नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा
The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women
कदाचित्स हि सर्वेशं प्रदोषे पर्यपूजयत् । त्रयोदश्यां निराहारो दिवानक्तव्रती शिवम्
kadācitsa hi sarveśaṃ pradoṣe paryapūjayat | trayodaśyāṃ nirāhāro divānaktavratī śivam
Có một lần, vào buổi chiều Pradoṣa, ngài cung kính phụng thờ Śiva—Đấng Tối Thượng của muôn loài—một cách đúng pháp. Đến ngày Trayodaśī (ngày mười ba âm lịch), ngài tuyệt thực, giữ giới nguyện ngày đêm, và nhất tâm thờ lạy Śiva với kỷ luật và lòng sùng kính.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: General Pradoṣa-māhātmya motif: worship at dusk on trayodaśī is especially efficacious for Śiva’s grace and removal of sins/obstacles.
Significance: Pradoṣa-vrata worship is said to grant pāpa-kṣaya, prosperity, and ultimately Śiva’s anugraha (liberating grace).
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: dipa
It highlights that sincere bhakti expressed through vrata (self-restraint), especially at pradoṣa time and on trayodaśī, purifies the bound soul (paśu) and turns the mind toward Śiva (Pati), supporting the Shaiva aim of liberation through grace and disciplined devotion.
Pradoṣa worship is classically performed before Śiva in a worshipful form—often the Śiva-liṅga—where the devotee approaches Saguna Śiva with offerings, prayer, and reverence, using form-based worship as a doorway to inner stillness and realization.
Observing Trayodaśī/Pradoṣa vrata: fasting (nirāhāra), maintaining divānaktavrata (day restraint with evening/night worship), and performing pradoṣa pūjā—ideally with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside focused contemplation on Śiva.