Date uploaded in London – – 13 March 2024
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.
tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan
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Bilva / Vilva Tree in Hinduism (Post No.13,090)
Bel or Bael or Bilva Tree. It’s botanical name is “Aegle Marmelos”. This tree is associated with Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva or Mahadeva is pleased by offering of its leaves and fruits.
The trifoliate leaves from “Bel Tree” are considered to be very auspicious of the three.
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Bilva Tree in the Vedas
Bilva (बिल्व) is the name of the wood-apple tree (Aigle marmelos). It is mentioned in the Brāhmaṇas and in the Atharvaveda, where a reference to its valuable fruit may be intended. According to the Taittirīya Saṃhitā, the sacrificial post was made of Bilva wood in some cases. The Śāṅkhāyana Āraṇyaka contains a hymn in praise of the virtues of an amulet of Bilva (irā-mani bailva).
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Dynasty of a Muslim Country named after Vilva Tree
Bilva ( in Tamil Vilvam; Holy Bael in English) tree belongs to Rutaceae family and the botanical name of the tree is Aegle marmalos. The leaves are offered to Lord Shiva and the fruits are used as medicine. The tree controls 21 types of Bacteria. In Nepal girls are ritually married to the Bilva fruits. The tree is called Maja in Indonesia. Majapahit meant bitter Maja. German orientalist Berthold Laufer found out why the empire that ruled Jawa for 200 years from 1293 was called Majapahit. It was named after the Maja tree. The kings were Hindus.
It existed from 1293 to circa 1527 and reached its peak during the era of Hayam Wuruk, whose reign from 1350 to 1389 was marked by conquests that extended throughout Southeast Asia.
(Note all the names are in Sanskrit )
• 1293–1309- Raden Wijaya
• 1309–1328- Jayanegara
• 1328–1350- Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi
• 1350–1389- Hayam Wuruk
• 1389–1429- Wikramawardhana
• 1429–1447- Suhita
• 1447–1451 -Kertawijaya
• 1451–1453 -Rajasawardhana
• 1456–1466 -Girishawardhana
• 1466–1474 -Suraprabhawa
• 1474–1527 -Girindrawardhana
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Isha foundation of Sadguru says,
The famous Bilvashtakam extols the virtues of the vilva leaf and Shiva’s love for it. Why is the vilva so revered? By common knowledge, we know that the tree has been held sacred for many millennia and offerings made to Shiva are incomplete without vilva leaves. There are many symbolisms attributed to this leaf: the trifoliate leaves or tripatra are believed to represent various trinities – creation, preservation and destruction; or the three gunas or qualities of sattva, rajas and tamas; or the three syllables that make up AUM, the primordial sound that resonates Shiva’s essence. The three leaves are also considered to indicate Mahadeva’s three eyes, or the trishul, his emblematic weapon.
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Bhaviṣya-purāṇa
Bilva (बिल्व):—The consequences of using various flowers in worship, (e.g. bilva flowers) leads to the acquisition of wealth, according to the Bhaviṣya-purāṇa (brahmaparva, 197:1-11)
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Siva Purana on Bilva (Vilvam in Tamil
Bilva (बिल्वपत्र) is the name of a plant, the leaves of which are used in the worship of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.13:—“[…] lotuses, rose, Śaṅkha, and Kuśa flowers, Dhattūras, Mandāras grown in a wooden vessel, holy basil leaves or Bilva leaves shall be offered to each of the faces in accordance with the previous meditation or according to one’s wish. By all means Śiva favourably disposed to His devotees shall be worshipped with great devotion. If other flowers are not available, Bilva leaves (bilva-patra) shall be used exclusively in the worship of Śiva. With the offering of Bilva leaves alone, the worship shall be performed. Then scented powders, sweetsmelling oil etc. of various sorts shall be offered to Śiva with great joy. Then incense, Guggulu (the fragrant gum resin) and Aguru (the fragrant Aloe wood) shall be offered”.
