Bhishma Ekadasi

HARI OM

Bhishma EkadasiEkadasi is a very holy thithi. People fast on this day and pray tolord Vishnu. But there are certain special ekadasi's likeVaikunta Ekadasi, which we all know. The other significant Ekadasiis the Bhishma Ekadasi. I will try my best to explain thesignificance of the same in my article.Each calendar year is divided into two kalams - Uttarayana andDakshinaya. Uttarayana starts on Ratha Sapthami day and endssomewhere before Vinayaka Chavithi and from then on it isDakshinayana till the next Ratha Sapthami. This is decided based onthe Sun's position on the sky.It is generally said that only great souls leave this world duringUttarayana period as it is believed that mostly any onewho dies in this period is said to be relieved from the cycle ofBirths and Deaths, that is there is no rebirth for them andthey reach the abode of god.That is why DevaVrata(Bhishma) in Dwapara Yuga used the boon givenby his father to hold on to his life till Uttarayana Setsin. THis is also one of the reason, why he had to hold on to hislife, the other being he wanted the Mahabharata War to cometo an end, as he had promised his step-mother that he will safeguardHastinapur and see to it that it is ruled by a properking. Now to give you all readers a brief jist of the happenings inDevavrata's life... He was the son of Emperor Shanthanuof Hasthinapur and Mother Ganga. Ganga leaves her husband as hequestions her behavior of killing their first 7 sons,devavrata being the 8th. Later on Shanthanu wants to marry a fisherfolk woman, but her father insists that only a son bornto the second wife should be made the king. Devavrata wanting tofulfill his fathers desire, takes a vow not to marry anyone. At this the heavens shower flowers on them and they give himthe title Bhishma.Even Shanthanu is so pleased that he gives a boon to Bhishma that,he can choose to die whenever he wants to.Now Bhishma uses this boon to hold on to his life, even though he isfelled by Arjuna's arrows in Mahabharatha war. Heprefers to stay alive till Uttarayana sets in. Then on thisparticular Ekadasi day, Pandavas, with Draupadi and Sri Krishnacome to meet Bhishma. Bhishma explains to Yudhishtira about thevarious nuances in running the government. At the same timehe wants to praise Sri Krishna.Sri Krishna gives him a divine vision, there by he starts singing asong in praise of Lord Vishnu. At the end all thedevathas, gods and goddesses join him in singing the phalastruthi.At the end, Sri Krishna gives Bhishma a Vishwa RoopaDarshana, and absorbs Bishma into his lotus feet.This day on which Vishnu Sahasranama came into being is called asthe BHISHMA EKADASI. This year this was on February 19th.Devotees, read Vishnu Shasranama daily or as often as you can. AllMaharishis have infact said the same thing. Shiridi Saibaba, Parthi Sai, Ramana Maharishi, every one has read and suggestedreading Vishnu Sahasranama and get the blessings of LordSriman Narayana. Even let us try to do the same.

Sarve Jana SukhinoBhavanthu

Sarvam Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu