BHISHMA NHARAT Part 6

BHISHMA BHARAT 

THE life of BHISHMA  between the death of his father SHANTANU and his own.

DEVAVARTA is the maiden name of BHISHMA born as the 8th son of GANGA and SHANTANU  All 8 were born as the result of the curse given to ASHTA-VASU  by Muni VASISHTH for the crime of stealing his holy COW KAMDHENU  Seven VASU's born earlier were drowned by their Mother Ganga as soon as they were born. The eight  VASU by name DYU was spared by interference of father SHANTANU and lived long life as human for estimated 186 years. 

SHANTANU died natural death due to old age. BHISHMA became self appointed guardian of the heirs of his father SHANTANU who left behind VICHITRA VEERYA as heir. . His elder brother CHITRANGAD was killed by an angel of the same name earlier. Vichitrveerya too died without bearing child to any of his two wives AMBIKA & AMBALIKA . Two sons were produced to the two widows by NIYOG practice that was prevailing then using =Maharahi VYASA. Ambika gave birth to DHRTITARASHTRA who was born blind and AMBKIA to PANDU who was born with pale complexion.  TWO kingdoms were carved out for two. The elder DHRITARSHTA was made king of old HASTNAPUR and new kingdom with the capitol INDRPRASTHA in Barren part of Khandav van was given to PANDU as king. Hundred sons of Dhritarashtra came to be called as  KAURAVSAs while five or PANCH sons of PANDU came to be called as PANDVAs. BHISHMA continued to be in HASTINAPUR. 

How Pandvas lost their KIngdom in DYUT their kingdom and DRAUADI , How attempt was made to disrobe, How they were sent on exile for 14 long years and one more year at unknown and unseen conealing themselves, How they came back to claim back  their lost KIngdom , How it was refused and How it led to MAHAYUDHH is better part of MAHABHARSAT. Point to note is BHISHMA continued  by the side of Kaurav and fought the war as SENAPATI (General) for 10 long days, He was almost killed by ARJUN by an arrow from behinnd SHIKHANDI. He continued on bed of arrows for many days and chose to die at the start of Uttarayan as per the boon of ICHHAMARAN given to him.

During this long life many acts of COMMISSIONS AND OMISSIONS were made by him which makes him KEY character of MAHABHARAT. This will be covered in next part of BHISHMA BHARAT 

BHISHMA BHARAT PART - 5

 TESTING OF BHISHMA PRATIGYA

Looks like even if not crowned as the King,BHISHMA was ruler de facto ruler  Hastinapur for generations. Satyavati gave birth to two sons Chitrangada and Vichotrzveerya. After the death pf their father SHANTUNU , SATYAVATI now step mother of BHISHMA put her two juvnile sons of to the throne one after other and ruled with the help of BHISHMA. he elder was killed before marrying by an Angle of same name. The younger VICHITRAVEERYA was put of the throne but was dummy King. The real ruler continued to e BHISHMA. SATYAVATI ordered him to get three daughters of King KASHI named AMBA, AMBIKA & AMBALIKA to marry VICHITRVEERYA.  It happened to be SVAYAMWAR declared by their father. BHISHMA fought with all Kings assembled to win them including SHALV with whom AMBIKA was secretly in love. Having discovered HISHMA send her to SHALV who refused to accept her having been won over by another person and prompted her to marry one who has abducted her. Insulted AMBA came back asked BHSHMA toi marry her and save her from disgrace .He refused citing his VOW as the reason.THIS WAS THE FIRST TEST OF HIS VOW.

Angry AMBA cursed BHISHMA and vouched to destroy him and left for forest for severe penance.Other two princesses were married to VICHITRAVEERY. He too died without bearing any child from any of them. STYAVATI wanted BHISHAto father sons for his widows by then established niyog method. He refused citing his second VOW as the reason. THIS WAS ANOTHER TESTING OF HIS VOW.  Mahabharat tells us how VYAS his half bother and her son ( born before marriage ) was used for the purpose. Thus VYAS becomes not only a story teller but part of story . Very Very rare distinction.

To be continued/