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Manure for Bilva Tree
Bilva (बिल्व) is a Sanskrit word, identified with Aegle marmelos (bael) by various scholars in their translation of the Śukranīti. This tree is mentioned as bearing good fruits. The King should plant such domestic plants in and near villages. He should nourish them by stoole of goats, sheep and cows, water as well as meat.
The following is an ancient Indian recipe for such nourishment of trees:
According to Śukranīti 4.4.105-109: “The trees (such as bilva) are to be watered in the morning and evening in summer, every alternate day in winter, in the fifth part of the day (i.e., afternoon) in spring, never in the rainy season. If trees have their fruits destroyed, the pouring of cold water after being cooked together with Kulutha, Māṣa (seeds), Mudga (pulse), Yava (barley) and Tila (oil seed) would lead to the growth of flowers and fruits. Growth of trees can be helped by the application of water with which fishes are washed and cleansed.”
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In Skanda Purana
Chapter 250 – Creation of Bilva Tree
parent: Section 1 – Tīrtha-māhātmya
Vāṇī said:
1. It is not possible to extol adequately the greatness of Bilva leaves. O Mahendra, I shall tell you accurately. Listen to it.
2. The splendid Daughter of the Mountain; the goddess, became tired due to her sports. Drops of sweat appeared on her forehead.
3. They were wiped off by Bhavānī and a drop fell on the ground. It became a great tree on the excellent mountain Mandara.
4. Once again, the Daughter of the Mountain came to that place in the course of her sports. On seeing a tree in the forest, she was surprised. It was evident from her eyes that beamed.
5. She asked her female comapanions Jayā and Vijayā: “What is this great divine tree shining in the centre of the forest? It appears very beautiful. Indeed it gives great delight.”
Jayā said:
6. O goddess, this tree has originated from your own body, from a drop of your sweat. Do name this tree soon. If it is worshipped, it destroys sins.
Pārvatī said:
7-11. Since this excellent great tree pierced through the ground and rose up near me, let it be named Bilva.
If anyone approaches this tree devoutly and collects the leaves, he shall certainly become a king of the earth.
If anyone with perfect faith worships me with its leaves, he will realize whatever desire he may cherish.
If a person, after seeing the leaves of Bilva, at least maintains faith in the rite of adoration, I shall undoubtedly be the bestower of wealth on him.
If anyone makes his mind to eat the tip of the leaves, thousands of his sins perish automatically.
12. If a man places the tip of the leaf on his head, no torture of Yama will give him pain.
13. After saying thus, the delighted Goddess Pārvatī went to her abode accompanied by her companions and Gaṇas.
Vāṇī said:
14. This Bilva tree is very excellent, sacred and destructive of sins. There is ṅo doubt about this that Goddess Girijā resides at its root.
15. It is remembered that Dākṣāyaṇī is present on its stem Maheśvarī on its branches, Goddess Pārvatī on its leaves and Kātyāyanī on its fruit.
16. Gaurī has been mentioned as present on its bark, Aparṇā at the middle of the bark, Durgā in the flower and Umā in the branches and twigs.
17. At the behest of Girijā, nine crores of Śaktis have stationed themselves on all its thorns for the sake of protecting living beings.
18. They worship her by means of the excellent leaves. They adore the eternal goddess. Whatever desire is cherished will be certainly realized.
19. Maheśvarī, the daughter of the Mountain, is a great goddess. She is pure in form and she bestows salvation on people. On Seeing Hara resorting to Palāśa she created the physical form of Bilva playfully.
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This is called as MAHA BILVAM, you can see from 6 leave to 14 and then till 20, places like tiruvannamalai, chaduragiri, annamali Malai you can see this.
Fruit of this vruksham is used to make medicines like Mahabilvadi rasayanam and the fruit is prayed as goddess lakshmi. (from Facebook)
Temple Sthala Vrksha in 100 Temples
The offering of bael leaves is a compulsory ritual of the worship of Lord Shiva in the hills. This importance seems largely due to its medicinal properties. All parts of this tree, viz., root, leaf, trunk, fruit and seed, are used for curing one human ailment or another. This tree is in the following places in Bengaluru.
