HOW TO PERFORM BHISHMASHTAMI TARPANAM ?

HOW TO PERFORM BHISHMASHTAMI TARPANAM ?
Bhishma Ashtami 2015 - January 27 (Tuesday)

Bhishma Ashtami is an important ritual observed by Hindus as part of their respect to King Bhishma. As per the incidents related to Mahabharata, Bhishma is regarded as the youngest son of King Shantanu and Ganga Devi. According to the Hindu mythology, Ganga agreed to marry Shantanu only on the condition that he will never question her for whatever she does. However, seven of the eight children were drowned in River Ganga as per a curse about which King Shantanu was unaware of. Out of agony, he finally asks Ganga why she is drowning all kids in such a ruthless manner. As Shantanu protested breaking his word, Ganga leaves him by offering Bhishma to him.


Ardent devotees belonging to the Hindu community are known to take Bhishma Ashtami Snan, which falls on the eighth day of the Shukla Paksha of Magh (February) month as per the Lunar calendar. People observe Bhishmashtami Fast on this very day as part of paying their tribute to King Bhishma. Perhaps, the king himself had chosen this day for his death after he was left on a bed of arrows by Arjun during the Mahabharata war. Bhishma, who was a Bal Bramhachari and an ancestor to Kauravas, he never married in his life and remained a bachelor throughout.

Legend Associated with Bhishma Ashtami
Bhishma's birth name is was Devavrata. As he grew up, Ganga took him along with her to Daitya Guru Shukracharya to teach him all the skills needed. Eventually, he learnt the incomparable art of fighting because of which he earned the unique distinction of never getting defeated as long as he was waging a war in the battlefield. As time passed by, King Shantanu married Satyavati after getting enchanted by her beauty. However, she agreed to be his queen only on the condition that her son would be made king and not Bhishma. Shantanu agreed reluctantly to this on the insistence of Bhishma.

During the war phase in Mahabharata, he chose to take the sides of Kauravas and decided to fight against Pandavas against his will. Lord Krishna employs the tactic of pitting Shikandi against him as King Bhishma had pledged that he would never fight against a eunuch. Eventually, he was confined to the deathbed for a period of 18 days after he reached the divine abode. The day when he died is observed as Bhishma Ashtami. People consider this day important and prominent for practicing celibacy.

Importance of Bhishma Ashtami
People who would like to get rid of the putradosh (lack of a child) find this day as the most significant one for sure. Childless couples and newly married couples who look forward to having a son consider this day to be most auspicious to observe vrat (fast). Performing a Tarpan on this day will eventually consummate the fast kept by people in this regard. Perhaps, it is considered for offering peace to Bhishma Pitamaha’s soul. It is widely believed that by seeking the blessings of Bhishma on the day, it is possible to have a male child who is equally capable of being a pitamaha himself.

Bhishma Ashtami 2015

Magha Shukla Ashtami is death anniversary of Bhishma Pitamah, one of the most prominent characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata and this day is known as Bhishma Ashtmai. Bhishma bowed for celibacy and followed it throughout his life. Due to his loyalty and devotion to his father Pitamah Bhishma was blessed with boon to choose the time of his death.

When he got injured in the battle of Mahabharata he didn’t leave his body due to his boon. He waited for the auspicious moment to give up his body. According to Hindu belief God Suryadev moves in South direction during half of year which is 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).

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.
HOW TO PERFORM BHISHMASHTAMI TARPANAM ?
Ratha SaptamI is for invoking Sun God.

TarpaNam to SrI BhIshma has to be offered on BhIshmAshtamI which is normally the day next to ratha saptamI.

Procedure:

(a)On BhIshmAShtamI day morning, perform sandhyA vandanAdi nitya karmas.

(b)Be seated facing East .

(c) Say the sankalpa " BhIshmAshtamI puNyakAle BhIshma TarpaNam karishye"

(d) Having YajnopavIta in NivIta mode, offer Arghyam by both hands in pure water without mixing tila by chanting the following Slokas:

1. bhIshmah SAntanavo vIrah satyavAdI jitendriyah !
AbhiradbhiravApnotu putrapautrocitAm kriYAm !!

bhIshmAya namah idamarghyam !

