Bhishma Panchaka

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Bhishma Panchaka

This kind of 5 day fast is also prescribed for the last 5 days of

Kartika

(Damodara) Month and it is known as "Bhisma Pancaka". During that

vrata

puja offerings to the Lord are also prescribed. Bhisma Pancaka.

 

Devotees may offer the following to the Deity form of the Lord:

 

On the first day, one must offer padma (lotus) flowers to the feet of

the

Lord

On the second day, one must offer bilva (wood-apple) leaves of the

thigh of

the Lord

On the third day, one must offer gandha (scents) to the navel of the

Lord

On the fourth day, one must offer java flower to the shoulders of the

Lord

On the fifth day, one must offer malati flower to the head (siro-desa)

of

the Lord

 

Reference: Garuda Puraana (op cit.)

 

 

 

 

[Excerpts from "Vaisnava-kanthahara, compiled by Krsna-Balarama Swami)

 

"The last five days of Kartika month are known as Bhisma-Panacaka.

Grandfather Bhisma fasted for these five days, preparing to give up his

life. However one observes Kartika-vrata, he should intensify it for

the

last five days. The best way to observe the Kartika-vrata is to abstain

from

eating grains for the whole month, and to take only milk or water for

the

last five days. If one eats grains during the month, he should avoid

them

for the last five days. Also, one should only eat once a day. This is

the

proper procedure [for strict adherence]."

 

"This five day fast is difficult for those people who are not serious

and

who are hypocrites. If someone observes this fast, he is considered to

have

observed all other fasts, because it is greatly meritorious and frees

one

from great sins. Therefore, everyone should make a great endeavor to

fast on

these last five days of Bhismadeva.

 

"The fast should begin by remembering Bhismadeva on the Ekadasi day and

should end on Purnima [the full moon]. One should eat only vegetables

or

fruits and should worship Lord Krsna. If he needs to eat, he should do

so

only in the evening. A woman can also observe this fast by the

suggestion of

a twice-born, and if a widow observes this fast, she can also attain

liberation and happiness."

 

"Srila Suta Goswami says in the Padma Purana, Uttarakhanda, 'This

liberating

fast is unknown even to the demigods. If one listens to what I have

said and

fasts on these five days, even if he had sex with an unqualified woman

(his

sister, daughter, mother, etc.), he becomes free from that sinÊ Even if

someone attentively listens to this narration, he Also achieves

happiness. I

tell you the truth again and again that one should keep this fast

secretively, and continue performing it unceasingly - such a person

surely

achieves liberation."

 

"In the month of Kartika, which is very dear to Sri Hari, one who

bathes

early in the morning attains the merit of bathing in all places of

pilgrimage. Anybody who offers a the Lord a ghee lamp in the month of

Kartika, O brahmana, becomes free from all kinds of sins, such as

killing a

brahmana, and he goes to the abode of Lord Hari." (Brahma khanda ).

 

Kartika vratinam vipra yathokta karinam naram

Yama dutah palayante simham drstva yatha gajah

Srestham visnu vipra tat tulya na satam makhah

Krtva fratum urje svargyam vaikuntham kartika vrati

(Padma Purana)

 

"Suta Goswami says, "If anyone fasts and observes the Kartika-vrata

according to the rules and regulations, the Yamadutas, the messengers

of

Yamaraja, run away from him, just as an elephant runs away by seeing a

lion.

This dear fast [vrata] of Lord Visnu is even better than performing one

hundred great sacrifices that would take him to heaven because the

person

who observes the Kartika-vrata goes to the spiritual world."

 

Sulabha mathura bhumau praty abdam kartikas tatha

Tathapi samsarantiha nara mudha bhavambudhau

Yani sarvani tirthani nada nadyah saransi ca

Kartika nivasanty atra mathure sarva mandale

(Padma Purana)

 

"Although one can easily reach Mathura [Vraja Mandala] on this earth,

and

although Kartika month is easily observable, and although in the month

of

Kartika all of the places of pilgrimage, oceans, rivers, and lakes come

to

the Mathura area, still, those human beings who are foolish and

suffering in

the ocean of material existence do not take advantage of it."

 

It is advised that it is better to carefully follow the scriptural

injunctions to advance in spiritual life than to be lazy and think that

it

is not necessary.

 

Vaisnavo na sa mantavyah samprapte kartike mune

Yo na yacchati mudhatma dipam kesva sadmani

 

"O sage, that foolish person who does not offer a lamp in Lord Kesava's

temple during Kartika is not considered a Vaisnava."

 

The conclusion is, as Lord Brahma tells Narada in the Skanda Purna: 'O

son

Narada, the month of Kartika is very dear to Lord Kesva. If anyone acts

meritoriously in this month just to please Lord Visnu, he receives

unlimited

results

 

 

***********

Relections on Bhishma Panchaka - Ekadasi Period and Fasting etc.

The last 5 days of the month of Kaarttika are traditionally known as

the

Bhishma Panchaka or the Vishnu Panchaka. In the Hari Bhakti Vilasa, it

is

said that if one is capable, one should observe fasting from certain

foodstuffs on the Bhishma-panchaka for the pleasure of the Lord. This

is

optional. The Padma Purana say that one pleases the Lord and makes

spiritual

advancement by such austerities.

 

 

.. The strictest way of doing this fast is to take

only

the five products of the cow (pancha gavya) on each of the five

days(!). . or fast by

restricting the eating like during ekadasis: no grains and beans.

only fruits and roots.