Twilight - The Original Story, Pradosha Purana

Pradosha, the thirteenth day of the dark or the bright half of the lunar cycle, is perhaps the most widely observed fortnightly vow by the Shaivas. The observance of the Pradosha Vratha is believed to bestow upon the observer immense mental capability, astounding wealth, spiritual prowess and almost everything that one wishes for, provided that they are reasonable of course. In fact, the very word Pradosha is made up of two parts – ‘Pra’+’Dosha’ – which means ‘the remover of sins’. Thus, Pradosha pooja is considered to wash away one’s past sins and grant the kartha (the observer) a station at Kailasha. (The Vaishnavas have their own equivalent fasting day on Ekadashi, the eleventh day in the lunar cycle.)

A number of stories are often retold by elders in connection with the origin of Pradosha. However, the most common and arguably the most verifiable account of Pradosha’s birth is recounted in the Shiva Purana, and it all begins with the churning of the milk ocean by the Devas and the Asuras on a holy Dwadasi day (See Thiruvalanchuzhi). As the Devas and the Asuras poured in every bit of their effort to tug at Vasuki, the very first product which came out of the milk ocean threatened to drink up their lives, once and for all. Hala-Hala, the deadly poison, reeked up from the frothy waves of the ocean, spreading its toxic fumes everywhere. At this, the Devas and the Asuras did what they were the very good at doing – they panicked.

The thick, bluish-black Hala-Hala came rushing at them from the ocean, scaring them out of their wits. Sriman Narayana was not exactly in a very good position to help them. He was below the very heavy Meru Mountain, as a huge tortoise (The purpose of the Koorma avatara), preventing the mountain from slipping into the sea. The whole scene sent shudders down Indra’s spine. What was he to do and why were things not going according to a plan?

Indra watched in dismay, as Vasuki tried to writhe out of control. The snake’s hood was spread out viciously and it thrashed about the tall Meru. The scene sent a jolt of sense into Indra. Of course, the solution was simple, but he realised that he had committed a grave folly - the Devas and the Asuras had not sought the blessings of Maheshwara prior to the commencement of the churning. With what face was Indra going to approach Shiva for his help? Indra was lost in deep thought when an ear-deafening shriek from behind brought him back onto the scene. Looking back, Indra beheld a large black tidal wave dashing forward, chasing the Devas and Asuras. The sight sent all his guilt straight out of the window and with one loud shout, he scrambled to Kailasha.

Followed by the Devas and Asuras in one large pack, Indra ran for his life; with fear clinging onto him like death and the Hala-Hala close behind. “श्री पार्वतीश: मम देहि कारावलम्बं (Oh Lord of Parvathi, do extend your helping hand)”, they chanted on their helter-skelter mad run towards Kailasha. The mighty mountain Kailasha, with its beautiful snow-covered peaks, drew nearer and so did the gap between the Hala-Hala and the Devas. Finally, huffing and puffing, their bodies drowned in sweat, the group made it to the foot hills of the Kailasha, and they immediately drew to a screeching halt.

A furious Nandi stood at the gates of Kailasha, looking close to murderous. “Go back, you filthy, disloyal scums. You don’t seek the blessings of Maheshwara when you start on this earth wrecking experiment, but now, when you have landed yourself into a vat of hot oil, you come running here. Bah, Humbug!!!” he roared.”Go back before I gore you to death with my horns”, he warned, lowering his head and displaying his sharp horns, sunlight bouncing off them.

Flabbergasted, the Devas retreated in a hurry, only to be met by the rippling waves of the Hala-Hala from behind. Caught between the Devil and the Deep Sea, Indra and the Devas ran towards the left of the mountain, where the Hala-Hala dutifully followed them. They circumambulated the Holy Kailasha and came back to the starting point, where, at the entrance they were once again met by Nandi, his sharp horns glinting in the sun. “Back up”, shouted the fluttered Devas to one another, and they turned behind, retracing their path around the mountain, once again to be driven back by the deadly poison.  This highly entertaining “Here we go around the mulberry bush!!!” game went on, sapping the Devas off their last ounce of energy. Tired and hungry, the Devas huddled against each other, just waiting for their doom to descend.

Shiva finally decided to take pity on them and came down from his divine abode. Just like the Shivopasana mantra sings on his indescribable form, he glittered with a golden hue, shining like a thousand brilliant suns.

नमो हिरण्य-बाहवे हिरण्य-वर्णाय

                                                             हिरण्य-रूपाय हिरण्य-पतये 

अम्बिकापतय उमापतये पशुपतये नमो नमः||

- शिवोपासन मंत्र 

“Salutations to you, Oh Golden Limbed, Golden Hued,

Golden Formed, Golden-natured Primordial Lord,

The lord of Ambikaa and the dear one of Uma. Salutations to you!!!”

