PRADOSHAM

Pradhosha pooja is one of the most important among the poojas performed to the Graceful Lord Shiva. In Shukla Paksha (15 moon days from New moon to Full moon) and Krishna Paksha (15 moon days from Full moon to New moon) the evening of the trayodasi (thirteenth moon day) between 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. is called Pradhosha. It comes once in fifteen moon days. Pradhosha time is especially meant for praying Lord Shiva. Praying in that time will free us from out sins and gives moksha finally (hence the name Pradhosha).

Pradhosham occurs twice a month - once during the Growing Moon Period and the other during the Waning Moon Period. This denotes the meeting of the Sun and the Moon in a Horizontal Line during the course of movement on their Axis.

Story of Pradhosha
Once Dhevas and Asuras using the serpent Vasuki and the hill Mandhara were trying to get Amrutham (nector) from the Kseerabthi (milk ocean). Then the terrible poison Halahalam came up. All got frightened and pleaded to Lord Shiva for rescue. Being the peak of mercy Lord Shiva ate that poison. Then as per His order they resumed their effort to get Amrutham. They got it on Dhwadhasi (twelfth moon day). Without praying and thanking the God, by whom they got Amrutham, Devas started dancing and celebrating their victory.
On thrayodhasi (thirteenth moon day) they realised their sin of not praying the God and pleaded for forgiveness. The pleased graceful Lord Shiva forgave them and danced between the horns of the Nandhi (holy bull). That time is called Pradhosham. Whoever prays Lord Shiva in that time, Lord Shiva fulfills their wishes and give them mukthi.All the Devas & Gods are assembled in the Shiva temples during Pradosham time. Further, the first pradosham was on a Saturday & hence "Sani Pradosham" is even more auspicious .

Everyday between 5.30 to 6.00 pm in the evening is called Dina Pradosham. Every thirteenth day of a Paksha (15-day cycle, making it two Pakshas every month - Krishna Paksha and Shukla Paksha) is called Maha Pradosham. The time between 5.30 to 6.30 pm in the evening is called Pradosham (Dina Pradosham). During the Pradosha period, it is significant to worship Lord Shiva, as He performs the Holy Dance in Kailashparvatam. [Mount Kailash , all Devatas assemble there to watch this holy event, offer their Prayers to HIM. Thinking and meditating during Pradosha Kalam is considered most sacred by Hindus and helps derive benefits of having worshipped all Devatas at one go.
During Prodhosha time (Abhishekam)

Shiva deity with the following is considered fruitful.
Milk gives long life
Ghee gives Moksha state
Curd gives good children
Honey gives melodious voice
Rice powder frees from debts
Sugar cane juice gives good health
Panjamrutham gives wealth
Lemon removes fear of death
Sugar removes enmity
Tender coconut gives enjoyment
Cooked Rice(Annam) gives majestic life
Sandal gives Lakshmi's grace
Bilvam leaves and flowers (Arali,Lily ,Rose Petals,Chaamanti, Malli,Lotus flower (Tamarai) be given for Shiva pooja. Please went the to Shiva temple for every Pradhosham and earn his blessings. You would get blessings equivalent to 1000 blessings by this single worship. The sani pradhosham is the most special and all sins could be dissolved.First worship the Nandi and then worship the Siva.That day observe the fast.whole day only don't take any meal .(eating only fruits and taking milk)Evening went to the temple on that day worship siva and nandi ,and return home finish the fast .

First worship the Rishabha Devar (Holy Bull or Nandi) go anti-clockwise and salute Chandishwarar (not crossing the Gomukhi). Now return in the clockwise manner salute Rishabham and continue clockwise till the Gomukhi (not to cross it again). Then return in anti-clockwise direction salute the Rishabham again and proceed towards chandIshar. From there return back clockwise without worshiping Rishabham and reach the gomukhi. Finally return back anticlockwise from there to salute Rishabham and continue to Chandishwarar and return back to Rishabham and worship the shiva lingam (at the altar) by viewing through the space between the two horns of the Holy Bull. This is one Pradakshinam. Three such times Pradakshinam to be done.
If you carefully observe the curve traced by doing the pradakshinam is very similar to the periphery of the crescent. Hence this way of circumambulating is called Somasutra Pradakshinam.

