Pradosha Mahimai – Translation of discourse by Sri Thirumuruga Kirupananda Variyar Swamigal in Tamil.
There are many texts on Pradosham and Pradosha Mahimai on the web. The following text is translated version of Sri Kirupananda Variyar Swamigal’s audio discourse in Tamil.
Pradhosam has two meanings: 1: removal of dhosam (sins) and 2: its the night before a day.
There are five types of Pradosham:
1) Nithya pradhosam – occurs daily 430pm – 630pm.
2) Paksha pradhosam – Occurs on the 13th thithi (Trayodasi) of both lunar phases.
3) Maasa pradhosam – On 13th thithi on Sukla paksham (rising moon phase)
4) Maha pradhosam – also called Sani pradhosham – Any pradosham occuring on a saturday is considered special and is equivalent to worshipping on pradosha for 12 years.
5) Pralaya pradhosam – Occurring at the end of universe.
Always chant the sacred mantra – Om Sivaya namah, especially during the pradosha times.
Of all the gods, Siva is the supreme. Of all the rivers, Akasha Ganga is the best. Of all the gems, Manikkam (Ruby) is the best. Of all the Vrats, Maha Pradosham is the best. This vrat is important for all shaivites. Chant om shivaya nama during these times as many times as possible. Many benefits come to those to pray to Shiva on pradosham days. They will be healthy, wealthy, gain respect, have wonderful children and more.
Siva is the most compassionate of all gods. He did not go to war with any. Rama went to fight Ravana, Krishna fought Kamsa, Narasimha found Iranya. He just teased yama (not kicked him). Appar swamy prays to siva: Oh Lord with Kunitha puruvam (curved eyebrow) – eyebrow never became straight in anger for him, Kondrai vayil punsirupum (smile in red lips), pavalam pol meniyum – bright appearance, Don’t give me anymore birth.
When a child cries for milk – how much will you give? a cup, a small tumbler? He gave sea like when sundarar cried. Ramalinga swamy says – Vallikanavan thanai endra vallan avan bhavani vara kanden: I see the philantrophist who gave us the husband of Valli. He gave us amritha, he took poison, he gave us angels and he kept the demons, he gave us home and he took the cemetry for living.
He gave Narai (white hair) only to humans – crows don’t get it, elephants doesn’t, cows don’t age with white hair. He gave it only to humanity. It is not narai, it is Yama’s lawyer notice showing your time is up soon. With that fear, we start to pray to god more living all these years forgotten about him. Not only humans, but he gave the same Narai to Devas too (Three final phases: Narai, Therai – body old age and Moopu – death).
Tamil vedam says, thamakuvamai oppathu – no one equals him. Brahma had five heads, and had ego issue (His ego was because of his responsibilities as he is the creator:sitthi kartha). Siva just took away one head with his nails and ended up with four.
After constant fighting with Asuras, Devas were tired and wanted to attain immortality. They went to Vishnu, who instructed them to churn the big milk ocean (parkadal) which will yield the sweet Nectar (Amrith).We say there are 330 million devas (33 crores). Vedas show us 33 devas in total (11 rudras, 12 adityas, 8 vasus, Indra and Prajapati) with a crore of incarnations of each.
The devas and asuras stuck a deal and set out to get the nectar. Vishnu took the form of a huge tortoise (Koorma Avatar) holding the Matragiri mountain and stabilized it. The snake Vasuki became the rope and they churned the ocean. The devas were clever and gave the headside of the snake to asuras and they took the tail end. With constant back and forth, the snake got agitated and started to spit poison. At the same time, a dangerous poison came out of the ocean – both combined called Hala-Hala (Hala-poison). Vishnu wanted to help, and as he got closer, the heat from the poison turned him black. Not knowing what to do, they went to Kailash to seek Siva’s help. After getting permission from Nandhi, they met Siva and ask for his help in dealing with the poison.