2. vaiyAghrapAda gotrAya sAnkritya pravarAya ca !
aputrAya dadAmyarghyam salilam bhIshma varmaNe !!

bhIshmAya namah idamarghyam !

3. gangAputrAya SAntAya Santanoh AtmajAya ca !
aputrAya dadAmyarghyam salilam bhIshma varmaNe !!

bhIshmAya namah idamarghyam !
anena arghyapradAnena bhIshmah PrIyatAm !

In fact all BrahmaNas should necessarily offer their respects to SrI BhIshma pitAmaha. In my humble view, he alone deserves the first praise of honour by all vipras as he considers them dearer than his own father.

My respectful salutations to SrI BhIshma.

Panchami according to Jabali is the duration from Panchami to Ashtami. For those who had taken SANYASA in the family DWADASHI is the apt TITHI and for those who died by weapons CHATURDASHI is the apt day for performing the rites. Those who perform Shraddha for the entire Paksha should do two TARPANAS on the Amavasya day. One should not do two Shraddhms in a day. But on the day of AMAVASYA, TARPANA shall be done for two sides of the family (ie) PITRUS from the father’s side and PITRUS from the mother’s side. During the MAHALAYA PAKSHA TARPANA ought to be done to KARUNIKA PITRUS too.
KARUNIKA PITRU DEVATAS
The following are called KARUKINA PITRU DEVATAS:
1. Younger brother of the father
2. Elder brother of the father
3. Elder brother
4. Younger brother
5. Sisters
6. Ones own sons
7. Aunt (Sisters of father)
8. Aunt’s son (Amman)
9. Wife of father’s elder brother
10. Wife of father’s younger brother
11. Daughters and sons of father’s brothers
12. Wife
13. Father in law
14. Mother in law
15. Daughter in law
16. Wife’s brothers
17. Guru
18. Master under whom one serves
19. Friends

భీష్మాష్టమిని మాఘ శుద్ద అష్టమి అని కోడా అంటారు .. ఈ భీష్మాష్టమి రోజునే మహా పితుడు అయినటువంటి భీష్ము డు మోక్షప్రాప్తి పొందాడు ... ఈ భీష్మాష్టమి రోజున భీష్ముని కి తర్పణములు వొదిలితే పిల్లలు ( సంతానము ) లేని వారికి సంతానము పొందుతారు .
!! మాఘ మాసే సీతాష్టమ్యాం సలిలం భీష్మతర్పణం
శ్రాద్దంచ యే నరాః కుర్యుః తేస్సు: సంతతి భాగినః. !!
అంటే మాఘ శుక్ల అష్ట మీ నాడు భీష్ముడికి తర్పణము వదలడము , శ్రాద్దము చేసింవారికి సంతానము కలుగుతుంది అని పద్మ పూరణము లో చెపుతుంది.
!! శుక్లాష్టమ్యాన్తు మాఘస్య దద్యాద్బీష్మాయ యోజలం
సంవత్సర కృతం పాపం తక్షణాదేవి నశ్యతి !!
అంటే భీష్మాష్టమి నాడు భీష్ముడికి జలాంజలి చేసినట్లు అయితే మనము సంవత్సర కాలము లో చేసిన పాప కర్మలు పోతాయి అని మహా భారత వచనం .
“ భీష్మశ్శాంతనవో వీరః సత్యవాదీజితేంద్రి యః
అభిరద్దీ రవాప్నొతి పుత్ర పౌత్రో చితాం క్రియాం
వైయాఘ్ర పాదగోత్రాయ సాంకృత్యప్రవరాయ చ
అపుత్రాయ దదా మ్యేతజ్జలం భీష్మాయవర్మణే !!
ఈ శ్లోకాన్ని పఠిస్తు తర్పణములు వదలాలి .. ( ఒక దోసిలలో నీరు తీసుకొని పై మంత్రము చదువుతూ నీరు వదలాలి .. ఇలా చేసిన తర్పణము వదిలినట్లే ) .
తర్పణము చేసి , విష్ణు , శివ దేవలయములకి వెళ్ళి పూజలు అర్చనాలు చేయించుకోవాలి . క్షీరన్నాము (పాయసము) నైవేద్యము గా పెట్టి నా తరువాత ఎవరి కైన దానము , లేక పంచి పెట్టాలి ..