Bhisma Ekadasi

Bheeshma Pitamaha or Devavrata is famously known for his oath of life long celibacy. He is one of the strongest characters in mahabharata and also a famous warrior, who could keep Arjuna also at bay on his day. But he is also a very renowned devotee of Lord Krishna. He is the one who proposes Krisna's name for top honor during RajaSuya Yaga performed by Dharmaraj. He also directs Kauravas to listen to Lord Krishna's words and stop war as Lord Krishna knows fully what would happen in the war. Bhisma figures in list of great devotees as given below sloka.

PRAHLADA-NARADA-PARASARA-PUNDARIKA-VYASA-AMBARISA-SUKA-SAUNAKA- BHISMA-DALBHYAN RUKMANGADA UDDHAVA-
VIBHISANA-PHALGUNA ADIN PUNYANI IMAN PARAMA BHAGAVATAN MANAMI (SRI PADYAVALI-52, TADBHAKTANAM MAHATMYAM)
"Prahlada, Narada, Parasara, Pundarika, Vyasa, Ambarisha, Sukhadeva Gosvami, Saunaka Rsi, Bismadeva, Balbhya Rsi, Rukmangada, Uddhava, Vibhisana, Arjuna, etc. to all of these great personalities, I pay my humble obeisances. "

Lord Krishna makes a promise not to touch weapon in the kurukshetrsa war and Bhisma challenges Lord himself stating that he would make Lord touch weapon. Kind hearted Almighty Krishna, wanted to give victory in this small challenge to his devotee Bhisma. One day when Bhisma starts killing Pandava army and Arjuna was not in a position to stop Bhisma. For a moment Krishna jumps out of charriot and takes weapon of sudarsana chakra pretending to kill Bhisma. In this way Lord Krishna displayed to world how much he valued Bhisma and his challenge.

When Bhisma is on his death bed(ampasayya) Krishna takes Dharmaraj to him so that Dharmaraj can learn more details of Dharma from the veteran. In the same context Bhisma gives Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra that is praying lord with 1000 names. Today Vishnu Sahasranama has become one acumen of the devotees who are on philosophical path. (Need to mention here that Late MS Subbalakshmi has given more popularity to it with her voice)

Bhisma who has gotten a boon from his father for his strong character, pitru bhakti and vow he has taken for his father. The boon is called svachanda Marana, means ability to time his death at his wish. During war he generously gives Pandavas secret to stop him in war. He waits on deathbed for auspicious Uttarayana Kalam and attains niryana on Astami of auspicious magha masa. The ekadasi that follows is named after him as Bhisma Ekadasi. It is believed that Fasting on this particular day and spending time in Lord Vishnu's names can free people from the sins.

Major Bhanu Chander -- A friend who will be remembered

My first meeting with him was not necessarily cordial. Even though he is my batch mate he joined 6 months late and that makes me senior enough to rag him. I made him arrange things in my otherwise clumsy room and cover all the holes on antique doors of the hostel so that I need not suffer in chilly winter. I am sure he would have cursed me at that point. Bt story does not end there, there is a special bonding began then and there. He became a closest buddy for the next few years. He used to tell me how badly he wanted to be in Indian Air Force as a pilot. I listened to every story which he unfolded about defence. May be I did not take all of them seriously as I had internal feeling that once he lands up with a lucrative high paying job, he would give his passion a break. But I was proved wrong in years to come and he was damn serious in becoming a pilot. Every time I had to walk into to canteen (All night canteen) I used to catch up with him and try to pull his leg over some thing or other. His smile looked so genuine every time he smiled. He used to admit honestly that he is not getting gist some hard core courses and happily mugging up for exam’s sake. He is not the smartest in college but he was pretty close to the smart guys in his Bpharm course that he pursued like a Defense project. Soon after graduation every one went chasing their future. Most of the guys future was lucrative job, higher education often called MS or MBA. He is one of the two guys I know who went on to pursue their unfamiliar passion. (Other being Ashis Panda who dedicated his life to social service) I was on one side happy with the decision he made and on the other side was nervous. Reason is obvious because of the risk he is carrying with so much dignity. We used to catch up at times over telephonic calls and just chanced to meet on Vizag road when he is on way to his hometown. I was happy to discover that his trademark smile still the same despite the matured army captain status he earned at that point. Like every other Aam Admi I did not miss any chance to boast that friend is in army as captain in time killing conversations with other friends. Six months ago he called me to inform that he is getting married. I was happy and sad. Happy for him for the time has come for marriage and sad that I can’t make it as I myself was getting married around same time. That was the last time we talked. We talked at length about many things from how he chanced to meet his sweetheart, how he became pilot in army which is his passion to his Honda car. When a friend of mine revealed the news of his death I was dumbfounded. I can’t help recollecting all the things I recounted above. Tears rolled from my eyes. May be God does not let good and extraordinary guys to stay on earth for so long as they are closer to His heart Swami Vivekananda die not live for long. Srinivasa Ramanujam did not live until his 40s. Major Bhanu leaves world at tender age of 29 leaving many friends like me sad in this world. Written with tearful eyes an feeling of deep condolences.