Bilvashtakam — The Eight Verses of Offering Bilva Leaves
The sacred 8-stanza hymn chanted while offering the trifoliate Bel (Bilva / Aegle marmelos) leaf onto the Shiva Lingam. Each three-lobed leaf represents the three Gunas, the three eyes of Shiva, the three weapons, and washes away sins of three lifetimes.
बिल्वाष्टकम् — Bilvashtakam
Hymn for Offering the Sacred Bilva Leaf
The Sacred Bilva Tree in Shiva Worship
In the Shiva Purana, the Bilva tree (Aegle marmelos) is revered as the earthly manifestation of Lakshmi and beloved above all flora to Lord Shiva. Its trifoliate leaf (Tridala) symbolizes:
- The three Gunas: Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.
- The three eyes of Lord Shiva: Sun, Moon, and Fire.
- The three prongs of the Trishula.
- The three bodies: physical (Sthula), subtle (Sukshma), and causal (Karana).
Offering even a single pure Bilva leaf with devotion is said to equal performing a thousand Ashwamedha sacrifices.
Verse 1
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रियायुधम् ।
त्रिजन्मपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ १ ॥Transliteration:
Tridalaṁ triguṇākāraṁ trinetraṁ ca triyāyudham |
Trijanma-pāpa-saṁhāraṁ eka-bilvaṁ śivārpaṇam || 1 ||
Meaning:
Having three leaflets, symbolizing the three primal Gunas; resembling the three cosmic eyes of Shiva and his three-pronged weapon (trishula); which destroys the accumulated sins of three successive lifetimes — I offer this single Bilva leaf unto Lord Shiva!
Verse 2
त्रिशाखैः बिल्वपत्रैश्च अच्छिद्रैः कोमलैः शुभैः ।
तव पूजां करिष्यामि एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ २ ॥Meaning:
With these three-branched Bilva leaves that are unblemished, tender, and auspicious, I perform your sacred worship — I offer this single Bilva leaf unto Lord Shiva!
Verse 3
अखण्डबिल्वपत्रेण पूजिते नन्दिकेश्वरे ।
शुद्ध्यन्ति सर्वपापेभ्यो एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ३ ॥Meaning:
When Lord Nandikeshwara and Shiva are worshiped with an unbroken, whole Bilva leaf, the devotee becomes cleansed from every taint and sin — I offer this single Bilva leaf unto Lord Shiva!
Verse 4
शालिग्रामशिलायान्तु विप्राणां तर्पणं तथा ।
यज्ञकोटिसहस्राणि एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ४ ॥Meaning:
The spiritual merit achieved by worshiping the Shaligrama stone, feeding noble brahmins, or performing millions of Vedic yajnas is equaled by offering this single Bilva leaf unto Lord Shiva!
Verse 5
दन्तिकोटिसहस्राणि वाजपेय शतानि च ।
कोटिकन्यामहादानं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ५ ॥Meaning:
The merit earned from donating thousands of elephants, performing a hundred Vajapeya sacrifices, or the gift of thousands of kanyadanas is equaled by offering this single Bilva leaf unto Lord Shiva!
Verse 6
लक्ष्म्याः स्तनत उत्पन्नं महादेवस्य च प्रियम् ।
बिल्ववृक्षं प्रयच्छामि एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ६ ॥Meaning:
Born of the divine grace of Goddess Lakshmi and supremely dear to Mahadeva — I revere the sacred Bilva tree and offer this single Bilva leaf unto Lord Shiva!
Verse 7
दर्शनं बिल्ववृक्षस्य स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम् ।
अघोरपापसंहारं एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ७ ॥Meaning:
Beholding the sacred Bilva tree purifies the eyes; touching it dissolves bodily sins; and it annihilates even the most terrifying transgressions — I offer this single Bilva leaf unto Lord Shiva!
Verse 8
मूलतो ब्रह्मरूपाय मध्यतो विष्णुरूपिणे ।
अग्रतः शिवरूपाय एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥ ८ ॥Meaning:
At its root resides Lord Brahma the Creator; in its trunk and middle resides Lord Vishnu the Preserver; and at the tip of its branches resides Lord Shiva the Transformer — I offer this single Bilva leaf unto Lord Shiva!
फलश्रुति — Phala Shruti
बिल्वाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ ।
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोकमवाप्नुयात् ॥Meaning:
Whoever recites this auspicious Bilvashtakam in the holy presence of Lord Shiva will be liberated from all worldly sins and attain eternal residence in the abode of Shiva.