Pradhosam dates for 2011

January 1, 2011 - Saturday
January 17, 2011 – Monday
January 31, 2011 - Monday
February 16, 2011 – Wednesday
March 2, 2011 – Wednesday
March 17, 2011 – Thursday
March 31, 2011 – Thursday
April 15, 2011 - Friday
April 30, 2011 - Saturday
May 15, 2011 - Sunday
May 30, 2011 - Monday
June 13, 2011 - Monday
June 28, 2011 - Tuesday
July 12, 2011 - Tuesday
July 28, 2011 - Thursday
August 11, 2011 - Thursday
August 26, 2011 - Friday
September 9, 2011 - Friday
September 25, 2011 - Sunday
October 9, 2011 - Sunday
October 24, 2011 - Monday
November 8, 2011 - Tuesday
November 23, 2011 - Wednesday
December 7, 2011 - Wednesday
December 22, 2011 - Thursday


Pradosam - Article by Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan

|| PradhOsham ||
Lord SrI Malolan of Sri Ahobila Mutt

PradhOsham is very important time ( 13th Phase of the Moon ) , where we worship Lord Narasimhan. For the two hours ( around SooryAsthamana time ) say between 4.30 to 6.30 P.M , Thirumanjanam for Sri Lakshmi Nrusimhan is done , Mounam is observed , SrI NrusimhAnushtup Manthra Japam is performed. It will be a bhAgyam to be present at AhObila Matam and enjoy the PradhOsha kaalam observances by HH SrI NaarAyaNa YathIndhra MahA DEsikan .

The calendar for PradhOsham ( the Vratham that removes all dhOshams ) for the TaarANa year is included in Ahobilam Mutt website's Panchangam section. Lord Siva is the greatest worshipper of Lord Narasimha (Manthra Raaja Padha SthOthram ) and has also special abhishEkams during the PradhOsha time. Please remember that Swamy Desikan's GodhA Sthuthi was composed during a PradhOsham time at SrIvilliputthur , when Andal presented Herself in the street where Swamy Desikan was resting and observing Mounam befitting the PradhOsham time.

There is a special aarAdhanam at SrI Matam on pradhOsham days and the Thirumanjanam for SwarNa Nrusimhan , who has an antiquated and unique history . Those who are fortunate to be at SrI matam will enjoy the special AarAdhanam and Thirumanjanam for SwarNa Narasimhan.

PradhOsha PurAnam
There is a minor purANam known as PradhOsha PurANam , which is connected with amrutha maTanam at the milky ocean and Lord ShivA's ( special devotee of Sri Lakshmi Nrusimhan, who gave us the Manthra Raaja Padha SthOthram)part in it by swallowing haala Haala Visham .

The AarAdhanams
Let me reflect breifly on the AarAdhanams that we perform at Homes and temples. Dear Readers, Please correct any observations that may need correction. There are two kinds of aarAdhanams: aathmArtham and ParArtham. aathmArtham is the one done at Homes and the ParArtham is for Universal benefits and is done at the temples and Matams . aathmArtha aarAdhanam certainly has clear rules but gives us some more freedoms based on individual's capabilities. ParArtha AarAdhanam is an entirely different event with very strict restrictions. I was referring to home aarAdhanams and Thirumanjanam for the PerumAls there, when I referred to evening Thirumanjanams at home and most of thetemples. The special Thirumanjanam in the evening for SwaraNaNrusimha Vigraham at SrI matam is a special one not to be seen anywhere else among SrI ViashNavite Temples . During Nrusimha Jayanthi days (VaikAsi Sukla Paksha Chathurdhasi), visEsha aarAdhanam is performed durIng PradhOsham
BEFORE SOORYAASTHAMANAM.

PradhOsham timings:
PradhOsham during July and August (Indian Standard Time ) are as follows: 07 July 5.57(Start of TrayOdasi) 5.55 PM (End of TrayOdasi) 06 August 6.51 A.M (Start)to 5.26 A.M (Aug 7: end of TrayOdasi) 20 August 1.09 A.M to 1.41 A.M (Augut 21). I will be happy to share the PradhOshams for ChithrabhAnu
Samvathsam (upto April 2003) for those , who may need this information.
PradhOsham and Mouna Vratham.
That Mouna Vratham has to be observed during PradhOsham . 90 minutes before and after Sunset is PradhOsham time. At this time, the Sun and the Moon are in a horizontal line during their movement on their respective axis. Sri RanganAtha Paadhukais' Mounna Vratham: That Mouna Vratham is observed as
it were by PaadhukAs for 14 years due to the sorrow of separation from its Lord is suggested by Swamy Desikan in the 849th SlOkam of SrI RanganAtha Paadhukaa Sahasram (PrakeerNa Paddhathi). Swamy Dsikan equates the sorrow of not having the darsanam of its Lord and the silence , immobiliy of the
Paadhukais during the 14 years of separation as MahA PradhOsham time, when one has to observe the voew of silence and be immobile .

PradhOsham and Lord Shivan , the grandson of SrIman NaarAyaNan
PradhOshams in general and those falling on Mondays and Saturdays in particular are special to worshippers of Lord ShivA, who has six poojAs every day. The 4th pooja (the daily Saaya Rakshaa pooja is blended with the
PradhOsha Pooja , which takes place between 5-6.30 P.M). PradhOsha pooja is one of the most important one for Shiva worshippers.Thirteen different saamagriyAs are used for that abhishEkam. Aani PradhOsha abhishEkam is very special for the Lord of Dance, NatarAjA at Chidambharam. Summing up, 90 minutes before Sunrise and Sunset on the 13th phase of the Moon during Sukla and KrishNa Pakshams are very special time period known as PradhOsham for aasthikAs.

SrI Lakshmi Nrusimha ParabrahmaNE Nama:
Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan

Courtesy : Sriman Parthasarathy Srinivasan (Poigaiadian).