HOW DEVAVRATA BECAME BHSHMA

How Devavrata Became Bhisma!

The story of Bhisma, the grand old man of Mahabharatha is as fascinating as it is rare and interesting! Here is a man with an iron will who sacrificed his life for the sake of his father and remained a confirmed bachelor throughout his life! But for him the Great Chandravamsa and the Kuru clan would not have come into existence? Who was this Bhishma and what were the circumstances that compelled him to take upon himself this great but terrible oath of celibacy? Legend has it that a great king Mahabhisha once went  to Indra, king of heaven. Attracted by his handsome appearance, Ganga, who happened to be there, casts amorous looks on him! Embarrassed at this objectionable behavior, Indra directs her to be the wife of King Mahabhisha in his next birth! Ashamed and downhearted at her indecent behavior, Ganga was on her way back. It was then that she met the “ashta vasus”-a group of celestials, who themselves were cursed to be born as mortals! In spite of the curse, the Vasus abhorred life as mortals and desired to return to heaven as early as possible.

Knowing her plight and predicament they made a request to her. They would  be born to her and that she should throw them all into the river as soon as they were born! This would enable them to go back to heaven. Time rolled on and Mahabhisha took birth as the great King Santanu. He fell in love with Ganga and asked for her hand! Remembering her promise to the eight Vasus, she agreed to marry king Santanu on condition that he should never object to her acts. Seven children were born and one by one she threw them into the river! king Santanu was aghast at this unprecedented cruelty of the mother. He could not tolerate the action of Ganga any more. When she was about to throw her eighth son into the river, he objected to her act and stopped her! Thus he breached his promise to her earlier. Ganga took her newborn son and left the king. The son was named Devavrata and grew up under the care of great gurus. He flowered into a young, energetic and handsome lad. Ganga brought her son back to king Santanu, explained all details and departed.

Now the king had a grown up son but no wife! Moving about his territory on an occasion, he happened to see an extraordinarily beautiful girl, Satyavati by name and fell in love with her. But her father was unwilling to offer her in marriage to the king since he had already a heir to the kingdom. He desired that the son born to his daughter Satyavati should be the heir to the kingdom of Santanu! His condition for marriage was against the principles of the era and dharma. King Santanu did not accede to the condition laid down by the father of  Satyavati.The king was very unhappy and worried. Observing his father and his worried look, Devavrata came to know the cause for his father’s worry and gloom. He went and met the father of Satyavati. He explained to him that there will be no bar for the son of Satyavati to become the heir to the kingdom of his father Santanu! But the words of Devavrata did not impress the father of the girl. He questioned how that can happen when Satyavrata was there already. After Satyavrata, his son shall be the king!

Satyavrata contemplated for awhile. His father’s happiness was the most important thing for him! He had to convince Satyavati’s father regarding the proper heir to the kingdom of his father. He cannot be the king after his father. The doubt that his son may become the heir to the Kingdom  had to be dispelled. Things became clear to him. He declared to Satyavati’s father that he would never marry  and remains celibate all through his life! Devavrata took this terrible oath for the happiness of his father sacrificing his personal desires! The Devas showered flowers on him for this rare virtue of personal pleasures and enjoyment! Thus this sacrifice is considered as terrible or. “bhisma!j” From thence onwards  Devavrata became BHISMA and called so by the world!

Satyavati’s sons Chitrangada and Vichitravirya died without children. But Vichitravirya married Ambika and Ambalika before his demise. Through the intervention of Sage Vyasa, Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura were born.The Kauravas and Pandavas thus were children of Dhritarashtra and Pandu respectively. Bhishma had the greatest responsibility of looking after them in every aspect of their growth and progress! In spite of his lofty stature, rectitude and valour, Bhishma was not at all happy as he was a silent spectator to all the misdeeds of the evil minded Kauravas! He was on the side of adharma and could not override the opinion and misdeeds of the Kauravas! He had the rare and divine quality of deciding the time of his death! Events conspired in his life and he had to die fighting against a transgender, Sikhandi!  Finally he chose ‘uttarayana’ period for his death and breathed his last! He was a towering personality who strikes us with awe  and surprise!