Pradosha Mahatmyam

[From Shiva Purana]Translated by P. R. Ramachander*

Kailasa shaila bhuvane thri jaga janithreem,

Gowreedha nivesye kanakanchitha rathna peete,

Nrutham vidhthu mabhi vanchithi Soolapanau,

Deva Pradosha samaye anubhajanthi sarve. 1

(During the time of Pradosha,The Lord who holds the trident,Makes Goddess Gowri,Who is the mother of all the three worlds,Sit on a golden seat inlaid with precious gems,And prepares to dance himself,And all the devas sing his praise at this time.)

Vagdevi drutha vallaakee sathamukhovenum dhadhan padmaja,

Sthallo nidhra karo ramaa bhagawathi,geya prayogaanvithaa,

Vishnu saandra mrudanga vaadana paturdevas samanthath sthithaa,

Sevanthe thamara pradosha samayedevam mrudaaneepathim. 2

(The goddess of Knowledge plays Veena,The hundred faced Indra plays the flute,The Brahma who was born in a lotus keeps time,The Goddess Lakshmi starts to sing,The God Vishnu plays the drum with ease,And all the devas stand all round in service,And pray Lord Shiva during the time of pradosha.)

Gandarwa Yaksha patha goraga siddha saadhya.

Vidhyadaraamaraapsaraso ganaascha,

Yeanyethi loka nilaya saha bhootha varga,

Prapthe pradosha samaye hara parswa samstha. 3

(When the time of Pradosha arrives,Gandarwas, Yakshas, birds, snakes, saints,Vidhyadaras, devas, the celestial dancers, Bhoothas,And all the beings in the three worlds,Come and stand near The Lord Shiva.)

Atha pradoshe shiva eka eva,

Poojyodhananye hari padmajadhya,

Thasmin mahese vidhinejyamane,

Sarve praseedanthi suradhi natha. 4

(So at the time of Pradosha,There is need to worship only Shiva,Instead of Vishnu , Brahma and others,For the proper worship of Lord Shiva then,Would give the effect of worshipping all gods.)

Lokanahooya sarvaan vividha damarukair gora samsara magnan,

Dathwaabheetham dayalu pranatha bhava haram kunchitham vaama bhaagam,

Uddruthyedham vimukherayanamithi karadarshayan prathyayartham,

Bibradwanhim sabhaayaam kalaathi natanam ya shivo na sa paayal. 5

(Let us be protected by that dancing Shiva,Who uses the various sounds of the shaking drum,To call all those people drowned in the fearful life,Who indicates protection to them using his right hand held down,Who lifts his left leg capable of killing all sorrows,To those who fall at his feet,Who indicates the path of salvation by his left hand held up,And who shows that all this is true by carrying fire in the other left hand,)

Sathyam braveemi, paraloka hitham braveemi,

Saaram braveemi upanishadyadhyam braveemi,

Samsaramuthbanamasar vaapya jantho,

Saroyameeswarapadhamburuhasya seva. 6

(I tell the truth,I tell what is good for the other world,I tell the views of the Upanishads,For every insignificant animal that is born,The only meaningful thing is the service to God.)Yenarchayanthi gireesam samaye pradoshe,

Ye na architham shivamapi pranamanthichanye,

Ethath kadhaam sruthi putair na pibanthi mooda,

Stheya janma subhavanthi naraa daridra. 7

(He who does not worship Lord Shiva during Pradosha,He who does not at least bow before him at that time,He who does not at least listen to the story of Shiva at that time,Is a foolish soul who would be always poor, birth after birth.)

Ye vai pradosha samaye parameswarasya,

Kurvanthyananya mansangri saroja poojaam,

Nithya pravrudha thara puthra kalathra mithra,

Soubhagya sambadadhikastha ihaiva loke. 8

(He who during the time of Pradosha, worships Lord Shiva,With full concentration using lotus flowers,Would forever along with his children, wife and friends,Get all wealth and all luck in a very large measure.