[[Side story: Nandhi Deva is one blessed with Siva Swaroobam. Once Ravana was flying his chariot over tha kailash and he was stuck. Nandhi instructed him to go around as Siva is resting. Ravana replied, You look like a monkey and how can you stop me? Nandhi cursed, your city will be destroyed by a monkey. A thousand hanumans cannot destroy lanka without this curse. It was Nandhi’s curse that helped Hanuman lit fire of Ravana’s lanka]].
Pradhosam has two meanings: 1: removal of dhosam (sins) and 2: its the night before a day.
There are five types of Pradosham:
1) Nithya pradhosam – occurs daily 430pm – 630pm.
2) Paksha pradhosam – Occurs on the 13th thithi (Trayodasi) of both lunar phases.
3) Maasa pradhosam – On 13th thithi on Sukla paksham (rising moon phase)
4) Maha pradhosam – also called Sani pradhosham – Any pradosham occuring on a saturday is considered special and is equivalent to worshipping on pradosha for 12 years.
5) Pralaya pradhosam – Occurring at the end of universe.
Always chant the sacred mantra – Om Sivaya namah, especially during the pradosha times.
Of all the gods, Siva is the supreme. Of all the rivers, Akasha Ganga is the best. Of all the gems, Manikkam (Ruby) is the best. Of all the Vrats, Maha Pradosham is the best. This vrat is important for all shaivites. Chant om shivaya nama during these times as many times as possible. Many benefits come to those to pray to Shiva on pradosham days. They will be healthy, wealthy, gain respect, have wonderful children and more.
Siva is the most compassionate of all gods. He did not go to war with any. Rama went to fight Ravana, Krishna fought Kamsa, Narasimha found Iranya. He just teased yama (not kicked him). Appar swamy prays to siva: Oh Lord with Kunitha puruvam (curved eyebrow) – eyebrow never became straight in anger for him, Kondrai vayil punsirupum (smile in red lips), pavalam pol meniyum – bright appearance, Don’t give me anymore birth.
When a child cries for milk – how much will you give? a cup, a small tumbler? He gave sea like when sundarar cried. Ramalinga swamy says – Vallikanavan thanai endra vallan avan bhavani vara kanden: I see the philantrophist who gave us the husband of Valli. He gave us amritha, he took poison, he gave us angels and he kept the demons, he gave us home and he took the cemetry for living.
He gave Narai (white hair) only to humans – crows don’t get it, elephants doesn’t, cows don’t age with white hair. He gave it only to humanity. It is not narai, it is Yama’s lawyer notice showing your time is up soon. With that fear, we start to pray to god more living all these years forgotten about him. Not only humans, but he gave the same Narai to Devas too (Three final phases: Narai, Therai – body old age and Moopu – death).
Tamil vedam says, thamakuvamai oppathu – no one equals him. Brahma had five heads, and had ego issue (His ego was because of his responsibilities as he is the creator:sitthi kartha). Siva just took away one head with his nails and ended up with four.
After constant fighting with Asuras, Devas were tired and wanted to attain immortality. They went to Vishnu, who instructed them to churn the big milk ocean (parkadal) which will yield the sweet Nectar (Amrith).We say there are 330 million devas (33 crores). Vedas show us 33 devas in total (11 rudras, 12 adityas, 8 vasus, Indra and Prajapati) with a crore of incarnations of each.
The devas and asuras stuck a deal and set out to get the nectar. Vishnu took the form of a huge tortoise (Koorma Avatar) holding the Matragiri mountain and stabilized it. The snake Vasuki became the rope and they churned the ocean. The devas were clever and gave the headside of the snake to asuras and they took the tail end. With constant back and forth, the snake got agitated and started to spit poison. At the same time, a dangerous poison came out of the ocean – both combined called Hala-Hala (Hala-poison). Vishnu wanted to help, and as he got closer, the heat from the poison turned him black. Not knowing what to do, they went to Kailash to seek Siva’s help. After getting permission from Nandhi, they met Siva and ask for his help in dealing with the poison.
