Bhishma Pitamah: The Most Enduring Character from Mahabharata

Bhishma is often referred to as pitamaha because he was the grandfather in stature for both the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
Their biological grandfather, Vyasa was Bhishma’s step-brother.
Bhishma was the eldest surviving son of King Shantanu.
Ganga was his mother.
There are eight Vedic Gods called the Ashta Vasus.
They were cursed by Vasishta to take birth on earth.
They took birth as the sons of Ganga.
Bhishma was the last among them.
His original name was Devavrata.
Brihaspati, Shukracharya, Vasishta, Chyavana, Sanatkumara, Markandeya, Parashurama, and Indra were his gurus.
After his learning was completed, ganga left him with his father and went away.
The name Bhishma means someone who instills fear.
He was to become the king of the Kuru kingdom but shantanu wanted to marry Satyavati.
Her father insisted that her son should only become the king.
Bhishma took a vow of celibacy to make his father happy.
Bhishma got a blessing from his father that he would die only when he wishes.
After Shantanu died, Bhishma played a major role in the affairs of the Kuru Kingdom bhishma is also famous for the abduction of the three princesses of Kashi: Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika.
This was for his half-brothers, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya.
In those days, marriage by abduction was permitted for Kshatriyas.
Till the tenth day of the Kurukshetra war, Bhishma was the supreme commander of the Kaurava army at the beginning of the war, Bhishma had promised that he would not kill any of the Pandavas.
Later, Bhishma himself had given advice on how to disarm him in the fight.
He would put down his arms if confronted by someone who has been a woman once.
Shikhandi, the rebirth of Amba was a transgender.
On the tenth day of the war, Arjuna attacked Bhishma with Shikhandi in the front.
Bhishma put down his arms.
Arjuna injured Bhishma with numerous arrows.
Bhishma waited for 51 days on a bed of arrows for the auspicious uttarayana to begin before he left his body.
His death anniversary is celebrated as Bhishma Ashtami in the Shukla paksha of Magha masa, yudhishtira received the famous Vishnu Sahasranama from Bhishma while he was in the bed of arrows.
Bhishma is celebrated as one of the highest authorities in Dharma Shastra.