Bhisma Panchaka


Why Perform Bhisma Pancaka?

The last 5 days of the month of Karttika 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 the Lord. “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.

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. 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 Bhismadeva

Devotees who are doing level 2 fast shall take a grain of rice during fast breaking time on Dwadasi.

3 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.

NOTE: On dwadasi, during the parama time, break your fast with one grain of rice and then continue to observe Bhishma Pancak 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 (Panchagavya)

Level -2 (Devotees normally observes this type of fasting)

If one can’t follow Level-1, then please take fruits and roots.

To consume:

  1. Fruits: Apple, orange, cheeku, pear
  2. Boiled potatoes, Tapioca and sweet potato can be taken.
  3. We can use sea salt for taste.
  4. Lemon, ginger.
  5. Cashew nuts (PLAIN), almonds, peanuts, raisins, dates can be taken.
  6. Coconut water and grated coconut can be taken.

To avoid:

  1. Fruits with lots of seeds to be avoided like guava, pomegranate, cucumber etc.
  2. Milk and milk products (dairy) to be avoided.
  3. No oil, ghee
  4. Pistachio

Level 3

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

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

  • Aatap rice
  • Ghee from cow
  • ‘Saindhava’ salt (salt from ocean)
  • Milk from cow
  • Milk with cream
  • Kaala-shaaka
  • Wheat
  • Fruits (Skanda Puraana, Naagara Khanda says they must be with a small seed or with few seeds only)
  • Mango
  • Jackfruit
  • Pippalii
  • Haritakii
  • Naagaranga
  • Ikshu-dravya or sugarcane derivatives (other than gur or molasses)
  • No oil

Prayers

  1. Daily one should take bath in Ganges or a holy river or sprinkle Ganga water or chant “Ganga! Ganga! Ganga!”
  2. Then offer tarpana 3 times for bhismadeva by chanting 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

Devotees may offer the following flowers to the deity

(Mental offering, in case actual flower is not available)

Day 1 Padma (lotus) flowers to the feet of the Lord

Day 2 Bilva (wood-apple) leaves of the thigh of the Lord

Day 3 Gandha (scents) to the navel of the Lord

Day 4 Java flower to the shoulders of the Lord

Day 5 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.

Simple Recipes

Fruit Salad:

Cut and mix fruits like apple, plums, pears, chikoos etc. Add some cashew nuts and chopped dates.

Potato/Sweet potato stew

Cube the potatoes, boil with water, ginger and salt. Add coconut milk towards the end.

Potato finger chips

Boil potatoes, peel them and slice them in the shape of finger chips. Add salt and either bake them or air fry them in an airfryer till it hardens a bit and changes colour.

Yummy baked Sweet potato, potato or tapioca

Bake these vegetables whole and unpeeled in the oven till the skin looks wrinkled and the vegetable looks cooked. Peel them and cut them into big chunks and add salt. Can also sprinkle roasted peanut powder.

Potato/ Sweet potato Patties

Boil potato / Sweet potato. Mash it and add salt, a tbsp of grated ginger, roasted and powdered peanut powder (2 tbsps for ½ kg of potatoes). Divide them into tomato sized balls and flatten them on the tava. Roast them till they darken in shade and look a little hard from the outside. Serve with Date chutney

Peanut/Coconut chutney

Roast peanuts and grind it with coconut, ginger, salt, a date to taste, and lemon juice.

Dates Chutney

Dates chutney Grind dates, lemon and salt ground together

Juices

  • Orange, lemon and Mosambi juices
  • Tender coconut water
  • Blend apple, chikoo/dates together and run it through a mixer till it is pureed. Smoothie is ready!

Dessert

Blend dates and broken nuts and make them into lemon sized balls. Carry them with you for quick energy that lasts for some time.

Snacky Nuts

Roast some peanuts, cashew or almonds and add salt to them.

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