प्रदोष व्रत कथा (हिन्दी में)
प्राचीन समय में एक गाँव में एक निर्धन ब्राह्मणी रहती थी। उसके पति का देहान्त हो चुका था। वह अपने छोटे पुत्र के साथ भिक्षा माँगकर जीवन चलाती थी। एक दिन भिक्षा से लौटते हुए उसे नदी के किनारे एक सुन्दर बालक मिला, जो अकेला और घबराया हुआ था।
वह बालक विदर्भ देश का राजकुमार धर्मगुप्त था। शत्रुओं ने उसके राज्य पर आक्रमण करके उसके पिता को मार डाला था और राज्य छीन लिया था। उसकी माता भी शोक में चल बसी थीं। ब्राह्मणी को उस पर दया आ गई; वह उसे घर ले आई और अपने पुत्र के समान पालने लगी।
एक दिन ब्राह्मणी दोनों बालकों के साथ एक मन्दिर गई, जहाँ उसकी भेंट शाण्डिल्य ऋषि से हुई। ऋषि ने राजकुमार के बारे में सब कुछ बताया और कहा — "तुम दोनों बालकों के साथ प्रदोष का व्रत करो। भगवान शिव की कृपा से सब कल्याण होगा।" ब्राह्मणी और दोनों बालक नियम से प्रदोष का व्रत करने लगे।
कुछ समय बाद दोनों बालक वन में घूमने गए। वहाँ राजकुमार धर्मगुप्त ने कुछ गन्धर्व कन्याओं को देखा। उनमें गन्धर्वराज की पुत्री अंशुमती थी। अंशुमती और धर्मगुप्त एक-दूसरे से प्रभावित हुए। अंशुमती ने राजकुमार को अगले दिन अपने पिता से मिलने बुलाया।
अगले दिन गन्धर्वराज ने धर्मगुप्त से बात की और उसके राजवंश के बारे में जाना। उन्होंने कहा — "भगवान शिव ने स्वप्न में मुझे आज्ञा दी है कि अपनी पुत्री का विवाह धर्मगुप्त से करूँ।" अंशुमती का विवाह धर्मगुप्त से हो गया।
गन्धर्वराज की सेना की सहायता से धर्मगुप्त ने शत्रुओं को हराकर विदर्भ का राज्य फिर पा लिया। उसने ब्राह्मणी को राजमाता का सम्मान दिया और ब्राह्मणी के पुत्र को अपना मन्त्री बनाया। अंशुमती ने जब यह सब सुना तो समझ गई कि यह प्रदोष व्रत का फल है। तब से सब नियम से प्रदोष का व्रत करने लगे।
जो कोई श्रद्धा से प्रदोष का व्रत करता है और यह कथा पढ़ता या सुनता है, भगवान शिव उसके सब कष्ट दूर करके उसे सुख, समृद्धि और अन्त में मोक्ष प्रदान करते हैं।
॥ इति प्रदोष व्रत कथा सम्पूर्ण ॥ बोलो हर हर महादेव!
The story of Pradosh Vrat Katha in English
Long ago a poor brahmin widow lived in a village with her young son, living on alms. One day, returning from begging, she found a handsome boy on the riverbank, alone and frightened.
He was Dharmagupta, prince of Vidarbha. Enemies had attacked his kingdom, killed his father and seized the throne, and his mother had died of grief. The widow took pity on him, brought him home and raised him as her own son.
One day she went to a temple with both boys and met the sage Shandilya. He told her who the prince was and said: "Keep the Pradosh vrat with both boys. By Shiva's grace, all will be well." The widow and the two boys began to keep the Pradosh fast regularly.
Some time later the two boys went walking in the forest, where Prince Dharmagupta saw some gandharva maidens. Among them was Anshumati, daughter of the gandharva king. She and Dharmagupta were drawn to each other, and she invited him to meet her father the next day.
The next day the gandharva king spoke with Dharmagupta and learnt of his royal lineage. He said: "Shiva commanded me in a dream to give my daughter to Dharmagupta in marriage." Anshumati and Dharmagupta were married.
With the help of the gandharva king's army, Dharmagupta defeated his enemies and regained the kingdom of Vidarbha. He honoured the widow as queen mother and made her son his minister. When Anshumati heard the whole story, she understood that it was the fruit of the Pradosh vrat. From then on they all kept the Pradosh fast faithfully.
Whoever keeps the Pradosh vrat with faith and reads or hears this katha, Shiva removes their troubles and grants them happiness, prosperity and, in the end, liberation.
The story of Dharmagupta and Anshumati is told in the Pradosh vrat mahatmya of the Skanda Purana (Brahmottara Khanda). Popular books also give a separate katha for each weekday on which Pradosh falls (Som Pradosh, Bhaum Pradosh, Shani Pradosh and so on). The katha is retold here in our own words; families and printed booklets tell it with small differences.
How to keep the Pradosh vrat
- Know the day. Pradosh falls on Trayodashi, the 13th lunar day of each fortnight, when Trayodashi holds at dusk. Check the Panchang for the date and for your city's sunset.
- Fast through the day. Bathe in the morning and take a sankalp. Fast through the day — nirjala, or with fruit and milk.
- Worship at pradosh kaal. Bathe again before sunset. In the pradosh period — about 1½ hours around sunset — worship Shiva and Parvati: abhishek with water, milk, curd, honey and ghee, then bilva leaves, flowers, sandal and a lamp.
- Katha, mantra and aarti. Hear the Pradosh katha, chant Om Namah Shivaya or the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, and do the Shiva aarti.
- Break the fast. Eat after the evening puja, a sattvic meal.
Food: Fruit, milk and water during the day; a sattvic meal after the evening puja.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women and anyone with a medical condition should keep a lighter fast. Customs differ between families and regions — follow your own tradition.
Udyapan (completing the vrat)
After 11 or 26 Pradosh (or as vowed), do the udyapan on a Trayodashi: worship Shiva and Parvati with full rites, do a havan with the Om Umasahita Shivaya namah mantra if possible, feed brahmins or the needy, and give dakshina.
Mantra and aarti
Mahamrityunjaya mantra
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ॥
oṁ tryambakaṁ yajāmahe sugandhiṁ puṣṭivardhanam | urvārukamiva bandhanānmṛtyormukṣīya mā'mṛtāt ||
We worship the three-eyed one, fragrant, who nourishes all. As a ripe cucumber is freed from its stem, may he free us from death, not from immortality. Chant it 108 times at pradosh kaal.
Frequently asked questions
What is pradosh kaal?
The period around sunset — commonly about 1½ hours, from roughly 45 minutes before to 45 minutes after sunset — on Trayodashi. Shiva is said to dance in joy on Kailasa at this time. Check the Panchang for your city.
How often does Pradosh come?
Twice a month, on the Trayodashi of the bright and dark fortnights — about 24 times a year.
What are Som Pradosh and Shani Pradosh?
Pradosh falling on a Monday (Som) or Saturday (Shani) is considered especially auspicious; Bhaum Pradosh falls on a Tuesday. Each has its own popular katha.