham

 
Vilvam leaves and Nagalinga flowers are best for Shiva pooja.
  
PRADOSHAM DAYS POOJA PALAN:

1 MAASA PRADOSHAM -    0430-0600 PM - On thrayodasi day immediately following the Amavasya (newmoon)day
2 PAKSHA PRADOSHAM - - 0430-0600 PM - On thrayodasi day immediately following the Pournami (full moon) day
  3. SANI PRADOSHAM or MAHA PRADOSHAM 0430-0600 PM - On thrayodasi day immediately following the Amavasya (newmoon)day or the Pournami (full moon) day that falls on any Saturday. If one worships on this day, it is equivalent to having attended Pradosham for 5 years!
  Every day between 5-30pm and 600 pm is known as DAILY PRADOSHA KALAM.

Worshipping the Lord (uthsava murthi) in procession in praharams of the temples during Pradosham gives benefit equivalent to punyam obtained by attending kumbabishekam of 3 temples and equivalent to having visited 100 holy temples.
  
Many devotees observe the following during Pradosham time:

1. visit temple after taking bath early in the morning
2. fasting
3 recite/read Thevaram, Thiruvachagam, Rudra Chamaka manthras.
4 take pooja dhraviyam (ingredients mentioned above) for abishekam/  pooja, (ARUGAM PULL (grass) for Nandikeswaran – garland for the bull and VILVAM garland for Lord Siva.
  5. lighting ghee lamps.
6. distribution of prasadam for devotees.
7. supplying hot milk with sugar to those chanting Vedas.
8. Not to touch any idol. It will give negative effect!!!

Always ensure you have darshan of the Lord from behind the Nandi, viewing through the two horns of the bull
 