– Shivopasana Mantra

Even as the Devas revived at the reassuring sight of Maheshwara walking down majestically, Shiva commanded Nandi. ”Bring me the Hala-Hala, Nandi” he said. At once, Nandi collected the reeking poison and gave it to Shiva.

Shiva gulps the Hala Hala

With the Devas watching in earnest, a smile curving up on his red lips, Shiva rolled all the poison into a single ball and swallowed it. The jaws of everyone present dropped open simultaneously. The Lord of the Universe had just eaten the deadly poison, forgetting that all of creation was sustained within him. In a jiffy, he had exposed the entire Universe and the various creatures that inhabited it, to the deadly effects of the Hala-Hala.

Parvathi, the mother of all creations, sensing imminent danger to all her beloved children, came thundering down the steps of her mountain palace and gently held up her hands against Shiva’s throat, forcing the poison to stay there. Shiva’s throat turned violently blue and the Hala-Hala started taking its toll. He reeled under its effect, his eye-balls rolling up while his feet stumbled rhythmically - for is he not Nataraja, the King of all dance?

With his very eyes he beckoned Parvathi towards him. “Oh Gauri,” he said slowly, breathing heavily between words “Don’t panic. I had to do this for the welfare of the Devas. But now, I feel light headed… The Hala-Hala is no ordinary poison….It’s effect is the same for both me and my creations…. I must rest… May I lay on your lap, Oh divine mother?”

Parvathi sat down on the golden bedstead, and gently took Shiva’s head onto her lap. And the Devas shed tears of bliss as they beheld the wonderful sight of Parameshwara, his neck brilliantly blue hued, resting on the lap of Jagathjanani.

Shiva resting on Parvathi's lap - Suruttapalli Pallikondeshwarar temple

But their bliss turned into guilt as they waited with bated breath for the lord to show signs of normalcy. They flocked around the bed on which Shiva rested, their hands held in various signs of worship. The whole of Kailasha was engulfed in a deathly silence, waiting for its lord to revive. Neither did the birds sing nor did the animals growl; neither did the trees move nor did the flowers bloom. One and a half days had passed since the lord had drunk the Hala-Hala, and the thithi of Thrayodasi on Saturday was nearing its end. Still Shiva showed no signs of motion. The Devas grew worried and their pangs of guilt doubled up.

The sun was hovering low on the western horizons on the sacred Thrayodasi day, when the anklets of Shiva moved ever so little, producing the ever resonant primordial sound - Om. Shiva sat up slowly, as though waking up from a blissful sleep and placed his arm around Parvathi. And with a subtle sideward movement of his face he cast an eye full of grace on the Devas. Indra smiled widely, partly with joy and partly with relief. “Namah Parvathi Pathaye” he shouted in veneration of the lord, to be immediately echoed up by the rest of the Devas – “Hara Hara Mahadeva”.

While the Devas prostrated before the Lord, worshipping him their individual ways, Nandi was seen to be standing in a corner, away from the celebrating masses. There was a plastic smile plastered on his face while he happily shook his head, presenting the sight of an adamant, secretive school-going kid. To be true, he acted as though he was slightly touched in the head.

When Nandi had carried over the poison to Shiva, he had unknowingly inhaled the fumes of the deadly Hala-Hala. The highly potent poison, which had even put Shiva to a sound sleep, had damaged Nandi’s senses to a small extent. As a result, the joy that Nandi now exhibited was not on the account of Shiva’s recovery, but rather due to a baseless pride over the false fact that he was immune to the Hala-Hala, which had even affected Parameshwara. Nandi swelled at the very thought of being more capable than the Supreme Being. These blasphemous thoughts further fueled Nandi’s joy and he started dancing around like an unfettered maniac.

Parvathi, whose motherly heart wept for Nandi’s condition, threw a concerned glance at Nandi and then turned back to Neelakantha (The blue throated one). Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears for the welfare of her son. Shiva smiled, and patted Parvathi’s shoulder, consoling her. He looked at the Devas, who still looked like they were present in a sick room. When would they understand that it would take much more than a tiny bit of Hala-Hala to even think of harming Him? When would they understand that it was all a part of His Grand Scheme of Order? Shiva decided to show to the wide world, that he was hale and healthy as always, perhaps even better.”Nandi, come here” he said, his voice full of tender love.

Tandava on Nandi

Nandi, with his head held high up in pride, walked towards Shiva, slowly and majestically. Then, to everyone’s great surprise, with one agile leap, Shiva planted himself on Nandi’s head. Nandi was of course, the most surprised. He tried to throw  off the additional burden, but Shiva’s tender lotus like feet had already started moving in rhythm to Nandi’s dismounting attempts. Every time Nandi attempted to throw him off, Shiva leapt gracefully into the air. The Devas and Devatas gathered around to see this wondrous sight, their faces all inclined upwards to behold the dancing Lord.

