Bhisma Panchaka

The last 5 days of the month of Kartika are traditionally known as the Bhishma Panchaka or the Vishnu Panchaka. Grandfather Bhisma fasted for these five days, preparing to give up his life. 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 Lord Krishna. This is optional. "The fast should begin by remembering Bhismadeva on the Ekadasi day and should end on Purnima [the full moon]. The Padma Purana say that one pleases the Lord and makes spiritual advancement by such austerities.

A five-day worship period prescribed for the last 5 days of Kartika (Damodara) Month, and it is known as “Bhishma Panchaka”. Lord Krishna became very pleased on Shrila Bhishma and He agreed to give His pure love to those fortunate souls who chant, sing, hear, read, worship and fast for these five days of Bhishma Panchaka.

“The last five days of Kartika month are known as Bhisma Panchaka. Grandfather Bhishma fasted for these five days, preparing to give up his life. However, if 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 in Bhakti. 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 Bhishma Panchaka.

“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 Gauranga/Lord Krishna. 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 he has said and fasts on these five days, he becomes free from sins. Even if someone attentively listens to this narration, he also achieves happiness. 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 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.” [Note: Navadvipa Mandala and Kshetra Mandala Puri are non-different from Vraja Mandala and thus great Acharyas like Shri Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada have perfomed their Kartik Vrata in Puri and Navadvipa Dhaam.]

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 Keshava’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 Keshava. If anyone acts meritoriously in this month just to please Lord Visnu, he receives unlimited results.

Bhishma Panchaka Fasting

.. 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.

The fasting started today on Ekadashi and will continue until the Rasa Poornima Day. (Some years year it's a 4-day period) The fasting is broken at moon rise on Purnima day. It is recommended to do full fast on Ekadasi and then the following four days fruits and roots fasting or five-day fruits and roots fasting.

Various Levels of fasting:

Level 1

One can eat products of the cow for each day:

First day: Cow dung (Gomaya)

Second day: Cow urine (Go-mutra)

Third day: Cow milk (Kshiira)

Fourth day: Cow yoghurt (Dahi)

Fifth day: All products of the cow mixed (Pancha-gavya)

Level 2

If one can't follow level 1 then please take fruits and roots, fruits with lots of seeds should be avoided like guava, pomegranate, cucumber etc. Boiled potatoes, raw banana and sweet potato can be taken. We can use sea salt for taste. Cashew nuts (plain), raisins, dates can be taken. Milk products to be avoided.

Level 3

If one can't follow level 2, one can take "Havishya."

References: Padma Purana, Brahma-khanda, Chapter 23; Skanda Purana, Vishnu Khanda, Kaartika Mahatmya section, Chapter 32; Garuda Purana, Purva Khanda, Chapter 123.

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

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Havishya - Ingredients

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

Aatap rice

Unadulterated Ghee from cow

Saindhava salt (sea salt)

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 kesa grass root

Pippalii

Haritakii

Naagaranga

Ikshu-dravya or sugarcane derivatives (other than gur or mollasses)

No oil in any form

The following ingredients though part of Havishya need to be avoided in the month of Kartika:

Mung dal

Til oil

Beta-shaaka

Shashtikaa-shaaka

Radish

Jeeraa

Tamarind

Special Offerings to Lord Krishna during these days.

Following flowers to be offered to the Deities DURING THE BHISHMA PANCHAKA

DAYS AS PER GARUDA PURANA.

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 Lordship.

Ideally One should take bath in Ganges or the other holy rivers every day & 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

By following these days of Bhishma Panchaka fasting one gets the benefit of all the four chaturmasya fasting if one had been unable to follow the same.