Pradosham occurs when Shiva removes the bad karma of people. Pradosham means the removal of sins. People worship Shiva and his consort Parvati on this day. Pradosham falls on the 13th day of Trayodashi (lunar cycle) and occurs twice a month, once during the waxing period of the moon when Amavasya (New Moon day) occurs, and once during the waning period of the moon Pournami (Full Moon day) occurs.
The Pradosham Vrat occurs twice a month. The Pradosham days are when the negative karma or energies that curtail our potential to progress in life become redundant. Milk gives long life, and ghee gives Moksha (salvation). So, devotees make these offerings and pray to the Gods and receive abundant blessings.
The Pradosham falling on a Monday is called Soma Pradosham. The Pradosham falling on a Saturday is called Shani Pradosham. Among the PradoshamVrats(fast), people consider these two days as significant.
What is Shani Pradosham?
Shani is the God of Justice and measures the bad karma of people that gives them adverse effects. He is one of the Navagraha deities. His presence harms individuals when placed in a specific position in a horoscope. People offer prayers to Shani Dev on Saturdays, and they also believe that offering prayers to Shiva on Shani Prasdosham and observing the Shani Pradosham Vrat can help them escape from the ill-effects of Shani.
People, on Shani Trayodashi, perform remedial measures to nullify Shani’s negative effects. They pray to Shani Dev with utmost devotion, and he blesses them, giving them peace and helping them overcome the threats in life.
Shani Pradosham falls on a Saturday, and people consider this day as very significant. People offer pooja to Shiva and appease Shani Dev. Shiva is the mentor of Shani Dev, and he influences the latter to reduce the impact of people’s negative karma. People call Shiva Ashutosh as they can calm him. People observe fast on this day and read the Shani Katha.
People perform rituals during twilight as Shiva and his consort Parvati are in a favorable mood then. Shani Pradosham is the best day to observe remedies for Shani Dev.
Rituals Associated with Shani Pradosham
● Observe a Sattvic (organic) fast on Shani Pradosham, or a partial fast
● Recite the Hanuman Chalisa, the best way to appease Shani Dev
● Light a lamp with sesame oil at sunset
● Listen to Sri Rudram during the Pradosham time
● Chant Om Namah Shivaya 108 or 1008 times
● Chant a simple Shani Mantra
● Donate to the less fortunate
● Unclutter your home
● Do not purchase oil, broom, cleaning utilities, umbrella and iron items
● Feed crows
● Walk barefoot on grass
● Read chapters from the Shani Mahatmya (The Greatness of Saturn)
Legend of Shani Pradosham
A learned Brahmin and his wife Ambika lived in a place called Kurvapur. They had sons, but all of them died, barring the youngest, who was dull-headed. He was unable to learn or grasp anything, and his father died in despair. Mother and son lived in poverty and took to begging. They lived in despair. One day they went to the river to end their lives. As they approached the riverbank, the mother saw Sripada Sai Vallabha, who had come for his bath. The mother felt soothed, seeing his spiritual face and halo. Her desperation turned to peace. She prostrated in front of him, expressing her desire to have a son like him in her next birth. He agreed and advised her to maintain a Vrat worshipping Maheshwara on the Trayodashi Thithi days that coincided with the Saturdays called Shani Pradosham. He said if she observed the Vrat fervently, she would have a son equal to Lord Krishna. Sai Vallabha then narrated the following story to the mother.
The city of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, was called Avantika and was an important center for the spiritual aura. Students came to the city to study the holy scriptures. Ujjain’s ruler was king Chandrasen, a pious devotee of Shiva. He worshipped him all the time, and Shiva presented him with a rare celestial gem. King Singhaditya and Ripudaman of the neighboring kingdoms were avaricious and planned to attack Ujjain and take the treasure. King Chandrasen was unaware of the plot. While worshipping Shiva, the king was joined by Shrikar, a farmer’s son, who had heard him chant Shiva’s name. The guards forced the boy to the outskirts near the river Kshipra.
Shikar’s mother, angered by his delay, found him worshipping a stone he had substituted for the Lingam. She threw the stone away, and Shikar prayed to Shiva, begging to atone for her sin. Shiva, moved by the boy’s plight, appeared before him in the form of a Lingam. From this Jyotirlinga, emerged the temple of Mahakaleshwar. The brilliance of the Lingam protected the city of Ujjain.
The sage blessed Ambika’s son. The duo became enlightened by his mere touch and gained wisdom and knowledge. He became proficient in the scriptures and made his mother happy beyond measure.
Another legend has it that the hostile kings attacked Ujjain on Saturday, Trayodashi. They plundered the city of Ujjain with the help of a powerful and invisible demon, Dushan. They attacked the devotees of Shiva. God heard the pleas of his frightened and helpless devotees and appeared as Mahakal (a form of light). He destroyed the enemies of King Chandrasen and, upon the request of his devotees, agreed to be the chief deity of the kingdom. Shiva resides as Mahakal in the form of a Lingam.
Shani Pradosham Vrat Katha
Legend has it that there lived a wealthy man who had plenty of riches but no children. He and his wife decided to go on a pilgrimage and handed over the work to his subordinates. On the way, they met a monk and sought his blessings before proceeding further. Though they interrupted the monk’s meditation, he merely smiled and suggested that the couple perform the Shani Pradosham Vrat (fast) to have their wish fulfilled. The couple returned from their pilgrimage and observed the Shani Pradosham Vrat. After some time, God blessed them with a child.
Benefits of Worship on Shani Pradosham Vrat
● Worshipping Shiva frees people from disease and fear of death
● People recover lost wealth
