1. When is Bhishma Ashtami celebrated?
Answer: The eighth day (ashtami)of the waxing moon (shukl paksh) of Magh month (January - February) is celebrated as Bhishma Ashtami.It falls after Ratha Sapthami.
2. What does the ocassion of Bhishma Ashtami signify?
Answer: Bhishma Ashtami is the death anniversary of Bhishma Pitamah, one of the most prominent and revered characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata.
Bhishma was known for his loyalty and devotion to his father King Shantanu.Due to his loyalty and devotion to his father, Pitamah Bhishma was blessed with a boon to choose the time of his death.When he got injured in the battle of Mahabharata, he didn’t leave his body immediately due to his boon. Instead, he lay on a death-bed of arrows for 58 days and waited for the auspicious moment to give up his body. According to Hindu belief, God Suryadev moves in the South direction during half of year (Dakshinayana) which is considered as an inauspicious period and all auspicious activities are postponed till Suryadev starts moving back in North direction. Pitamah Bhishma chose Magha Shukla Ashtami to give up his body and by this time Suryadev started moving back in North direction or Uttarayana (उत्तरायण).
3. What is the background story that defines the principles that Bhishma abided by throughout his life?
Answer: In Hindu mythology, Bhishma was the son of King Shantanu and his wife Ganga. Bhishma's birth name was Devavarta. He learnt Astra/shastra vidhya from sage Shukracharya. He became an eminent warrior under the guidance of his gurus. When his father decided he wanted to marry a beautiful young maiden named Satyavati, her parents would not permit it because it was Bhishma who was heir to the throne, and if she had sons they could not inherit the kingdom. To allow the marriage to go forward, Bhishma vowed never to marry and have children of his own, nor to accept the crown. Hearing about this son's immense sacrifice, King Shantanu granted him the boon of Ichha mrityu, which gave him the ability to choose the time of his own death. Shantanu then married Satyavati, and she bore him two sons. The two sons died without producing any offspring, but Satyavati had two grandchildren by a son who had been born before she married the king. Bhishma ended up raising these two and taking charge of the training of their children, who were known as the Kauravas and the Pandavas. In the battle that was eventually fought between the two groups of offspring, Bhishma sided with the Kauravas and was so badly wounded it was said that there was barely a space of two fingers' width on his body that had not been pierced by an arrow. Since he had been allowed to choose the time of his death, he waited on his death-bed of arrows for 58 days, during which he delivered many religious discourses. He later became the model for modern ascetics who lie on nail-studded beds, and to this day is considered a great example of self-denial, loyalty, and devotion.To take up a herculean task is described as a Bheeshma Pratigya
4. How is Bhishmashtami celebrated?
Answer: Bhishma Ashtami is celebrated with utmost fervor in Vishnu temples and ISKCON Temples. The five days beginning from Bhishma Ashtami to Bhishma Dwadasi are known as Bhishma Panchaka vrata.
This day People do Ekodishta (एकोदिष्ट) Shradhha for him. His Shradhha has been prescribed for those who have lost their father. However many believe that his Shradhha rituals can be performed by all irrespective of their father being alive or dead.
Answer: The eighth day (ashtami)of the waxing moon (shukl paksh) of Magh month (January - February) is celebrated as Bhishma Ashtami.It falls after Ratha Sapthami.
2. What does the ocassion of Bhishma Ashtami signify?
Answer: Bhishma Ashtami is the death anniversary of Bhishma Pitamah, one of the most prominent and revered characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata.
Bhishma was known for his loyalty and devotion to his father King Shantanu.Due to his loyalty and devotion to his father, Pitamah Bhishma was blessed with a boon to choose the time of his death.When he got injured in the battle of Mahabharata, he didn’t leave his body immediately due to his boon. Instead, he lay on a death-bed of arrows for 58 days and waited for the auspicious moment to give up his body. According to Hindu belief, God Suryadev moves in the South direction during half of year (Dakshinayana) which is considered as an inauspicious period and all auspicious activities are postponed till Suryadev starts moving back in North direction. Pitamah Bhishma chose Magha Shukla Ashtami to give up his body and by this time Suryadev started moving back in North direction or Uttarayana (उत्तरायण).
3. What is the background story that defines the principles that Bhishma abided by throughout his life?
Answer: In Hindu mythology, Bhishma was the son of King Shantanu and his wife Ganga. Bhishma's birth name was Devavarta. He learnt Astra/shastra vidhya from sage Shukracharya. He became an eminent warrior under the guidance of his gurus. When his father decided he wanted to marry a beautiful young maiden named Satyavati, her parents would not permit it because it was Bhishma who was heir to the throne, and if she had sons they could not inherit the kingdom. To allow the marriage to go forward, Bhishma vowed never to marry and have children of his own, nor to accept the crown. Hearing about this son's immense sacrifice, King Shantanu granted him the boon of Ichha mrityu, which gave him the ability to choose the time of his own death. Shantanu then married Satyavati, and she bore him two sons. The two sons died without producing any offspring, but Satyavati had two grandchildren by a son who had been born before she married the king. Bhishma ended up raising these two and taking charge of the training of their children, who were known as the Kauravas and the Pandavas. In the battle that was eventually fought between the two groups of offspring, Bhishma sided with the Kauravas and was so badly wounded it was said that there was barely a space of two fingers' width on his body that had not been pierced by an arrow. Since he had been allowed to choose the time of his death, he waited on his death-bed of arrows for 58 days, during which he delivered many religious discourses. He later became the model for modern ascetics who lie on nail-studded beds, and to this day is considered a great example of self-denial, loyalty, and devotion.To take up a herculean task is described as a Bheeshma Pratigya
4. How is Bhishmashtami celebrated?
Answer: Bhishma Ashtami is celebrated with utmost fervor in Vishnu temples and ISKCON Temples. The five days beginning from Bhishma Ashtami to Bhishma Dwadasi are known as Bhishma Panchaka vrata.
This day People do Ekodishta (एकोदिष्ट) Shradhha for him. His Shradhha has been prescribed for those who have lost their father. However many believe that his Shradhha rituals can be performed by all irrespective of their father being alive or dead.
