Krishna no-watermark
Interesting Facts about Bhishma
Bhishma was the main character in Mahabharatha, and he was well known for observing celibacy throughout his life. He was the son of Shantanu and goddess Ganga. His birth name was Devavratha, and he lived in the dwaparayuga.
His other names are as follows:-
1. Devavrata
2. Gangaputra
3. Shantanava
4. Pitamaha
5. Mahamahima
Once King Shantanu saw Ganga Devi (River Ganges) and wanted her to marry him. They married, and she later gave birth to seven sons. But she drowned all the seven childs. When Ganga was about to drown the eighth son, Shantanu, stopped Ganga devi from doing it. Finally, Ganga explained to King Shantanu about the curse given to the eight vasus by the sage vashishta, when they tried to steal his cow. Since the seven other vasus did not commit big mistakes, they were released from the curse by Ganga by drowning them in the river. However the eighth child Bhishma, was cursed to live a long life. After Devavrata was born, his mother Ganga took him to different places, where he was trained by many great sages such as Brihaspati, Shukracharya and Markandeya. Devavratha, became known as Bhishma, after he took the oath of observing celibacy till the end of his life, due to his father’s marriage with the fisher-woman Satyavathi, and the promise made by him to Satyavathi’s father, that he would never marry and occupy the kingdom’s throne.
In the great battle at Kurukshetra, Bhishma was on the side of the Kauravas. Finally he was laid down by Arjuna’s arrows, and from his death bed, he has delivered nice teachings, and those precious teachings are as follows:-
1. Always be simple and straight forward in nature.
2. Keep both your mind and body pure.
3. Always maintain patience, and don’t get angry for anything in your life.
4. Maintain cordial relationship even with your servants.
5. Share your excess wealth with those who are in need.
6. Forget and forgive the mistakes committed by others.
7. Don’t allow the work to be completed in a half- baked manner.
8. Don’t be in the company of lazy and dull people.
9. Don’t get too much attached with anyone.
10. We should lead our life boldly, without getting fear for anything in our life.
11. Lead your life on the path of “DHARMA”.
12. Work hard, and don’t try to cheat others.
13. Move gently with others.
14. Keep developing your knowledge day by day by maintaining friendship with knowledgeable persons.
15. Protect others, and try to help others as much as you can.
16. Always be cautious and don’t easily believe others.
17. Limit your expectations, since keeping more expectations, would make you to keep worrying permanently.
18. Practice yoga and meditation in order to protect your mind from distraction.
19. Eat healthy food and before eating it, offer it as a Prasad to the god.
20. You have to live your life as per the teachings of the sages, and don’t live your life as per your own wish.
21. Time is precious, and hence utilise it properly.
22. Bhakti is the best medicine for curing your diseases.
23. Be brave enough to fight even with a fierce and roaring lion.
24. Don’t blame the god, for your own sufferings.
25. Consider the females as the divine aspects of Ma Shakti Devi, and give good respect to them.
26. Our life is short, hence, plan accordingly.
“OM”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR