Magha Shukla Ashtami is the day on which
Bheeshma Pitamaha discarded his corporal body on the Sharashayye. He is the
only epic character, who had received a boon from his father Shantanu to ‘die
on his own accord’. Bheeshma was the incarnation of Vasu, born on earth due to
a curse of Sage Vasishtha. He was born to Shantanu from Ganga as the eighth,
last and the only surviving son since his seven brothers born earlier were
killed. As soon as he was born, Ganga takes him away and brings him up.
Therefore, he spent his boyhood days and had the education in archery under
Parashurama during his stay with Ganga. Later, when Shantanu was on the banks
of Ganga, the latter handed over young Bheeshma to him. Shantanu promptly
performed the coronation of Bheeshma as the king-designate. Those were the only
early days in the life of Bheeshma which can be considered as pleasant and
joyful. Ever since Shantanu fell in love with Satyavati, a fisher woman,
Bheeshma had to pronounce one oath after the other. Dasharaja, the father of Satyavati,
puts a condition to marry off his daughter Satyavati to Shantanu only if the
King were to promise that the son born to her would be the successor. Shantanu
did not agree but the passion he had developed for Satyavati took away all the smile
and spirit from his face, which young Bheeshma noticed quickly. He enquired
with his father about the reason for the ‘distress’ he had drowned in but to no
avail. Bheeshma investigates the reason, goes to Dasharaja, promises him that
the son born to Satyavati would be the successor. Bheeshma goes on to declare
that he would never marry in his life to ensure that the successive children
born to Satyavati’s son and so on would continue to occupy the throne. Bheeshma
also states that he would protect the King, the throne of Hastinavati and the
values of Kuru Vamsha. Because of his own oath, he refuses to marry Ambike.
King Salva had rejected her
since she had been forcibly abducted by Bheeshma,
along with Amba and Ambalika to settle the marriage of Satyavati’s son
Vichitraveerya. Bheeshma had to wage a war against Salva to make him accept
Ambike. But, in the war, King Salva died. Ambike wanted Bheeshma to marry her. The
story of Bheeshma is too long. One particular incident worth mentioning is that
when Lord Krishna declares in front of Duryodhana that he would not behold any
weapon during the Great War Kurukshetra, Bheeshma also announces that he would
make the Lord behold the weapon, Sudarshana Chakra. Lord Krishna knew that
Bheeshma was a blessed soul, an ardent devotee and a victim of several
conflicting circumstances. Therefore, to show to the world that the Lord always
loves his devotee without any bias or prejudice, Lord Krishna pretends to be
angry with Bheeshma, beholds the Sudarshana Disc against his devotee. The Lord
broke his own promise to safeguard the oath of his devotee, Bheeshma. Lord also
makes Bheeshma teach Yudhishthira only to show to the universe how scholarly
was Bheeshma. Entire Mahabharata revolves around Bheeshma even though Lord
Vishnu was there in several forms like Parashurama, Sri Vedavyasa and Lord
Krishna.
It is the duty of everyone to pay
libations, give Tarpana to Bheeshma on this day.
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