PRADOSH VRATA
Sourced from Zee News
It is observed on the Trayodashi of both the fortnight (Shukla and Krishna Paksha).
The Pradosha worship is to be done in the evening twilight on the 13th day of each lunar fortnight. It is the worship of Lord Shiva of Parvati for victory and success in all undertakings and the fulfillment of all your heart's cherished desires.
One who undertakes this Vrata has to keep vigil at night after the fast is over. One has to bathe an hour before sunset and has to perform the worship of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Ganesha, Skanda and Nandi. After the Ganesha worship, Lord Shiva is invoked in the special kalasha placed on a square mandala with drawn lotus spread over with darbha grass. After the formal worship has been completed, the Pradosh story is read out. This is followed by the recitation of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra 108 times.
In the end the sacred Kalasha water is taken, the sacred ash is applied to the forehead and the sacred water which was used to bathe the Lord is drunk. A gift of a pot, a cloth and an image of God is given to a brahmin to conclude the worship.
Myth I
Repeatedly defeated by demons, the Gods approached Lord Shiva to bless them with a leader who could not be defeated. Gods approached Lord Shiva on trayodashi of both the fortnight (Shukla and Krishna Paksha). Lord Shiva immediately granted them their prayerful request and the demons were stopped from causing havoc.
Myth II
Sandilya Muni prescribed this Vrata to a certain brahmin lady. She came to the sage with two boys, her son Suchivrata and an orphan prince named Dharmagupta whose father was slain in battle and the kingdom was conquered by enemies.
Acting upon the sage's advice, the woman and the boys performed the Vrata with great devotion. After four months, i.e. during the eighth Pradosh, Suchivrata obtained the nectar pot and drank the ambrosia. Prince Dharmagupta won the hand of a celestial princess and with the help of the celestial king Lord Shiva his enemies were slayed and his kingdom was restored to him. Dharmagupta then attained the Lord's supreme abode.
This year the Pradosh Vrata is on the following dates:
MONTH |
PRADOSH |
SHIVARATRI |
|
|
|
JAN |
Tues 16 Wed 31 |
Wed 17 |
FEB |
Thur 15 |
Frid 16 |
MAR |
Thur 1 Frid 16 Frid 30 |
Sat 17 |
APR |
Sun 15 Sun 29 |
Sun 15 |
MAY |
Mon 14 Tue 29 |
Tue 15 |
JUN |
Tue 12 Wed 27 |
Wed 13 |
JUL |
Thu 12 Frid 27 |
Thu 12 |
AUG |
Fri 10 Sun 26 |
Sat 11 |
SEP |
Sat 8 Mon 24 |
Sun 9 |
OCT |
Mon 8 Tue 23 |
Tue 9 |
NOV |
Wed 7 Thu 22 |
Wed 7 |
DEC |
Thu 6 Fri 21 |
Fri 7 |
Dates supplied by the
SANATAN SHIVARCHAN TRUST |
Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates the abundance of autumn harvest and is dedicated to various gods and goddesses. The festival also marks an important date in the Indian calendar, as the North Indian kingdom of Avadha has celebrated this as the last day of Lord Rama's long exile of fourteen years. As the citizens of Ayodhya eagerly awaited their beloved prince's return, they lit thousands of lamps to guide his flying vimana to their city. The darkest night of the year gave way to a glorious morning as Rama returned with his wife and brothers to his ancestral kingdom of Avadha. 