[[Side story: Nandhi Deva is one blessed with Siva Swaroobam. Once Ravana was flying his chariot over tha kailash and he was stuck. Nandhi instructed him to go around as Siva is resting. Ravana replied, You look like a monkey and how can you stop me? Nandhi cursed, your city will be destroyed by a monkey. A thousand hanumans cannot destroy lanka without this curse. It was Nandhi’s curse that helped Hanuman lit fire of Ravana’s lanka]].
Siva drinking Halahala poison
It is customary to give the first harvest or first produce to the god. [Even now, some deposit their first month salary in a hundi]. Devas said, they were there to give the first product from the ocean churning to Siva as it is the custom. What they were saying is true, but what are they giving him? A potent and dangerous poison.
The ever compassionate Siva, smilingly asked to bring the Hala Hala poison; then rolled it in to a ball and took it like candy in one swoop. If the poison goes inside, the entire universe will be doomed. If it is outside, all these devas and asuras are doomed. Siva has a selfish reason too to take the poison. Without all the devas their wives will become widows and will cause more chaos. Wearing white sarees, everyone will look like kalaivani (goddess saraswathi) and no sumangali will be left to take aarthi even for parvathi.
He kept it in his throat without swallowing or spitting it out. [[Others point out Parvathi concerned about Universe put her hands around Siva’s neck and stopped the poison from moving further]]. When the poison lodged in his throat, his neck become blue, hence he called Neelakandan (blue-neck).
He is also referred as Sugreevan – beautiful neck (greevam – neck), Murugan called Sathgreevan (six neck), Ravana called Dasa grevean – 10 heads/necks.
The devas relieved, went back to the churning. Out of the ocean, many great things came. Kamadhenu (cow) – which gives what you ask for, karpaga tree – which gives what you think, parimala, chintamani, mandagini, choodamani and many – everyone took their shares. Last came the sweet nectar (Amirtham). Vishu took jagan mohini form, cheated fellow asuras who helped to churn, and gave it to devas only.
The day Amrith appeared is Ekadasi (Auspicious day for Vainavites). The next day, on Dwadasi, the devas are celebrating and were joyful having attained immortality and forgot about thanking Lord Siva. If i dropped my pencil and someone pick and give it back, i would say thank you. If i say thank you to the person who gave my own pencil, don’t you think the great shiva should be thanked too for taking the poison.
Finally they realized the blunder – if he hadn’t taken the poison, we would have died that day. They took bath in Ganga and headed over to kailash to worship siva and perform Pooja [[Meaning: (poo – poorthi /completion, ja – creation) – to complete (end) the maya/karma in our mind and to create siva jynana (liberation)]].
They cried and prayed to him for forgiveness. The ever compassionate lord forgave them and performed his Rudra dance. With the celestials playing music and singing, Shiva danced between the horns of Nandhi devar. This is called Anantha Thandavam (Happy Dance). Arunagiri explains this dance well in his poem: The Chandra (moon on siva’s head) also moves, Nandhi playing mathala (drums), Siva playing Udukai, Saraswathi playing veena and the position of his hair which was normally bent when tied up.
Observing Pradosham:
1. Chant On Sivaya Namah whenever possible, especially during the pradosham hours.
2. On Pradosham days, take bath, observe fast, (observe general Vrat rules like celibacy, truthful, compassionate) and pray to Siva. It is recommended to visit Siva temples during the pradosha hours and participate in the worship.
3. If starting a year long fast, can be done from any pradosha, but especially recommend when starting and ending with a Sani pradosha.
4. Siva should be worshipped between the two horns of Nandhi Devar.
5. Do Soma sooktha pradakshinam during this time in the temple.
Normally when you go around the temple, you’ll do it clockwise. But during pradhosa pooja, the pradakshina is done differently. It starts at kodimaram (pillar) right behind the Nandhi, goes right till Gomukhi (where Abhisehka water flows out), then back to nandhi and clockwise till chandikeswara shrine and reversed again for a total of three rounds.
Some call this Soma sooktha because the pattern appears moon like (Soma – moon).
