The DhevAs and AsurAs resume churning the ocean and get innumerable treasures including the ‘Amrutham’, on the day of KrishNa DwAdhasi. In their exhaustion and state of ecstasy they forget the timely favour rendered by Lord SivA. Realising this on KrishNa Thrayodhasi day (Saturday), they seek apology and beseech the blessings of Lord SivA.
Answering their prayers Lord SivA indulges in a cosmic dance between the horns of ‘Nandhi Dhevar’ the Lord of percussion. This was done in the twilight known as ‘Pradhosha KAlam’ – aligning the time of sunset.
It is for a total span of 7 NAzhigai 45 VinAdi – 180 minutes. It starts 9o minutes before the day’s sunset and ends after 90 minutes after sunset.
It occurs twice in a native month - on the 13th day – Thrayodhasi - of every native month’s cycle called Sukla paksham and KrishNa paksham.
- Sukla paksha Pradhosham is known as ‘Paksha Pradhosham’
- KrishNa paksha Pradhosham is known as ‘MAsa Pradhosham’.
- KrishNa paksha Pradhosham occurring on a Saturday is known as ‘MahA Pradhosham’.
- Sukla paksha Pradhosham occurring on a Saturday is known ‘Sani Pradhosham’.
- Pradhosham occurring on a Saturday during Sukla paksham, in the months of Chiththirai, VaigAsi, Ayppasi and KArthigai is known as – ‘Uththama Sani Pradhosham’.
- Pradhosham occurring on a Saturday during KrishNa paksham, in the months of Chiththirai, VaigAsi, Ayppasi and KArthigai is known as – ‘Uththama MahA Sani Pradhosham’.
| Start Time | End Time | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| From sunrise – Day1 | Up to sunrise – Day2 | Uththama Pradhosham |
| Before sunset – Day1 | After sunset – Day2 | Madhdhima Pradhosham |
| After sunset – Day1 | Before sunset – Day2 | Adhama Pradhosham |
In the words of sage Agasthiar: Devotees will be bestowed with ‘Wisdom and wealth besides long and healthy life’.
Prayers on a ‘Sani Pradhosham’ in the months of Chiththirai, VaigAsi, Ayppasi and KArthigai – relieves a devotee from long pending financial debts / problems.
Day of Pradhosham Blessing Type Sunday Positive Occurings (Subha MangaLangaL). Monday Emergence of good and noble thoughts. Tuesday Poverty alleviation and financial progress. Wednesday Blessed with progeny Thursday Blessings of mentor (Guru). Friday End of long drawn enmity. Saturday Career growth and prosperity.
GangA mAthA (river Ganges) that is part of Lord Parameswara flows down the throat of the Lord on the day of Pradhosham, to relieve the strain and burns caused to Him on account of his consuming the ‘AlakAla visham’ (The potent poison).
Nandhi Dhevar’ is the embodiment of ‘Layam’ and the ‘Athipathi’ of Mrudhangam (a percussion instrument). He is in charge of performing Mrudhangam during all the poojas associated with Lord Parameswara. But during Pradhosham, Nandhi Dhevar is deprived of this privilege since the Lord Parameswara performs the eternal dance between the two horns of ‘Nandhi’. The PurANas depict that during Pradhosham Lord MahA VishNu plays Mrudhangam to the beats (ThALam) of Lord BrahmA. Hence playing Mrudhangam during Pradhosham is deemed to be sacred.
Once Lord Parameswara, in a kshethram called ‘VedhAraNyam’ (in the south coastal Tamil Nadu), was disappointed to see in the evening, the light and glow in the ghee lamp was gradually dipping. He pronounces that he will bless anyone – human being or otherwise as well - to become a King with kingdom provided the lamp in the sanctum sanctorum is brightened. Lord UmA, the consort, conveys her misgivings since it was after dusk. Lord ParameswarA advises her to remain patient and watch the developments.
A small rat (Eli) climbs down the chain of the lamp to eat the ghee in the lamp. In the process it ends up at placing its nose along the tip of the lamp’s fire causing burns. By instinct when it raised its nose the tip of the medium holding the lamp’s fire – Thithi – got straightened resulting the fire and glow being restored and brightness pervades the entire sanctum sanctorum.
Lord ParameswarA keeps up His promise. The rat is born to a king named ‘Veera Senan’ and was named as ‘MahAbali’ the legendary King involved in the ‘VAmana AvathAram’ of Lord MahA VishNu.
This incident took place during a day of Pradhosham.
Your own Madhya Kailas has a dedicated sannidhi for Sri Parameswarar (Sri Swetaha Murthy), facing the western direction and the sannidhi of Sri Aadhithyan.
Our foundation has been performing in ‘Madhya Kailas’ temple ‘Pradhosham’ related prayers for the last two decades.
Our foundation has in place the schedules to perform Pradhosham during both the pakshams identically.
- Sankalpam
- Abhishekam to ‘Sri Parameswarar’
- AlankAram / DheepArAdhanam.
- Samashti Archanai.
- PurappAdu within the Temple prenitics
- PrasAdha Viniyoham (distribution).
- Sankalpam will be done ONLY in the name of the primary subscriber / person whose star is relevant for the event.
- The event will be carried out even if the subscriber concerned or the nominees are unable to partake in the proceedings.
- E mails / post will be sent to those who have e mail id, conveying registration details, advance event reminder and performance confirmation.
- Sms prompters will be explored only for mobiles with Indian registration subject to TRAI regulations. If Sms is opted, it will be sent to only one person - either the primary devotee or the kith & kin - to be specified.
- Archanai prasAdham will be mailed by ordinary post to the notified postal address.
- PrasAdham will be distributed to the subscribing devotees / nominees if they attend, along with general devotees.
- In case the name of the devotee subscriber needs to be excluded, for reasons like pollution on account of birth / death of kith or kin - the subscriber must inform the foundation immediately.
- The performance will be carried out in the following native month.
- In the most unfortunate event of demise, before the chosen event, of the primary subscriber the fact must be informed to the foundation by the concerned on time. The amount subscribed will be reimbursed to the legal claimant of the deceased. We sincerely wish that this situation does not arise.