BEL PATR OR BILVA LEAVES
The Bilva tree (Aegle marmelos), or the wood-apple tree, has long been considered as sacred. Its fruit is known as Sriphala or Srivrksa in the Sanskrit works, is said to be dear to Siva. Lord Siva is worshipped by chanting sacred mantra “Eka Bilvam Shivarpanam”. Bilva leaves are generally trifoliate (three leaves attached together). Amulets prepared out of these leaves are believed to be endowed with supernatural powers. Bilva leaves are used during Shivratri Puja. It is very auspicious to have a Bilva tree at home. According to Vedic scriptures the three leaves denotes:
1) Three eyes of Lord Siva.
2) Trimurthi Swaroopam…Brahma, Visnu and Maheswara.
3) Srusthi (creation), Sthithi (sustaining) & Laya (dissolution).
4) A single trifoliate Bel Patr …Left leaf represents Brahma, Right represents Visnu and the middle leaf represents Siva.
There is a legend, which talks of a poor devotee of Lord Siva going into a forest to collect wood. On his way back, he got late and the darkness and the sounds of the animals frightened him because of which he climbed a tree. As a devotee, he prayed the whole night and offered a leaf of the tree, to Siva, at regular intervals. By the dawn, he had offered one thousand leaves of the tree, which happened to be a bel tree, to Lord Siva. The Bel Patr had coincidently fallen on a Siva lingam underneath. Lord Siva, pleased with the devotee, blessed him, thus, started the practice of using Bel Patr.
Sarvakamapradam bilvam daridryasya pranashanam
Bilvapatram nasty yena tushyati shankara
[Belva tree fulfils the wishes and removes poverty. No other object pleases Siva or makes him happier than Bilva.]
A pledge taken over the Bilva leaf is considered too sacred to be broken. ‘Bilva’ is also name of one of the mudras or poses of hand and fingers, generally used in the worship of Visnu. [Chander M. Bhat]
The Bilva tree (Aegle marmelos), or the wood-apple tree, has long been considered as sacred. Its fruit is known as Sriphala or Srivrksa in the Sanskrit works, is said to be dear to Siva. Lord Siva is worshipped by chanting sacred mantra “Eka Bilvam Shivarpanam”. Bilva leaves are generally trifoliate (three leaves attached together). Amulets prepared out of these leaves are believed to be endowed with supernatural powers. Bilva leaves are used during Shivratri Puja. It is very auspicious to have a Bilva tree at home. According to Vedic scriptures the three leaves denotes:
1) Three eyes of Lord Siva.
2) Trimurthi Swaroopam…Brahma, Visnu and Maheswara.
3) Srusthi (creation), Sthithi (sustaining) & Laya (dissolution).
4) A single trifoliate Bel Patr …Left leaf represents Brahma, Right represents Visnu and the middle leaf represents Siva.
There is a legend, which talks of a poor devotee of Lord Siva going into a forest to collect wood. On his way back, he got late and the darkness and the sounds of the animals frightened him because of which he climbed a tree. As a devotee, he prayed the whole night and offered a leaf of the tree, to Siva, at regular intervals. By the dawn, he had offered one thousand leaves of the tree, which happened to be a bel tree, to Lord Siva. The Bel Patr had coincidently fallen on a Siva lingam underneath. Lord Siva, pleased with the devotee, blessed him, thus, started the practice of using Bel Patr.
Sarvakamapradam bilvam daridryasya pranashanam
Bilvapatram nasty yena tushyati shankara
[Belva tree fulfils the wishes and removes poverty. No other object pleases Siva or makes him happier than Bilva.]
A pledge taken over the Bilva leaf is considered too sacred to be broken. ‘Bilva’ is also name of one of the mudras or poses of hand and fingers, generally used in the worship of Visnu. [Chander M. Bhat]
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