Bhishma Panchaka 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 BhaktiVilasa, 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. 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 says that one pleases the Lord and makes spiritual advancement by such austerities. P a g e 1 | 5 Hare krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Prepared by Karyalaya 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 Bhishmadeva 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 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 Bhisma 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 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.” P a g e 2 | 5 Hare krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Prepared by Karyalaya MERITS OF OBSERVING THE FAST “Srila Suta Goswami says in the Padma Purana, Uttarakhanda, ‘This liberating fast is unknown even to the demigods. If one listens to what I have said and fasts on these five days, even if he had sex with his sister, daughter, mother, etc. he becomes free from that horrible sin. Even if someone attentively listens to this narration, he also achieves happiness. I tell you the truth again and again that 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 a 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.” P a g e 3 | 5 Hare krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Prepared by Karyalaya 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." P a g e 4 | 5 Hare krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Prepared by Karyalaya CONCLUSION 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. RELECTIONS ON BHISHMA PANCHAKA Ekadasi Period and Fasting etc. The last 5 days of the month of Karttika are traditionally known as the Bhishma Panchaka or the Vishnu Panchaka. In the Hari BhaktiVilasa, 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. This is optional. The Padma Purana say that one pleases the Lord and makes spiritual advancement by such austerities. .. 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. P a g e 5 | 5 Hare krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Prepared by Karyalaya .