1. Introduction to Bhīṣma: Celebrating the Warrior of Virtue
Śrī Bhīṣma pitāmaha is one of the most revered characters in Mahābhārata who testifies to timeless wisdom and the highest of Dharma. In Mahābhārata, when Yudhiṣṭhira has questions on various dharma-s, Śrīkṛṣṇa guides him to Bhīṣma who explains Rāja-dharma, Varṇāśrama-dharma, Strī-dharma, Bhāgavata-dharma, Mokṣa-dharma and gave us the Viṣṇu-sahasranāma-mahāmantra.
In the 3rd chapter of the 6th skandha of Śrīmad Bhāgavata, Bhagavān Yama gives a list of 12 great men, who understand the Bhāgavata-dharma completely.
स्वयम्भूर्नारदः शम्भुः कुमारः कपिलो मनुः ।
प्रह्लादो जनको भीष्मो बलिर्वैयासकिर्वयम् ॥६.३.२०॥
svayambhūrnāradaḥ śambhuḥ kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ ।
prahlādo janako bhīṣmo balirvaiyāsakirvayam ॥6.3.20॥
Brahman, Nārada, Śiva, Sanatkumāra, Kapila, Manu, Prahlāda, Janaka, Bhīṣma, Bali, son of Vyāsa (Śuka maharṣi) and myself.
द्वादशैते विजानीमो धर्मं भागवतं भटाः ।
गुह्यं विशुद्धं दुर्बोधं यं ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते ॥6.3.२१॥
dvādaśaite vijānīmo dharmaṃ bhāgavataṃ bhaṭāḥ ।
guhyaṃ viśuddhaṃ durbodhaṃ yaṃ jñātvāmṛtamaśnute ॥6.3.21॥
These twelve of us know The Dharma of Bhagavān, which is secret, pure, and difficult to understand, by knowing which one enjoys immortality.
Indeed, Bhīṣma has been a source of theoretical and practical knowledge and true to his name he was a terror to both internal and external enemies.
2. Why is it called Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī?
Besides having lived as a Brahmacārin throughout this life, Bhīṣma had the boon of icchāmṛtyu (choosing the time when he could leave his body). Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī is celebrated as the day when Śrī Bhīṣma Pitāmaha left this mortal world, after waiting till the start of the auspicious period of Uttarāyaṇam when the Sun starts his northward journey.
3. Why should we celebrate Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī?
Śrī Bhīṣma Pitāmaha is an inspiration for all of us to lead a life guided by righteousness, integrity, and devotion. This day is an occasion to remind ourselves to traverse the path shown by Śrī Bhīṣma Pitāmaha.
Laugākṣī Smṛti says that the one who performs Tarpaṇa and Arghyadāna on this auspicious occasion gets bestowed with infinite puṇya equivalent to feeding a 1000 befitting brahmins.
अष्टमीदिवसे चैव भीष्मतर्पणमाचरेत् ।
दद्यात् प्रदद्याद् भीष्माय तर्पणं प्रतिवत्सरम् ॥
तेन तर्पणमात्रेण सहस्रद्विजभोजने ।
यत्फलं कथितं सद्भिस्तदवाप्नोत्यसंशयः॥
aṣṭamīdivase caiva bhīṣmatarpaṇamācaret ।
dadyāt pradadyād bhīṣmāya tarpaṇaṃ prativatsaram ॥
tena tarpaṇamātreṇa sahasradvijabhojane ।
yatphalaṃ kathitaṃ sadbhistadavāpnotyasaṃśayaḥ॥
On the eighth day, one should perform the Tarpaṇa (ritual offering) for Bhīṣma. One should offer Tarpaṇa to Bhīṣma every year. By this Tarpaṇa alone, one undoubtedly attains the fruit that has been described by the wise in a feast to thousands of Brāhmaṇa-s.
4. When is Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī celebrated?
According to the Hindu Calendar, Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī is celebrated on the Māgha Śukla Aṣṭamī.
शुक्लाष्टम्यां तु माघस्य दद्याद्भीष्माय यो जलम् ।
संवत्सरकृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति ॥
śuklāṣṭamyāṃ tu māghasya dadyādbhīṣmāya yo jalam ।
saṃvatsarakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati ॥
On the eighth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Māgha (Māgha Śukla aṣṭamī), whoever offers water to Bhīṣma, the sins committed by him during the entire year are destroyed instantly.
5. Can people with living parents also perform Bhīṣma tarpaṇa?
जीवत्पिताऽपि कुर्वीत तर्पणं यमभीष्मयोः
jīvatpitā’pi kurvīta tarpaṇaṃ yamabhīṣmayoḥ
Even if one’s father is alive, one should perform the Tarpaṇa (ritual offering) to Bhīṣma and Yama.
According to this vacana, those whose father is alive can also offer Tarpaṇa to Bhīṣma.
6. Where to celebrate Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī?
We can celebrate Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī at any comfortable place such as our home, river banks, sea shores, etc.
7. How to celebrate Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī?
After completing Snāna and nityakarma-s, we can celebrate Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī by offering arghya (water) chanting the following verses (3 times each, just like in Sandhyāvandana, without adding any grains like til or rice):
वैयाघ्रपादगोत्राय तीक्ष्णव्रतधराय च ।
अपुत्राय ददाम्यर्घ्यं सलिलं भीष्मवर्मणे ॥ १ ॥
भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् ।
vaiyāghrapādagotrāya tīkṣṇavratadharāya ca ।
aputrāya dadāmyarghyam salilaṃ bhīṣmavarmaṇe ॥ 1 ॥
bhīṣmāya namaḥ idamarghyam ॥ (3 times)
I offer this arghya (offering) to Bhīṣma, the one born in the gotra (lineage) of Vaiyāghrapāda, who is known for his fierce vow and who remained childless. Salutations to Bhīṣma.