Someshwara Temple, Ulsoor, Bangalore
Bull Temple, Basavangudi, Bangalore
Jogpalya Main Road, Jogpalya, Bangalore
In Tamil Nadu over 100temples have Bilva Tree as Sthala Vriksha or important tree. Even Vaishnavite Sri Rangam Temple has it near Mahalaskhmi Shrine.
வில்வம் ஸ்தல மரம் உள்ள கோவில்கள்
திருஅரங்கத்தில் மஹாலக்ஷ்மியின் சந்நிதிக்கு அருகில் விளங்குவது வில்வம்!..
திருஐயாறு, தஞ்சை (ஸ்ரீபிரகதீஸ்வரர்), இராமேஸ்வரம், திருவெண்காடு, திருவைகாவூர் –, திருவிசைநல்லூர் நல்லூர் வில்வவனேஸ்வரர் கோவில், இன்னும் பல சிவ ஸ்தலங்களின் தலமரம் – வில்வம்.பெரும்பான்மையான திருக்கோயில்களில் முதலிடம் பெற்று விளங்குவது வில்வம்!.
திருவையாறு, திருவெறும்பியூர், திருமயேந்திரப்பள்ளி திருத்தென்குடித்திட்டை திருக்கலிக்காமூர் , திருமூக்கீச்சரம், திருச்சத்திமுற்றம் , திருக்குரக்குக்கா, திருவியலூர் , திருக்கருக்குடி, திருவிளமர் திருக்குருகாவூர் வெள்ளடை , திருக்கழிப்பாலை , திருக்குரங்கணில்முட்டம், திருவேட்டக்குடி ,திருநன்னிலம் (திருநன்னிலத்துப் பெருங்கோயில்) திருகோகர்ணம்(கோகர்ணா), திருக்கருவிலிக்கொட்டிட்டை, திருப்பள்ளியின் முக்கூடல் ,திருவிடைவாய், திருக்கோடி(கோடிக்கரை), திருக்கொள்ளிக்காடு திருஇராமேச்சரம், திருவைகாவூர், திருஇலம்பையங்கோட்டூர், திருஆனைக்கா,திருஆப்பனூர்,திருப்பரங்குன்றம்,திருவெஞ்சமாக்கூடல், திருக்கோழம்பம், திருத்தென்குரங்காடுதுறை,திருநனிபள்ளி,திருநெல்வெண்ணெய் , திருத்தருமபுரம் ,திருநள்ளாறு, திருக்கோட்டாறு திருஅறையணிநல்லூர்,திருமீயச்சூர் இளங்கோயில், திருக்கடவூர் வீரட்டம் , திருக்கடவூர் மயானம் திருக்கருவூர் ஆனிலை(கரூர்) திருக்கானப்பேர்(காளையார் கோயில்) , ,திருவேதிகுடி,திருகற்குடி, திருநெடுங்களம், திருக்கோணமலை மேலைத்திருக்காட்டுப்பள்ளி, திருக்கண்டியூர்,சக்கரப்பள்ளி, திருநல்லூர், திருச்செம்பொன்பொள்ளி , திருப்பறியலூர் திருவலஞ்சுழி, திருநீலக்குடி, திருத்தெளிச்சேரி, திருமீயச்சூர், திருச்சிறுகுடி, திருஅரிசிற்கரைப்புத்தூர், திருக்கொண்டீச்சரம், இடும்பாவனம், திருவெண்டுறை,திருக்கொள்ளம்பூதூர், திருஏடகம், திருஆடானை,திருமுருகன்பூண்டி, திருக்கோவலூர் வீரட்டம்,இடையாறு,திருவல்லம், திருமாற்பேறு, திருஇடைச்சுரம், திருக்குடந்தைக் கீழ்க்கோட்டம் ,திருக்குடந்தைக் காரோணம், திருக்கானூர், திருவடுகூர், திருப்பூந்துருத்தி, திருப்பாற்றுறை, திருக்கூடலையாற்றூர், திருப்பழனம் , திருநெய்த்தானம் திருத்தெங்கூர், திருவிற்கோலம்(கூவம்) ,திருப்பெரும்புலியூர் ,திருஅழுந்தூர் ,திருவக்கரை, திருவெண்காடு , திருப்பழையாறை வடதளி, திருக்குடமூக்கு (கும்பகோணம்), முதலிய நூற்றுக்கும் மேற்பட்ட திருக்கோயில்களில் வில்வம் தல விருட்சமாக அமைந்துள்ளது. சிவபெருமானுக்கு பூசனை மூலிகையான இஃது ஒரு கற்ப மூலிகையாகும்; அஃதாவது, இன்ன பிணிக்கு மட்டுமே மருந்துதென்று அமையாது எல்லாப் பிணிகளையும் நீக்கும் தன்மையுடையது.