However, Many articles point to the time when they run towards Shiva with the poison and Nandhi refused to let them in due to not praying to the lord before. The group was running away from Nandhi, but unable to run far on the other side due to the incoming poison wave and back till Siva stepped in to help them out. The current pradakshina is a re-enactment of that scene.
The ever compassionate Siva, smilingly asked to bring the Hala Hala poison; then rolled it in to a ball and took it like candy in one swoop. If the poison goes inside, the entire universe will be doomed. If it is outside, all these devas and asuras are doomed. Siva has a selfish reason too to take the poison. Without all the devas their wives will become widows and will cause more chaos. Wearing white sarees, everyone will look like kalaivani (goddess saraswathi) and no sumangali will be left to take aarthi even for parvathi.
He kept it in his throat without swallowing or spitting it out. [[Others point out Parvathi concerned about Universe put her hands around Siva’s neck and stopped the poison from moving further]]. When the poison lodged in his throat, his neck become blue, hence he called Neelakandan (blue-neck).
He is also referred as Sugreevan – beautiful neck (greevam – neck), Murugan called Sathgreevan (six neck), Ravana called Dasa grevean – 10 heads/necks.
The devas relieved, went back to the churning. Out of the ocean, many great things came. Kamadhenu (cow) – which gives what you ask for, karpaga tree – which gives what you think, parimala, chintamani, mandagini, choodamani and many – everyone took their shares. Last came the sweet nectar (Amirtham). Vishu took jagan mohini form, cheated fellow asuras who helped to churn, and gave it to devas only.
The day Amrith appeared is Ekadasi (Auspicious day for Vainavites). The next day, on Dwadasi, the devas are celebrating and were joyful having attained immortality and forgot about thanking Lord Siva. If i dropped my pencil and someone pick and give it back, i would say thank you. If i say thank you to the person who gave my own pencil, don’t you think the great shiva should be thanked too for taking the poison.
Finally they realized the blunder – if he hadn’t taken the poison, we would have died that day. They took bath in Ganga and headed over to kailash to worship siva and perform Pooja [[Meaning: (poo – poorthi /completion, ja – creation) – to complete (end) the maya/karma in our mind and to create siva jynana (liberation)]].
They cried and prayed to him for forgiveness. The ever compassionate lord forgave them and performed his Rudra dance. With the celestials playing music and singing, Shiva danced between the horns of Nandhi devar. This is called Anantha Thandavam (Happy Dance). Arunagiri explains this dance well in his poem: The Chandra (moon on siva’s head) also moves, Nandhi playing mathala (drums), Siva playing Udukai, Saraswathi playing veena and the position of his hair which was normally bent when tied up.
Observing Pradosham:
1. Chant On Sivaya Namah whenever possible, especially during the pradosham hours.
2. On Pradosham days, take bath, observe fast, (observe general Vrat rules like celibacy, truthful, compassionate) and pray to Siva. It is recommended to visit Siva temples during the pradosha hours and participate in the worship.
3. If starting a year long fast, can be done from any pradosha, but especially recommend when starting and ending with a Sani pradosha.
4. Siva should be worshipped between the two horns of Nandhi Devar.
5. Do Soma sooktha pradakshinam during this time in the temple.
Notes on Soma sooktha pradakshinam:
Normally when you go around the temple, you’ll do it clockwise. But during pradhosa pooja, the pradakshina is done differently. It starts at kodimaram (pillar) right behind the Nandhi, goes right till Gomukhi (where Abhisehka water flows out), then back to nandhi and clockwise till chandikeswara shrine and reversed again for a total of three rounds.
Some call this Soma sooktha because the pattern appears moon like (Soma – moon).
However, Many articles point to the time when they run towards Shiva with the poison and Nandhi refused to let them in due to not praying to the lord before. The group was running away from Nandhi, but unable to run far on the other side due to the incoming poison wave and back till Siva stepped in to help them out. The current pradakshina is a re-enactment of that scene.
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