जटाटवीगलज्जल प्रवाहपावितस्थले

गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम्

डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं

चकार चण्ड्ताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ||

-शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम्

“With the holy water falling from His forest-like matted locks, consecrating
His neck, from where hung a snake, swaying like a lofty flower garland.
And with the holy Damaru reverberating Dama Dama Dama Dama
Did Shiva dance his fierce Tandava. May he shower us with prosperity.” 
–Shiva Tandava Stotram

Sandhya Nritham - Art by Deepak Saagar

Then, with Vishnu blowing the Panchajanya, Indra handling the Mridangam, Vani stringing the Veena, Lakshmi clanging the cymbals, Brahma clicking the nattuvangam and Gauri herself singing, Nataraja, sounding his Damaru all by himself, danced gracefully over the head of Nandi, between the two horns, to show to the world that he was just as normal as before and that there was no reason to fear. The whole world watched this divine dance with absolute raptness. They had seen nothing as beautiful as this before. For the next one and a half hours leading to sunset, Shiva performed the Sandhya Tandava, his lotus feet hitting on Nandi’s head, driving out his insanity. And the Devas stood there, immobilized by the dance, their mouths all agape, trying to take it all in, for they may never have a chance again.

जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रम भ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस 
द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् |
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमि ध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल 
ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ||
-शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम्
"His foot twirling, with the snake swirling wildly in the sky,
Whose breath causes fire from His forehead to spread out into space.
With the auspicious Damaru's Dhimi Dhimi Dhimi Dhimi,
Danced Shiva, His forceful Tandava, to His Damaru's beat"
-Shiva Tandava Stotram

These one and a half hours, spanning from 4:30 PM to 6 PM in normal human hours, over which the Devas were spell-bound with Shiva’s celestial dance, form the period of Pradosha every day. In the Hindu calendar, the pre-dawn period, when night meets day is presided over by Usha, the first wife of Surya. Hence it is referred to as the Ushat Kaala. Similarly, at the opposite end of the day, the twilight period is presided over by Pratyusha, the other wife of Surya and hence is named Pratyushat Kaala. Over time, this pronunciation underwent changes and we now refer to that period of day as Pradosha Kaala.

Even though Pradosha occurs every day, the period of Pradosha that occurs on the thithi of Thrayodasi is considered to be of high sanctity, for it was on a Thrayodasi that the first Shiva-Pradosha occurred. In essence, there are five types of Pradoshas known. They are: Nithya Pradosha (which occurs daily), Paksha Pradosha (observed every Thrayodasi), Maasa Pradosha (which is observed on the Thrayodasi of Krishna Paksha), Maha Pradosha (when Paksha Pradosha falls on a Saturday) and Pralaya Pradosha (At the end of all times, when all creation will recede into Shakthi and Shakthi herself will recede into Shiva). To observe a Vratha on any of these Pradoshas in a consistent manner is considered to be one of the best ways to please Maheshwara.

The rites and rituals of Pradosha Vratha are described in great detail in the Shiva Purana. The Vratha was first preached by Sandilya Maharishi to a Brahmin woman, her son Suchivratha and an orphaned prince Dharmaguptha. It is said that after 8 consecutive Pradoshas, Suchivratha got to drink the Amrutha, which is meant for the Devadhi Devas alone. Dharmagupta, on the other hand, fell in love with a celestial princess and went on to marry her. Finally, with the help of his powerful father-in-law, Dharmagupta was able to regain vanquish his enemies and regain his long lost kingdom. Such is the ease and the fruit-bearing capability of the Pradosha Vratha as is praised in the Pradosha Mahima Canto of the Shiva Purana.

ये वै प्रदोश समये परमेश्वरस्य 

कुर्वन्तनन्या मंसान्ग्री सरोज पूजां |

नित्य प्रवृद्ध तर पुत्र कलत्र मित्र

सौभाग्य संबादाधिकास्त इहैव लोके ||

-शिव पुराण

“He who worships Parameshwara during the Pradosha Period,

With the offering of lotus flowers and a full concentration,

Will be blessed with long life, excellent wife, children and friends,

And will come into lots of prosperity and luck in this world”

-Shiva Purana

The general procedures and Pooja Vidhi of the Vratha match closely to the other Vrathas and should essentially include the practice of Ahimsa (non-violence), Sathya (truthfulness), Daya (compassion), Kshama (forgiveness) and Brahmacharya (celibacy). It is customary to awake early in the morning and fast throughout the day, all the while chanting the Maha Panchakshara Mantra (Nama Shivaaya) in one’s mind. Paarayana of the Sri Rudram and Chamakam is highly recommended. Orthodox followers of the Pradosha Vratha often replace the 10 minute long Laghu Nyasam, which precedes the chanting of Sri Rudram, with the Maha Nyasam, which often takes an hour to complete. Smarthas also perform their regular Panchayatana Pooja and go onto chant the Sri Rudram.