இஃது கூவிளம், கூவிளை என்ற பெயர்களாலும் வழங்கப்படுகிறது
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Maha Bilva with 13 leaves in one stem
Famous Stotra Bilvashtakam
Why Bilva is So Dear to Shiva
The famous Bilvashtakam extols the many virtues of the Bael tree and talks about Shiva’s love for it. There are many reasons why Shiva is believed to be closely associated with this tree.
The tripatra or the trifoliate leaves represent not only his Trinetra or three eyes, but also the Divine Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; the Trishakti of volition, action and knowledge; the three types of Jyotirlingas, that is, Itaralinga, Baanalinga and Swayambhu linga; the three actions of Creation, Preservation and Destruction; the three gunas of Satva, Rajas and Tamas; and the three syllables of AUM, the primordial sound that resonates Shiva’s very essence.
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Story behind Shivratri
The “bel leaf” is a leaf in a triple or trifoliate form. The tree is also called wood apple tree. The leaves are important as their trifoliate form represent Lord Shiva’s three eyes as well as the three spokes of his trishul.
On Mahashivrati, this leaf is offered to Lord Shiva. The story goes that there was a poor tribal man named Lubdhaka who went to the forest to collect firewood. As it became dark, lost his way and could not reach home. Soon deep growls of wild animals could be heard in the forest. Lubdhaka was terrified and scurried up a nearby tree to seek safety and shelter. The tree was a bel tree.
He spent the night there, perched on a branch, out of the reach of the wild animals. To keep himself awake, he kept plucking and dropping the leaves of the bel tree while chanting Lord Shiva’s name.
The next morning, when he climbed down, Lubdhaka realized he had dropped thousands of leaves on to a Shiva Lingam, which he had not seen in the darkness.
Lubdhaka’s all-night worship pleased Lord Shiva who not only saved him from the wild animals but also blessed him with divine bliss. From that day onwards, devotees offer bel leaf all night long on Mahashivratri.
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Popular Bilva Stotra- Bilvashtakam
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रियायुधम्
त्रिजन्म पापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम्
अखण्ड बिल्व पत्रेण पूजिते नन्दिकेश्र्वरे
शुद्ध्यन्ति सर्वपापेभ्यो एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम्
शालिग्राम शिलामेकां विप्राणां जातु चार्पयेत्
सोमयज्ञ महापुण्यं एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम्
दन्तिकोटि सहस्राणि वाजपेय शतानि च
कोटि कन्या महादानं एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम्
लक्ष्म्या स्तनुत उत्पन्नं महादेवस्य च प्रियम्
बिल्ववृक्षं प्रयच्छामि एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम्
दर्शनं बिल्ववृक्षस्य स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम्
अघोरपापसंहारं एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम्
काशीक्षेत्र निवासं च कालभैरव दर्शनम्
प्रयागमाधवं दृष्ट्वा एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम्
मूलतो ब्रह्मरूपाय मध्यतो विष्णुरूपिणे
अग्रतः शिवरूपाय एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम्
बिल्वस्तॊत्रमिदं पुण्यं यः पठॆश्शिव सन्निधौ
शिवलॊकमवाप्नॊति ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Transliteration and Translation of Bilva Ashtakam
Ashtakam means Eight Slokas; normally given with Palastuti (Benefits)
