Bhishma Ashtami fasting storyImage Credit source: AI ChatGpt
Bhishma Ashtami Vrat Katha: Every year the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Magh month is celebrated as Bhishma Ashtami. Bhishma Ashtami is being celebrated today. It is related to the grandfather Bhishma of the Mahabharata period. It is believed that he left his life on the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Magh month. Bhishma Ashtami is celebrated as his death anniversary. It is considered a very lucky day in Sanatan Dharma.
According to religious belief, the day of Bhishma Ashtami is the best day to eliminate Pitra Dosh. On this day people also keep a fast to have a child. Childless couples get benefit from this fast. It is believed that with the divine blessings of Bhishma Pitamah, childless couples get children with good character and obedient. On this day, offerings are made to ancestors. Vrat Katha is definitely recited during the puja. In such a situation, let us read the fast story.
Fast story of Bhishma Ashtami (Bhishma Ashtami Vrat Katha)
According to the legend, Pitamah Bhishma was the eighth son of Maharaja Shantanu of Hastinapur and Mother Ganga. His name was Devavrata. Devavrata was brought up by Mother Ganga. Later he acquired knowledge of scriptures from Maharishi Parshuram and knowledge of politics from Guru Brihaspati. After completing his education, Mother Ganga handed over Devavrata to his father Maharaja Shantanu. Then he was declared the prince of Hastinapur.
Meanwhile, King Shantanu gave his heart to a woman named Satyavati, but Satyavati’s father put a condition that only his daughter’s son would sit on the throne of Hastinapur. Seeing the situation, Devavrata left his kingdom for his father and for his father’s happiness, he took a vow to remain celibate throughout his life. Because of this strict vow he came to be known as Bhishma.
His pledge became famous in the world by the name of Bhishma Pratigya. Seeing all this, King Shantanu was very pleased with Bhishma and granted him the boon of voluntary death. That means death could not come to Bhishma unless he wanted. He was the first chief commander of the Kauravas in the Mahabharata war. Under his leadership the Kaurava army fought for 10 days.
Arjun put Shikhandi forward and showered arrows on grandfather Bhishma. The grandfather laid down his arms before Arjun after seeing Shikhandi because he knew that Shikhandi was a woman. Then later, Bhishma was injured by Arjun’s arrows and fell on the bed, but at that time the Sun God was in Dakshinayan, hence grandfather Bhishma did not sacrifice his life.
Grandfather Bhishma lay on the bed of arrows for 58 days and waited for the arrival of Sun God in Uttarayan. He sacrificed his life on the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Magh month.
Also read: Bhishma Ashtami 2026: Bhishma was blessed with euthanasia, yet why did he wait for Uttarayan?
Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and general information. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.