Ravi Pradosha Vrat Katha

In ancient times, once the sages organized a grand meeting on the sacred banks of the Bhagirathi. This meeting was organized for the welfare of the beings of the entire creation. In that grand assembly of sages, Shri Sutaji, the distinguished disciple of Shri Vyasaji, appeared while singing the divine name of God. As soon as Sutaji was seen, eighty-eight thousand sages like Shaunaka prostrated before him. Receiving blessings from Sutaji, all the disciples took their seats.

The sages present there expressed their curiosity and asked Sutaji - "O most wise Sutaji Maharaj! In Kali Yuga, all beings will be devoid of religion, karma, Vedas, and scriptures and will engage in unrighteousness and sinful behavior. Due to this, their merits will diminish and they will suffer. Therefore, in such a difficult situation, through which worship will the devotion of Lord Shiva be easily accessible? Which is that superior fast through which all the desires of the followers of religion will be fulfilled, please describe."

Hearing the public welfare question of the sages, Sutaji said - "O Shaunaka and other great sages, you all are blessed, you have asked a very important and public interest question. You have asked this question for the welfare of all beings, therefore, O sages! I describe before you the procedure of an extremely excellent fast. By performing this fast, all types of sins are mitigated. This fast is the remover of all sorrows and the provider of happiness, peace, prosperity, and offspring, etc. This fast was taught by Lord Shiva to Goddess Sati. Thereafter, the teaching of this fast was received by my venerable Gurudev from her and by me from my Gurudev."

Describing the procedure of the fast, Sutaji says - "After being free from daily morning activities like bathing, meditate on Lord Shiva. While remaining without food, go to a Shiva temple and worship Lord Shiva. After worship, wear the Ardha Punda Tripunda Tilak. Worship Shiva ji by offering wood apple leaves (Belpatra), incense, lamp, unbroken rice (Akshat), and seasonal fruits, etc. Chant the mantra 'Om Namah Shivaya' with a rosary of Rudraksha. Thereafter, feed the Brahmins and provide Dakshina according to your capacity. After that, observe a vow of silence. Do not speak lies, sleep on the ground and consume food only once. Perform Havan by offering oblations with the mantra 'Om Hrim Klim Namah Shivaya Swaha'. By fasting in this way, all desires are fulfilled. In the month of Shravana, this fast provides excellent results. O sages! This Pradosha fast was described by Lord Shiva before Sati ji and by Shri Vedavyas Rishi before me."

Shaunaka and other sages said - "O best among sages! You have described this extremely auspicious, sorrow-destroying and secret fast. Kindly tell who performed this fast and what fruit was obtained by them?" Shri Sutaji said - "O wise sages! You are exclusive devotees of Lord Shiva, on this devotional request of yours, I tell the story of the devotees who performed this fast, listen carefully -

A very poor Brahmin lived in a village. His wife was very religious and used to observe the Pradosha fast with devotion. She had a son. Once her son was going to bathe in the Ganga. Coincidentally, on the way, dacoits surrounded him and said to him - 'Tell us about your father's hidden treasure otherwise we will kill you.' The boy said fearfully - 'O brothers! We are very poor, destitute and sad. How can there be wealth and property with us?'

One of the dacoits asked - 'What is in this bundle?' The boy said innocently - 'My mother has packed bread for me.' At the same time, another dacoit said - 'This boy is very poor and destitute, he should be released.' Finally, by consensus, they left from there.

Being released from the dacoits, the boy reached near a city. There was a banyan tree, the boy started sleeping in the shade of that tree out of tiredness. The soldiers of that city, while searching for the dacoits, reached before that boy. Being unknown, the soldiers considered the boy a thief and presented him in the king's court after making him a prisoner. The king gave him the punishment of imprisonment.

On the other hand, the boy's mother was observing the Pradosha fast of Lord Shiva. The mother was praying in her heart to Shiva ji that her son should return safely after bathing in the Ganga. As a result of that fast performed by the mother with devotion, the king saw a dream that same night that the boy is innocent and if he is not released by morning, the king's entire royal glory will be destroyed soon.

As soon as it was morning, the king first went to that boy and requested him to describe the entire story. The boy described the encounter with dacoits on the way and the entire story of his poverty before the king. The king sent soldiers and called the boy's parents before him. The boy's father, that poor Brahmin, appeared in the court along with his wife while being afraid. The king said to the Brahmin - 'Be assured, your son is innocent. Seeing this poor and destitute condition of yours, we donate five villages to you for your livelihood.' By the grace of Lord Shiva, that Brahmin started spending his life happily along with his family.

Similarly, whoever performs this fast with devotion and faith always attains joy.

॥इति श्री रवि प्रदोष व्रत कथा सम्पूर्णः॥