सत्यव्रताय शुचये गाङ्गेयाय महात्मने।
अर्घ्यं ददामि भीष्माय सोमवंशोद्भवाय च॥ २ ॥
भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् ।
satyavratāya śucaye gāṅgeyāya mahātmane।
arghyaṃ dadāmi bhīṣmāya somavaṃśodbhavāya ca॥ 2 ॥
bhīṣmāya namaḥ idamarghyam। (3 times)
I offer this arghya (offering) to Bhīṣma born in the lunar dynasty (Candravamśa), the son of Gaṅgā, who was committed to truthfulness, pure, and a great soul.
वसूनामवताराय शन्तनोरात्मजाय च।
अर्घ्यं ददामि भीष्माय आजन्मब्रह्मचारिणे॥ ३ ॥
भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् ।
vasūnāmavatārāya śantanorātmajāya ca।
arghyaṃ dadāmi bhīṣmāya ājanmabrahmacāriṇe॥ 3 ॥
bhīṣmāya namaḥ idamarghyam। (3 times)
I offer this arghya to Bhīṣma, an incarnation of the Vasus and the son of Śantanu, who
has been celibate from birth.
गङ्गापुत्राय भीष्माय शन्तनोरात्मजाय च ।
अपुत्राय ददाम्यर्घ्यं सलिलं भीष्मवर्मणे ॥ ४ ॥
भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । भीष्माय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् ।
gaṅgāputrāya bhīṣmāya śantanorātmajāya ca ।
Aputrāya dadāmyarghyaṃ salilaṃ bhīṣmavarmaṇe ॥ 4 ॥
bhīṣmāya namaḥ idamarghyam ।
I offer this arghya to Bhīṣma, the son of Gaṅgā and Śantanu, who remained childless.
अनेन अर्घ्यप्रदानेन श्रीभीष्मः प्रीयताम् ॥
anena arghyapradānena śrībhīṣmaḥ prīyatām ॥
May the revered Bhīṣma be pleased with this offering.
After performing the above arghyadāna, offer prayers by chanting the following śloka.
भीष्मः शान्तनवो भीमः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः ।
आभिरद्भिरवाप्नोतु पुत्रपौत्रोचितां क्रियाम् ॥
bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo bhīmaḥ satyavādī jitendriyaḥ ।
ābhiradbhiravāpnotu putrapautrocitāṃ kriyām ॥
Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu, was a valiant warrior, dedicated to speaking truth, and conqueror of the senses. By the water of this tarpaṇa, may he attain the fruit of all rituals to be performed by children and grandchildren.
कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात् ।
करोमि यद्यत् सकलं परस्मै नारायणायेति समर्पयामि ॥
kāyena vācā manasendriyairvā buddhyātmanā vā prakṛteḥ svabhāvāt ।
karomi yadyat sakalaṃ parasmai nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayāmi ॥
With my body, speech, mind, senses, intellect, soul, or with the natural tendencies of my mind, whatever I do, I dedicate it all to bhagavān Nārāyaṇa.
अनेन मया कृतेन भीष्माष्टमी-पुण्यकाले भीष्मतर्पणेन परमात्मा सुप्रीतः सुप्रसन्नो वरदो भवतु॥
anena mayā kṛtena Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī-puṇyakāle bhīṣmatarpaṇena paramātmā suprītaḥ suprasanno varado bhavatu॥
By this Bhīṣmatarpaṇa performed by me, during the auspicious time of Bhīṣma aṣṭamī, may the Paramātman be pleased, may He be content, and may He bestow blessings upon me.
8. Conclusion:
Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī serves as a reminder of the eternal principles of Dharma (righteousness) and sacrifice exemplified by Bhīṣma. His unwavering dedication to his duties, respect for his elders, and adherence to moral principles continue to inspire generations. The festival also underscores the concept of Uttarāyaṇa, symbolising the journey from darkness to light, ignorance to knowledge, and mortality to immortality.
As the sun moves towards the northern hemisphere, may this Bhīṣma-aṣṭamī illuminate our hearts with the light of wisdom and inspire us to tread the path of righteousness with unwavering determination, just like the illustrious warrior Bhīṣma.
Links to courses
- Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram Chanting
https://www.sanskritfromhome.org/course-details/chant-vishnu-sahasranama-stotram-b2-48727
- Meaning of Vishnu Sahasranama Based on Shaankara Bhaashya (English Explanation)
Tarpanam is done for pitrus normally. Can others, not belonging to Bhisma’s varna give tarpanam to him?, as he is not their ancestor
Namaste. Thanks a lot for your question. A few thoughts:
1. When tarpanam is done during Amavasya or other occasions, there is a compassionate offering in the last section with all the unfolded darbha, sesame seeds (til) and water, to all those people who do not have relatives to do tarpanam for them.
2. Even during daily snanam, the water from the shikha, from the clothes (vastras) – are given as an offering to those who do not have offsprings to perform tarpanam for them.
3. Also, in teertha-kshetra when we do tarpanam, specifically the priest asks if you want to give an offering for your teachers, friends, pets, cattle, or other loved ones for their liberation.
4. In this specific case of Shri-Bheeshma, the entire karma is made since he doesn’t have any offspring who can do the tarpanam. The verses also talk about the same.
5. Even in Bramhayajnam, there is tarpanam to ‘Deva-Rishi-and Pitrus’.
6. Further, though this is called Tarpanam, this does not involve darbha, til, etc, and is more of an arghya-pradanam with expressions of gratitude and inspiration. Same for Yama Tarpanam also.
Due to these reasons, elders have guided that this karma can be done, even though, they don’t belong to his family lineage. Hope this answers. Others can add to the discussion.