belpatra

"Bilwaanaam darsanam punyam sparsanam paapa naasanam" Bilvam is DAIVEE VRUKSHAM holy tree and it is VANASPATI Generally we worship Lord SIVA with BILWA PATRI leaves of bilwam. It is very importent in Siva puja as it is very beloved to lord SIVA. The story of BILWAM is very interested one, According to SKANDA PURANA God vishnu made a SANKALPAM to worship LORD SIVA. As prelimenary step He started TAPAS. His wife Goddess Mahalakshmi also joined in tapas along with her husband as She is a pious lady and PATIVRATA TILAKAM,After some time the BILWA TREE came out from the Holy hands of Goddess of Mahalakshmi, Lord Vishnu concluding His TAPAS started worshipping Lord SIVA with the leaves of BILWA along with his wife. Bhagawan SADASIVA was very much p;eased with this tapas of Holy couple. SADASIVA gave several boons to Lord Vishnu such as SARVALOKADHIPATYAM, SARVA PUJYATWAM etc. From that day onwards BILWAM keeps very importent role in SIVAPUJA to please LORD SADASIVA, That's why the BILWAM is a DAIVEE VRUKSHAM holy tree. The greatness and MAHIMA of BILWAM was elobaratly described in BILWASHTOTTARA SATANAMA STOTRAM, Any interested persons can go through it. BILWAM is a VANASPATI, VANASPATI means a tree giving fruts without giving flowers. The fruts of BILWAM is nothing but SIVASWARUPAM. The conception of BILWA PHALA is nothing but MAHAPRASADAM and SADASIVA shall very much pleased by this action What is the meaning of BILWAM? According to Sri Unmattanadanatha Srisukta Bhashyam BILWAM HALYAM KUTCHHITA RUPAM BHINATTEETI BILWAM BILWAM is so capable to eliminate and destroy all bad eliments. According to SKANDA PURANA Lord SADASIVA praised His better half comparing with BILWAM, " TWADEEYANGAANI SARVAANI TASYA PATRANI PAARWATEE" which indcates that the Holy tree BILWAM is nothing but the Holy Mother PARVATI body parts The BILWAM is also beloved to Lord VISHNU and Godess MAHALAKSHMI The Holy saint SRI AADISANKARACHARY in his KANAKADHAARA STOTRAM praised MAHAALKSHMI as folowes "Bilwatavee madhya lasat saroje sahasra patre sukha sannivistaam astapadambhoruha paani padmam suwarna varnaam pranamaami lakshmeem" As such any one either saiva or vaishnava may worship his daity with BILWAM without any doubt KASEE KSHETRA NIVASAMCHA KALABHAIRAVA DARSANAM AGHORA PAAPA SAMHAARAM EKABILWAM SIVARPANAM KALAYATU KAAMAAKSHI DR,G.S.SUBRAMANYA SASTRY