Bhishm (17)--Notable Mortals Who Lived Through Most of the Four Eras

(This is an excerpt from my book “Four Eras of The Battling Gods & Mortals.” The book can be obtained from Amazon. The is also available at Kitab Ghar, Gaiety, Shimla. The Amazon link is given below):

https://www.amazon.in/dp/9390758173?ref=myi_title_dp

Opening Note : This write-up in installments, is intended to drive home the sole point, hitherto ignored by the historians with utter impunity, that Ramayan and Mahabharat periods were only couple of years apart, almost extending into each other. The study is based on the evidences from 18 Mahapuranas and 18 Uppuranas, along with other Ancient Indian scriptures. Here is the list of at least 106 notable personalities who were alive and present in these two epic periods and even beyond and prior to these periods.  I am confident that one day this truth will have to be accepted by savants of history and general public interested in the study of Ancient India.

Here Bhishm, one among 116 mortals, who found references in the texts of  Mahabharat & Puranas.  A careful, meticulous and sincere study of these ancient literary composition reveals that most of such notables not merely find references in, but they actively interacted with the other people living through periods of Ramayan & Mahabharat.

 

17. Bhishm—Bhishm's name in his boyhood was Devvrat. He was the eighth son of Gangadevi and Shantanu, a king of the Lunar dynasty in the lineage of Atri.

At the onset of Kalp, Pulastay rishi, one of the manasputras of Brahma, and grandfather of Ravan, narrated Padam Puran to Bhishm at Gangadwar.[1] Pulastay taught Bhishm the importance and greatness of all the holy places of Bharat Varsh. From then onwards Pulastay is called the Guru of Bhishm also.[2]

Bhishm Pitamah

Gangadevi married Shantanu on condition that whatever she did the King would not ask any question. She threw her seven children in river Ganga but when eighth was born the king requested her not to throw this child in the river. Ganga immediately left Shantanu and went to the ashram of Vasisth in the forest with her infant. This child named Devvrat was brought up by Vasisth up to the age of 32 years and was taught all branches of knowledge. After completion of education, Ganga handed him over to his father Shantanu.[3]

Bhishm refers to the stories of Shri Ram, Dashrath, Lakshman, Sita, Harishchander and Rohit etc. in reference to worry by his father Shantanu, after hearing the condition from Dashraj, father of Satyavati, that the son of Satyavati will be the heir apparent for the throne after Shantanu.[4]

Parshuram and Bhishm fought for 23 days on disagreement about the marriage of Bhishm with Amba.[5] Amba was allowed by Bhishm to marry her lover King Salva, but after Salva rejected her, she returned to Bhishm. Bhishm too did not accept her. Parshuram pleaded with Bhishm on behalf of Amba, but he refused to marry her owing to his pledge to his father.[6] Bhishm offered his respect and devotion and prepared himself to bear the consequences of the wrath of his guru Parshuram.[7]

He died at the age of 135 years[8] on the deathbed of arrows at the conclusion of Mahabharat.

---

[1] Padam Puran, Shrishti Khand, Adhyay Bhishm aur Pulastay Samvad.

[2] Mahabharat, Van Parv, Adhyay 82.

[3] Mahabharat, Adi Parv, Adhyay 95-100.

[4] Devibhagvat, Skandh 2, Adhyay 5.

[5] Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, by Jayadayal Goyandka, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Second edition 1973, English version. p.758.

Hindu Samskriti Ank, Kalyan, Gita Press, Gorakhpur p. 829.

[6] Mahabharat, Udyog Parv, Adhyay 178.

[7] Mahabharat, Udyog Parv, Adhyay 178, Shlok 49-50.

[8] Sant Ank, Kalyan, Gita Press, Gorakhpur. p. 315.