tridalam triguNaakaaram trinetram cha trayaayudham I
trijanmaa paapasanhaaram eka Bilva shivaarpaNam II 1 II
trishaakhair Bilva patraisha hyaschidrai komalai shubhai I
shivapoojaam karishyaami eka Bilva shivaarpaNam II 2 II
akhanda bilvapatreNa poojite nandikeshware I
shudhyantii sarva paapebhyo eka bilva shivaarpaNam II 3 II
shaaligram shilaama ekaam vipraaNaam jaatu arpayet I
somayadnya mahaapuNyam eka bilva shivaarpaNam II 4 II
dantikotisahasraNi ashwamedha shataanicha I
kotikanyaa mahaadaanam eka bilva shivaarpaNam II 5 II
laxmyaa stnam utpanam mahadevasya cha priyam I
bilva vruksham prayachchhaami eka bilva shivaarpaNam II 6 II
darshanam bilva vrukshasya sparshanam paapanaashanam I
aghorapaapa sanhaaram eka bilva shivaarpaNam II 7 II
moolato brahma roopaaya madhyato Vishnu roopiNe I
agrataha shiva roopaaya eka bilva shivaarpaNam II 8 II
bilvashtakam edam puNyam yah paThet shiva sanidhou I
sarva papa vinirmuktaaha shivalokam avaapnuyaat II 9 II
II eti bilvashtakam sampoorNam II
Meaning :
1) I offer Bilva to God Shiva. This Bilva Patra is a form of the three human qualities. Good Virtue (Satva), Passion (Raja quality) and Irascible (Tama quality). This Bilva Patra is like three eyes, Sun, Moon and Fire. It is like three weapons. It is destroyer of sins committed in earlier three births. I perform pooja of God Shiva with such Bilva Patra.
2) I offer Bilva Patra to God Shiva. This Bilva Patra is very pious, soft and there are no holes on it. As such it is complete in it self. It is like three branches. I perform pooja of God Shiva with this Bilva Patra.
3) I offer Bilva Patra to God Shiva. After performing pooja of Nandikeshwar (God Shiva) by offering complete Bilva Patra (as described in 2 above) to him, we become free from our sins.
4) i) Soma Yajna is performed to receive blessings from God, to accomplish good things in our life and to destroy our sins. ii) People who perform religious duties even for others offer Shalagram (God in the form of a fossil Stone) to God Shiva. These (i) and (ii) are very pious and good things however to offer Bilva Patra to God Shiva is much more pious thing of all. Hence I offer Bilva Patra to God Shiva.
5) i) Long time back Kings and rich people in India were donating elephants. ii) Ashwamedha Yadnya were performed. iii) At time of marriage, father of bride is donating his daughter to bridegroom, and this is considered as a very pious thing performed by him. Above i), ii) and iii) are no doubt very pious things performed however offering Bilva Patra to God Shiva is much more pious thing than all. Hence I offer Bilva Patra to God Shiva.
6) Bilva Tree is created By Godess Laxmi who is wife of God Vishnu. God Shiva Likes Bilva Tree (Bilva Patra) very much. I perform pooja of God Shiva with Bilva Patra.
7) When we see Bilva Tree and touch it, it simply destroys our sins. Even our very bad and biggest sins are removed and we become free from our sins. Hence I perform pooja of God Shiva with Bilva Patra.
8) Lower part of Bilva Patra is God Brahma, Middle part of Bilva Patra is God Vishnu and Upper part is God Shiva himself hence I perform pooja of God Shiva with Bilva Patra.
9) Whosoever recites this Bilvashtakam by sitting in front of God Shiva temple will become free from all his sins and rest in Shiva Loka along with God Shiva after his death.
Thus here completes Bilvashtakam.
–subham—
Tags- Bilva, Vilva, Shiva, Tree, Wood apple, Bel, Shivratri Story, Bilvashtakam, Maha Vilvam
Tamil and Vedas 