Pradosh fast and story

Evening period on Trayodashi date of the month is called Pradosh period. It is believed that at the time of Pradosh, Mahadev dances in the silver building of Mount Kailash and the gods praise his qualities. Anyone who wants their welfare can observe this fast. By observing Pradosh Vrat, every kind of defect is eradicated. Pradosh fast is considered fruitful in getting relief from troubles.

According to a story mentioned in Skanda Purana, in ancient times a Brahmin used to run her household by begging after the death of her husband. She used to go with her son to seek alms and returned by evening. One day when she was returning after taking alms in the evening, her eyes fell on a beautiful boy on the bank of the river. When she went near him, she saw that the child was lying there injured and moaning in pain.
The Brahmin was very sad to see this and out of pity she brought him home. The name of that child was Dharmagupta who was the prince of Vidarbha, but Brahmini had no information about it.

Brahmani brought him up like her own son and took care of him with full affection like a mother. This is how the three of them spent their time in the family. After some time, the Brahmin went to the temple with both the children, there they met Rishi Shandilya.

Sage Shandilya told the Brahmin that the child he had found was the prince of Vidarbha country. He further explained about Dharmagupta’s past and said that the enemy’s army had attacked his kingdom and in this war his father had attained martyrdom. His mother also went to heaven in mourning. After this the enemy soldiers drove Dharmagupta out of the state.

The Brahmin became very sad after hearing this sad story of Prince Dharmagupta. Seeing the sufferings of the Brahmin, sage Shandilya advised her to observe Pradosh Vrat. With the permission of the sage, both the children along with their mother started worshiping Lord Shiva and observing Pradosh fast.

After a few days, both the boys were roaming in the forest when they saw some Gandharva girls. The Brahmin boy returned home but Prince Dharmagupta started talking to a Gandharva girl named ‘Anshumati’. The Gandharva girl and the prince became infatuated with each other. The girl called the prince to meet her father for the marriage.

Next day, when he again came to meet the Gandharva girl, the father of the Gandharva girl told that he was the prince of Vidarbha country. Lord Shiva appeared to Gandharvaraj in his dream and ordered him to marry his daughter to Prince Dharmagupta. Following God’s orders, Gandharvaraj got his daughter married to Prince Dharmagupta. After this, Prince Dharmagupta regained control over Vidarbha country with the help of Gandharva army.

The prince appointed Brahmini’s son as the prime minister of his army. In this way, as a result of observing Pradosh fast, all the troubles of those three people finally went away.