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News India Live, Digital Desk: Who can forget the role of Bhishma Pitamah in the war of Mahabharata? The way he stuck to his vows and vows made him immortal. But one thing that surprises many people is that when Arjun pierced him with arrows, why did Bhishma not immediately sacrifice his life? Why did they keep waiting for Uttarayan (Sun’s movement in the north direction) lying on the bed of arrows? Let us know the story behind this poignant and mysterious incident.
The blessing of dying and father’s attachment
Actually, Bhishma Pitamah had received the boon of “wishing for death” from his father King Shantanu. This meant that they could sacrifice their lives only if they wished. After being badly injured in the battlefield, Bhishma’s soul could not leave his body against his will. It is mentioned in Mahabharata that seeing Bhishma pierced with arrows, everyone was surprised, even Shri Krishna himself, as to why Bhishma was withholding life.
Importance of sacrificing one’s life in Uttarayan
It is believed in Hindu religious scriptures that if a person sacrifices his life during Uttarayan period, he attains salvation. Such a person gets a place in heaven and gets freedom from the cycle of birth and death. At the same time, if someone leaves his body during Dakshinayan period, he has to be born again. Ganga’s son Bhishma was a knowledgeable and religious man, he knew that if he wanted to attain heaven and salvation, he would have to sacrifice his life during the auspicious Uttarayan period itself.
waited on a bed of arrows
Bhishma was badly injured by Arjun’s arrows on the 10th day of the Mahabharata war. He lay down on the bed, tied with arrows, but was alive. Since the Sun was in Dakshinayan, they kept waiting for the auspicious moment. He lay on this bed of arrows for many days and preached religion and morality to the Pandavas and Kauravas. Finally, when the Sun entered Uttarayan, on the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Magh month (also known as Bhishma Ashtami), Bhishma Pitamah sacrificed his life with a calm mind. It was his right to choose death as per his wish and he took this decision with the desire of religion and salvation.
This incident gives us an opportunity to understand the importance of life as well as death and the depth of religious beliefs. Bhishma Pitamah lying on a bed of arrows waiting for Uttarayan became a symbol of his strong will, knowledge and piety.
