Bhishmashtami 2016 date

Bhishmashtami 2016 date is 15 February. Bhishmashtami celebrated on twenty-third of Magha, eighth lunar day of the light half. Bhishmashtami is a festival which, at first sight, appears to be of special and traditional origin, but which has, probably, its source in the primitive institutes of the Hindus, of which the worship of the Pitris, the patriarchs or progenitors, the Dii Manes, constituted an important element.

Legend behind Bhishmashtami

As the name suggests Bhishmashtami is dedicated to Bhishma, the son of Ganga, and great uncle of the Pandava and Kaurava princes; who was killed in the course of the Great War Mahabharata, and dying childless left no descendant in the direct line, on which it was incumbent to offer him obsequies honours. In order to supply this defect, persons in general are enjoined to make libations of water on this day to his spirit, and to offer him sesamum seeds and boiled rice. The act expiates the sins of a whole year; one of its peculiarities is that it is to be observed by persons of all the four original castes, according to a text of Dhavala, an ancient lawgiver, quoted by Raghunandana, “Oh twice-born! Persons of all the Varnas should on the eighth lunar day offer water, sesamum seeds, and rice, to Bhishma. If a Brahman, or man of any other caste, omits to make such offerings the merit of his good deeds during the preceding year is annulled. According to a different reading of the text, however, it should be rendered: "Let all the twice-born castes make the oblations. This excludes Sudras, but extends the duty to the Kshatriyas and Vaisyas as well as Brahmans, The intention of the rite, as now understood, is expressed in the formulae uttered at the time of presenting the offerings; " I present this water to the childless hero Bhishma, of the race of Vyaghrapada, the chief of the house of Sankriti. May Bhishma the son of Santanu, the speaker of truth and subjugator of his passions, obtain by this water the oblations due by sons and grandsons." The simple nature of the offerings which aresufficient on such occasion, water and sesamum seeds justifies remark made by Ovid on the feralia, that the manes are easily satisfied, ---Perva petunt mane.