Bhishma Panchaka Fasting

The fasting starts on Ekadashi and will continues until the the Rasa
Poornima day. (Some year’s year it’s a 4 day period) The fasting is broken
at moon rise on Purnima day. It is recommended to do full fast on
Ekadasi and then the following four days fruits and roots fasting or five
day fruits and roots fasting.

VARIOUS LEVELS OF FASTING:

Type-1
One can eat products of the cow for each day:
First day: Cow dung (Gomaya)
Second day: Cow urine (Go-mutra)
Third day: Cow milk (Kshiira)
Fourth day: Cow yoghurt (Dahi)
Fifth day: All products of the cow mixed (Pancha-gavya)

Type -2
If one can't follow type 1 then please take take fruits and roots, fruits
with lot of seeds should be avoided like guava, pomegranate,cucumber
etc. Boiled potatoes, raw banana and sweet potato can be taken. We
can use sea salt for taste. Cashewnuts (PLAIN) raisins, dates can be
taken. Milk products to be avoided.

Type 3
If one can't follow level 2, one can take "Havishya."

References: Padma Puraana, Brahma-khanda, Chapter 23; Skanda

Puraana, Vishnu
Khanda, Kaartika Maahaatmya section, Chapter 32; Garuda Puraana,
Puurva Khanda, Chapter 123.

Ingredients for Havishya as mentioned in Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa (13.10-13)

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Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
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The following are ingredients that can be used in making Havishya, which
is like a khichari made with these items.

Unadulterated Ghee Saindhava salt (sea salt)

Aatap rice from cow
Milk from cow Milk with cream Ripe Banana
Kaala-Shaaka Wheat

Fruits (Skanda Puraana, Naagara Khanda says they must be with small
seed or with few seeds only)

Mango Jackfruit Labali fruit

Roots except kesa grass Pippalii Haritakii
root
Haritakii Naagaranga Ikshu-dravya or
sugarcane derivatives
(other than gur or
mollasses)

No oil in any form

The following ingredients though part of Havishya need to be avoided in
the month of Kartika:

Til oil Beta-shaaka

Mung dal
Shashtikaa-shaaka Radish Jeeraa
Tamarind

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Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
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Special Offerings to the Lord during these days.

Following flowers to be offered to the Deities DURING THE BHISHMA

PANCHAKA
DAYS AS PER GARUDA PURANA.

On the first day, one must offer padma (lotus) flowers to the feet of the
Lord.
On the second day, one must offer bilva (wood-apple) leaves to the thigh
of the Lord.
On the third day, one must offer gandha (scents) to the navel of the
Lord.
On the fourth day, one must offer java flower to the shoulders of the
Lord.
On the fifth day, one must offer malati flower to the head (siro-desa) of
the Lordship.

Ideally One should take bath in Ganges or the other holy rivers every day
& offer tarpana 3 times for Bhismadeva by saying the following mantra:

Tarpana Arghya Pranam

om vaiyaghra padya vasunamavataraya om bhismah santanavo
gotraya santanoratmajaya ca birah
samkrti pravaraya ca arghyam dadami satyavadi jitendriyah
aputraya dadamyetat bhismaya abhiradbhiravapnatu
salilam bhismavarmane ajanma brahmacarine putrapautrocitam kriyam

By following these days of Bhishma Panchaka fasting one gets the

benefit of all the four chaturmasya fasting if one had been unable to
follow the same.

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Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Prepared by Karyalaya