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Bhishma Panchaka Vrata Procedure – How to observe Bhishma Panchaka Upavasa?

Bhishma Panchaka Vrata is observed during the last five days of the waxing phase of moon (Shukla Paksha) of Kartik month. Bhishma Panchak begins on Kartik Suddha Ekadasi day. The Vrata gets it name from Bhishma of Mahabharata as it was he observed it first after hearing about it from Lord Krishna. In 2024, Bheema Panchaka Vrata begins on November 12 and ends on November 15.

Period of Bhishma Panchaka and the story

Karthika Shuddha Ekadashi to Karthika Shudda Hunnime (Kartik Purnima).

Bheeshma did the upavasa for five days from Karthika Shuddha Ekadashi to Karthika Shudda Hunnime, lying on Sharapanjara – bed of arrows. On the tenth day of the Mahabharata battle, Bheeshma was hit by a volley of arrows from Arjuna and the arrows pierced through the body of Bhishma and it formed a bed. Since Bhishma had got the boon that he can decide the time of his death he chose to see the end of the battle lying on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. While lying on the Sharapanjara on the battle field he gave various advices to Pandavas and also chanted the Vishnu Sahasranama. During one such conversation Shri Krishna explained about the importance of the panchak vrat which gives health, wealth and progeny. Bhishma performed the Vrata and as it was first performed by Bhishma it came to be known as Bhishma Panchaka.

Bhishma Panchaka Vrata Procedure
Who can do this Vratha?
Any body can do this vratha - Women, Men, Widows.

Purpose of this Vratha
This is a Kamya Vratha (not a compulsory vratha like Ekadashi). Observing this Vrata is believed to bring health, wealth and luck. Those who do not have children also perform it for getting children. Some people perform it for redemption of sins.

BheeShmapanchaka vrata sankalpa -
Achamana, chaturvimshati namasmaraNa kEshavaaya………. shrIkRuShNaaya nama: |
praNamasya parabrahma RuShi: paramaathmaa dEvataa. …chaandramaanEna ….samvatsarE, dakShiNaayaNE, sharadRutu, kaartIkamaasE, shuklapakShE, dashamyaam, shubhatithou, …vaasarE, …nakShatrE, ……yOgE, ..karaNE, EvanguNa vishEShaNa vishiShThaayaaM, shubhatithou, bhaaratIramaNa muKyapraaNa
antargata, shrIlakShmI narasiMha/ vEnkaTEsha prEraNeya, ..prItyartham, putraabhilaasha kaamyartham/ dhanaabhilaasha kaamyartham, putrivivaahaartha kaamyaartham, AyuraarOgya aishvarya kaamyaartham, bhIShmapanchaka vRatam kaartIka shuddha Ekaadashim aarabhya pUrNimaaparyantam, braahmaNa suvaasini pUjaa muKEna, mayaa upavaasaacharaNa muKEna, bhIShma panchaka vratam aham kariShyE.

Arghya – Those who are doing the Bheeshma Panchaka Vratha must give three arghyaas for all the five days. Those who are not doing the vratha must give Arghya on Magha Shudda Astami i.e., Bheeshmastami day.

BheeshmatilatOya mantra: vaiyaagrapaadagOtraaya saankRutipravaraaya cha | gangaaputraaya bhIShmaaya pradaasyEham tilOdakam | satyavrataaya shuchayE gaangEyaaya mahaatmanE | bhIShmaaya cha dadaamyarGyam Ajanma brahmachaariNE | tilatOyaanjalim tasyE pradadaami mahaatmanE ||

Bheeshma jalaarGya mantra: savyEnaanEna mantrENa tarpaNam saarvavarNikam | dyuvasOravataaraaya shantanOraatmajaaya cha | arGyam dadaami bhIShmaaya AjanmabrahmachaariNE | vaiyaagrapaadagOtraaya saankRutya pravaraaya cha | aputraaya dadamyEtat jalam BIShmaaya varmaNE |

Deepadaana - On all the five days throughout the day the lamp must be burning unfailingly. Every day deepa daana to be given to brahmana-suvasiniyaru.

Brahmana bhojana - Except on Ekadashi on all the other days, we have to prepare bhakshya, bhojya, do naivedya and after srihari samarpana, Theertha Prasada to be arranged for Brahmana-suvasiniyaru. The one who is doing the vratha must take Theertha only. He must do the fasting. In exceptional cases when he is not able to sustain the fasting, then he can take milk, fruit, and other  light items that too for jeevadhaarane purpose only. He has to observe fasting as long as possible and only when it is impossible he can take some light food.

Naivedya – During Bhishma Panchaka, Naivedya must be done with pancha vidha bhakshya

Panchagavya prashana – Daily he must take panchagavya

Theertha-Gandha-akshate – This is a kamya vratha. He has to take Theertha thrice and put Gandha-akshate as usual (except Ekadashi)

Duties during Vratha – Pratha: snaana, he must not talk about the loukika vyavahara, tila tarpana to bheeshmacharya, daily pooja, suvarna daana, deepa daana, Shastra shavana, etc. He has to observe Brahmacharya during the period.

Udyapan – Those who are doing Bhishma Panchaka must do the sankalpa on Dashami itself and do the udyapan same day. Then five upavasa from Ekadashi to Hunnime. Next day on Padya after pooja, brahmana bhojana he has to take the theertha prasada. That is how the vratha comes to an end.

This is an edited version of the article send by Narahari Sumadhwa