The Vratha is ended in the evening with a visit to a Shiva temple during Pradosha Kaala and taking part in the special worship there. At the temple, special abhishekas are performed to Swamy and Ambal. Over the period of one and half hours, the lord is bathed in various substances such as milk, ghee, curds, panchamritha and consecrated waters. Again, it is recommended that one stays at the temple for the entire length of the pooja, witnessing the ritual bathing and worship of the Shiva Linga

Interestingly, Nandi Devar is also worshipped with equal importance during Pradosha and is given a special abhisheka with milk, sandal paste, water, and other fragrant fluids. He is offered a very special dish made out of red rice (Puttarisi), sugar and ghee, which is later fed to the temple cow. Some people even take the liberty of whispering their wishes into Nandi’s ears to pass them onto Shiva, for during Pradhosha, Nandi is believed to be the closest to the Lord. It is also customary to have a darshan of the Shiva Linga through and in between the horns of Nandi, just the way Shiva had danced at the very first Pradosha.

Soma Sutra Pradakshinam

The observance of Pradosha Pooja at the temple ends with a strange ritual known as the Soma Sutra Pradakshinam. At the end of the abhishekas and poojas to the deities, the Pradosha Nayakar is carried out in a procession from the sanctum to the Dwajastambham (Flag Staff). The Pradosha Nayakar is a small statue of Parvathi and Shiva, shown to be standing on Nandi. Since the deity is brought out only during the Pradosha Kaala, he is named so. Starting from the Dwajastambham, the Pradosha Nayakar is carried in a procession around the temple three times, followed dutifully by all the devotees in what is called the Soma Sutra Pradakshinam. But the order of the Pradakshinam is the weirdest ever. The Pradakshinam starts at the Dwajastambham, right behind Nandikeshwarar. After having a darshan of the Linga through Nandi’s horns, the procession goes around the temple anti-clockwise until it reaches the Gomukhi (the spout from which the abhisheka waters come out). There the procession turns around and comes back to the Dwajastambham and continues its clockwise rotation until it reaches the Chandikeswara shrine. Once again the direction of travel is reversed and the first circumambulation of the procession ends at the Dwajastambham. This bizarre circumambulation is repeated two more times with the Pradosha Nayakar in the lead, after which he returns to the sanctum. This is called the Soma Sutra Pradakshinam because while performing it, the Lord and the devotees describe the shape of a crescent moon (Soma-moon). But why is this odd Pradakshinam even performed and that too only on Pradoshas?

Let’s go back to the beginning of this article and recall the very funny hither-thither rushing of the Devas around the Kailasha Mountain. Did they not run back and forth between the seething Nandi and the reeking Hala-Hala until Shiva decided to intervene and solve their problem? That is what the Pradakshinam commemorates. The devotees are, in fact, performing a re-enactment of this ancient incident when they go around the temple in the Soma Sutra Pradakshinam. The Nandi Mandapam is taken to be Nandi himself, the Gomukhi is considered to be the source of the Hala-Hala and the devotees symbolically circumambulate in this manner, thus calling upon Maheshwara to solve their miseries too just like he had ridden the Devas of the Hala-Hala.

As has been emphasized throughout this article, the Pradosha Vratha is a highly potent one, capable of gifting a person with happiness, wealth, health and good times. The Vratha destroys enemies and obstacles in one’s path and bestows superior spiritual prowess on the observer. By observing it in a timely and orderly manner, with complete bhakthi, man gets freed from the cycle of birth and death and attains Shiva Loka Praapti after his mortal life. And that, I am sure, is the ultimate goal of every practicing Shaiva.

வானாகி மண்ணாகி வளியாகி ஒளியாகி
ஊனாகி உயிராகி உண்மையுமாய் இன்மையுமாய்க்

கோனாகி யானெனதென் றவரவரைக் கூத்தாட்டு

வானாகி நின்றாயை என் சொல்லி வாழ்த்துவனே.

- மாணிக்க வாசகர் 

“Thou art the Sky, the wide earth art thou. Thou art the Wind, the bright light art thou.

Thou art the body and the very soul art thou. Thou art existence and non-existence too art thou.

Thou art the King too and these people who say “Myself and Mine”, their very puppeteer art thou.

What can I say? How can I praise thee? For isn’t it you who will be praising yourself from within me?”

-Manikka Vaasagar

PS : The story that has been narrated above is an adapted version of “Pradosha Mahatmya” as described by Sandilya Maharishi. The reading, listening or remembrance of this story during Pradosha is said to have an equivalent effect of having performed the complete set of prescribed Pradosha pooja and rituals.