Bhisma Pancak Vrata

Dear Devotees,

Hare Krsna. Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila
Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Gurudeva.

Guru Maharaja have been observing this vrata for more than 10 years. It is
one of his favorite fasting to do. He used to only take fruits and roots
during these five days. I heard that he is desiring to do this fast this
year as well. He is still in Hyderabad taking the treatment. He was supposed
to come to Mayapur on the 1st but the doctor has extended the treatment for
some more days and therefore he is not coming to Mayapur during the Bhisma
Pancak. He would come after the treatment is over in Hyderabad.

In the year 2003, Guru Maharaja wrote, “Now I am back in Mayapur Dham during
this most auspicious month of Damodara.  We observed the Bhisma Pancaka
Vrata by taking only fruits and roots for 5days.  I observed the vrata in
the association of 200 devotees and we all had a profoundly nice time.
Usually people don’t like austerities, but doing this together with all the
devotees added a special flavor and it was actually very blissful.  As part
of the program we bathed every day in the Ganges and offered tarpana (a kind
of offering) within the Ganges for Bhismadeva.”

Bhisma Pancaka Fasting
================
The fasting starts on Ekadasi Day which is 29th tomorrow and will continue
until the 2nd, Rasa purnima Day. The fasting is broken at sunset (or at moon
rise) on Rasa Purnima day. Generally it is recommended to do full fast on
Ekadasi and then the following four days fruits and roots fasting. Or one
can do five day fruits and roots fasting.

Levels of fasting:
—————–

Devotees can choose whichever level of fasting as is convenient to them. It
should not disturb their normal devotional service(s) and daily sadhana.

Level 1:

One can consume products of the cow (pancha-gavya) each for each day:

First day: Cow dung (Gomaya)
Second day: Cow urine (Go-muutra)
Third day: Cow milk (Kshiira)
Fourth day: Cow yoghurt (Dadhi)
Fifth day: All products of  the ccow mixed (Pancha-gavya)

Level 2 (this is what Guru Maharaja has been following):

If one can’t follow level 1, one can take fruits and roots
fruits with many seeds should be avoided like guava, pomegranate, papaya,
cucumber etc. Boiled potatoes, raw banana and sweet potato can be taken
boiled or baked. We can use sea salt for taste. Cashewnuts, raisins, dates
can be taken. We shouldn’t take milk and milk products in this level of
fasting. Coconut water and grated coconut can be taken.

Level 3:

If one can’t follow level 2, one can take “Havishya.”

References: Padma Puraana, Brahma-khanda, Chapter 23; Skanda Puraana, Vishnu
Khanda, Kaartika Maahaatmya section, Chapter 32; Garuda Puraana, Puurva
Khanda, Chapter 123.

Ingredients for Havishya as mentioned in Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa (13.10-13)
————————————————————————–

The following are ingredients that can be used in making Havishya, which is
like a khichari made with these items.

* Aatap rice
* Ghee from cow
* ‘Saindhava’ salt (salt from ocean)
* Milk from cow
* Milk with cream
* Ripe banana
* Kaala-shaaka
* Wheat
* Fruits (Skanda Puraana, Naagara Khanda says they must be with a small seed
or with few seeds only)
* Mango
* Jackfruit
* Labali fruit
* Roots except ‘keaa’ (a type of grass or root)
* Pippalii
* Haritakii
* Naagaranga
* Ikshu-dravya or sugarcane derivatives (other than gur or mollasses)
* No oil

The following ingredients are normally part of Havishya but have to be
avoided in the month of Kaartika:

* Mung dal
* Til oil
* Beta-shaaka
* Shashtikaa-shaaka
* Radish
* Jeeraa
* Tamarind

One should take bath in Ganges or a holy river every day and should offer
tarpana 3 times for Bhismadeva by saying the following mantra:

Tarpana

om vaiyaghra padya gotraya
samkrti pravaraya ca
aputraya dadamyetat
salilam bhismavarmane

Arghya

vasunamavataraya
santanoratmajaya ca
arghyam dadami bhismaya
ajanma brahmacarine

Pranam

om bhismah santanavo birah
satyavadi jitendriyah
abhiradbhiravapnatu
putrapautrocitam kriyam

Offerings to the Lord:
———————

Devotees may offer the following flowers to the Deity:

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

When there is a overlap of days then the flowers for both days can be
offered in the same day.

Reference: Garuda Puraana (op cit.)

Your humble servant,

Ratnavali dd