The last 5 days of the month of Karttika are traditionally known as the Bhishma Panchaka or the Vishnu Panchaka. Grandfather Bhishma fasted for these five days, preparing to give up his life. In the Hari BhaktiVilasa, it is said that if one is capable, one should observe fasting from certain foodstuffs on the Bhishma Panchaka for the pleasure of the Lord. This is optional. "The fast should begin by remembering Bhismadeva on the Ekadasi day and should end on Poornima (the full moon).
After the victory of the Pandavas in Mahabharata war, Shri Krishna took the Pandavas to Bhishma and requested him to teach them wisdom of immortal nature. That time Bhshma was lying on sara-sayya and waiting for the days of the solstice sun were to occur. At the request of the Shri Krishna the great warrior Bhsishma provided the wisdom of Raja Dharma, Varna Dharma and Moksha Dharama to Krishna as well as Pandavas. This continued from Ekdashi (11th day) to Poornima (full moon day) for 5 days. After the knowledge sharing session was over, Krishna acknowledged Bhishma saying "These five days would be auspicious and lucky from today. These five days of fasting in the future will be called Bhishma Quintet. This fast would be very auspicious. Those who will observe this and keep the vow they will get the best journey after death. It will free you from the former accumulated sins and salvation by works. Thus Bhishma Panchak Vrat was started by Lord Krishna.
If someone observes this fast, he is considered to have observed all other fasts, because it is greatly meritorious and frees one from great sins. Therefore, everyone should make a great endeavor to fast on these last five days of Bhismadeva. The strictest way of doing this fast is to take only the five products of the cow (pancha gavya) on each of the five days or fast by restricting the eating like during ekadasis: no grains and beans. only fruits and roots.
Various Levels of fasting:
Type-1
One can eat products of the cow for each day:
Type-2
If one can't follow type-1, then please take take fruits and roots fruits with lots 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."
Ingredients for Havishya as mentioned in Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa (13.10-13)
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The following are ingredients that can be used in making Havishya, which is
like a khichari made with these items.
Aatap rice
Unadulterated Ghee from cow
Saindhava salt (sea salt)
Milk from cow
Milk with cream
Ripe Banana
Kaala-Shaaka
Wheat
Fruits (Skanda Puraana, Naagara Khanda says they must be with a small seed
or with few seeds only)
Mango
Jackfruit
Labali fruit
Roots except kesa grass root
Pippalii
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:
Mung dal
Til oil
Beta-shaaka
Shashtikaa-shaaka
Radish
Jeeraa
Tamarind
After the victory of the Pandavas in Mahabharata war, Shri Krishna took the Pandavas to Bhishma and requested him to teach them wisdom of immortal nature. That time Bhshma was lying on sara-sayya and waiting for the days of the solstice sun were to occur. At the request of the Shri Krishna the great warrior Bhsishma provided the wisdom of Raja Dharma, Varna Dharma and Moksha Dharama to Krishna as well as Pandavas. This continued from Ekdashi (11th day) to Poornima (full moon day) for 5 days. After the knowledge sharing session was over, Krishna acknowledged Bhishma saying "These five days would be auspicious and lucky from today. These five days of fasting in the future will be called Bhishma Quintet. This fast would be very auspicious. Those who will observe this and keep the vow they will get the best journey after death. It will free you from the former accumulated sins and salvation by works. Thus Bhishma Panchak Vrat was started by Lord Krishna.
If someone observes this fast, he is considered to have observed all other fasts, because it is greatly meritorious and frees one from great sins. Therefore, everyone should make a great endeavor to fast on these last five days of Bhismadeva. The strictest way of doing this fast is to take only the five products of the cow (pancha gavya) on each of the five days or fast by restricting the eating like during ekadasis: no grains and beans. only fruits and roots.
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 lots 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."
Ingredients for Havishya as mentioned in Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa (13.10-13)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following are ingredients that can be used in making Havishya, which is
like a khichari made with these items.
Aatap rice
Unadulterated Ghee from cow
Saindhava salt (sea salt)
Milk from cow
Milk with cream
Ripe Banana
Kaala-Shaaka
Wheat
Fruits (Skanda Puraana, Naagara Khanda says they must be with a small seed
or with few seeds only)
Mango
Jackfruit
Labali fruit
Roots except kesa grass root
Pippalii
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:
Mung dal
Til oil
Beta-shaaka
Shashtikaa-shaaka
Radish
Jeeraa
Tamarind
