Bhishma Ashtami is celebrated on the Shukla Paksha Ashtami of Magha month. This year, Bhishma Ashtami will be celebrated on 28 January 2023, Saturday. This fast is observed for the love of Bhishma Pitamah. On this day, Bhishma Parva of Mahabharat is studied and Lord Krishna is worshipped. According to ancient stories, Bhishma Pitamah sacrificed his body on this day. Hence, this day is also celebrated as his Nirvana day.
Bhishma Ashtami Katha
In the Katha of Bhishma Ashtami, the period of Mahabharata only prevails, in which the war of Mahabharata & the life of Bhishma Pitamah has been explained. According to Mahabharat, the real name of Bhishma Pitamah is Dev Vrat. He was the son of Shantanu, the king of Hastinapur & his mother was Ganga.
Being tied up in his promise in the war of Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah had to fight against the Pandavas against his will. No warrior could defeat Bhishma Pitamah in this battle. Due to this, Lord Krishna advises Pandava to make Shikhandi fight against Bhishma Pitamah. Pitamah could not use any weapon against Shikhandi, because Shikhandi has the qualities of both man & woman and Bhishma Pitamah was committed to not use any weapon on a woman.
Due to this Pandavas made Shikhandi stand in front of Bhishma Pitamah, due to which he couldn’t use any weapon and because of his commitment he got injured with the arrows of Pandavas and slept on ‘Baan Shaiya’. He slept on the Shaiya for 18 days, but he didn’t give up his body as he was waiting for the Uttarayan. As soon as the Sun turned Uttarayan, he sacrificed his body. Even in many adverse circumstances of life, Bhishma Pitamah kept his vow. Because of keeping his every promise, he was called Bhishma from Devavrata.
Jeevan Gatha of Bhishma Pitamah
The birth name of Bhishma was Devavrata. According to his story, Shantanu, his father was the king of Hastinapur. Once upon a time, the king visited the banks of river Ganga where he met a beautiful lady. He got attracted to her beauty and asked for her introduction and proposed to marry her.
That lady told her name as Ganga, and accepted his marriage proposal but on one condition, that he will not stop her from doing any work and ask her any questions. King Shantanu accepts her condition and gets married to each other.
Ganga gave birth to a son, but after giving birth she flows that son in the river. Due to his promise, Shantanu doesn’t ask her any questions. Similarly, after suffering the separation of his seven sons, when Ganga tries to throw away her eighth son also, then Shantanu stops her from flowing their son, by breaking his promise.
Ganga takes her son away since the king broke his promise. After a very long time, Shantanu visits the river Ganga & asks her to meet their son. By listening to him, Ganga gives away her son to him. King Shantanu, after finding his son Devavrata, goes to Hastinapur with a pleased mind and declares Devavrata as the prince.
Story of becoming Bhishma from Devavrat
Once king Shantanu met Matsyagandha, who was the daughter of Haridas Kevat. Shantanu wishes to marry Matsyagandha. For this, he visits her father Haridas.
But Haridas doesn’t agree with this marriage. He did so, because he was afraid that the child of Matsyagandha will not be crowned as prince since, the eldest son of Shantanu ie. Devavrat and his eldest son will only be given this privilege.
Haridas puts a condition in front of him under which only the children of Matsyagandha will be crowned as his heirs and not Devavrat. But king Shantanu disagrees with this. And he is also not able to forget Matsyagandha and becomes upset due to separation from her. When Devavrat learns about his father’s condition then he pledges to stay unmarried for his whole life. It is due to this harsh and Bhishma word that Devavrata receives the name Bhishma.
By seeing his love and sacrifice for his father, king Shantanu blesses him with ‘Iccha Mrityu’ and says that death will only come when you will want.
Puja Vidhi of Bhishma Ashtami
- On Bhishma Ashtami, after completing daily chores, the devotee should take a bath and worship Lord Vishnu.
- Surya Deva should be worshipped.
- Sesame, water & Kusha should be offered to Bhishma Pitamah. If Tarpan is not possible on your own, then get it done by a Brahmin.
- Food should be offered to the Brahmins & Dakshina should be given according to one’s capability.
- On this day, the Tarpan of the ancestors should also be done.
On this day Bhishma Ashtami Katha should be read. It is believed that by doing Puja on this day, all the problems of the devotee can be solved and he gets the blessings of his ancestors. From this puja, a person gets relieved from Pitra Dosha.