Bilvashtakam
Bilvashtakam(Bilvashtakam In English) is a wonderful stotra dedicated to Lord Shiva, describing the significance of Bilvapatra and the glory of Lord Shiva. This stotra is composed in Sanskrit language and is very popular among Shiva devotees. It is believed that by reciting this stotra reverently, Lord Shiva is very pleased and all the wishes of the devotee are fulfilled.
Meaning and Significance of Bilvashtakam
“Bilva” refers to Bel Patra, which is considered to be the beloved of Lord Shiva. “Ashtak” means eight verses. Thus, Bilvashtakam is a collection of eight verses, describing the glory of Bilvapatra and its characteristics.
It is mentioned in Shiva Purana and other religious texts that by offering Bel Patra to Lord Shiva, the devotee gets rid of sins and attains salvation. This sentiment is expressed in a poetic form in Bilvashtakam.
Benefits of Bilvashtakam
- Destruction of sins: The sins of three births of a person are eliminated by reciting Bilvashtakam and offering Bilvapatra.
- Grace of Shiva: Through this stotra, the grace of Lord Shiva is received soon.
- Increase in wealth: By pleasing Lord Shiva, prosperity is achieved in life.
- Attainment of Salvation: This stotra frees a person from worldly bondage and provides salvation.
- Peace and Health: The recitation of Bilvashtakam promotes mental peace and physical health.
Method of Bilvashtakam
- After bathing in the morning, wear clean clothes and sit in front of Lord Shiva.
- Take the bilvapatra and sanctify it with Ganga water.
- Offer Bilvapatra while chanting the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya”.
- Recite Bilvashtakam with reverence.
Bilvashtakam In English
tridaḻaṃ triguṇākāraṃ trinētraṃ cha triyāyudham ।
trijanma pāpasaṃhāraṃ ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
triśākhaiḥ bilvapatraiścha achChidraiḥ kōmalaiḥ śubhaiḥ ।
tavapūjāṃ kariṣyāmi ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
kōṭi kanyā mahādānaṃ tilaparvata kōṭayaḥ ।
kāñchanaṃ śailadānēna ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
kāśīkṣētra nivāsaṃ cha kālabhairava darśanam ।
prayāgē mādhavaṃ dṛṣṭvā ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
induvārē vrataṃ sthitvā nirāhārō mahēśvarāḥ ।
naktaṃ hauṣyāmi dēvēśa ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
rāmaliṅga pratiṣṭhā cha vaivāhika kṛtaṃ tathā ।
taṭākānicha sandhānaṃ ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
akhaṇḍa bilvapatraṃ cha āyutaṃ śivapūjanam ।
kṛtaṃ nāma sahasrēṇa ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
umayā sahadēvēśa nandi vāhanamēva cha ।
bhasmalēpana sarvāṅgaṃ ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
sālagrāmēṣu viprāṇāṃ taṭākaṃ daśakūpayōḥ ।
yajñnakōṭi sahasrasya ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
danti kōṭi sahasrēṣu aśvamēdhaśatakratau cha ।
kōṭikanyā mahādānaṃ ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
bilvāṇāṃ darśanaṃ puṇyaṃ sparśanaṃ pāpanāśanam ।
aghōra pāpasaṃhāraṃ ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
sahasravēda pāṭēṣu brahmastāpanamuchyatē ।
anēkavrata kōṭīnāṃ ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
annadāna sahasrēṣu sahasrōpanayanaṃ tadhā ।
anēka janmapāpāni ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
bilvāṣṭakamidaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ paṭhēśśiva sannidhau ।
śivalōkamavāpnōti ēkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇam ॥
vikalpa saṅkarpaṇa
tridaḻaṃ triguṇākāraṃ trinētraṃ cha triyāyudham ।
trijanma pāpasaṃhāraṃ ēkabilvaṃ śivārpitam ॥ 1 ॥
triśākhaiḥ bilvapatraiścha achChidraiḥ kōmalaiḥ śubhaiḥ ।
tavapūjāṃ kariṣyāmi ēkabilvaṃ śivārpitam ॥ 2 ॥
darśanaṃ bilvavṛkṣasya sparśanaṃ pāpanāśanam ।
aghōrapāpasaṃhāraṃ ēkabilvaṃ śivārpitam ॥ 3 ॥
sālagrāmēṣu viprēṣu taṭākē vanakūpayōḥ ।
yajñnakōṭi sahasrāṇāṃ ēkabilvaṃ śivārpitam ॥ 4 ॥
dantikōṭi sahasrēṣu aśvamēdha śatāni cha ।
kōṭikanyāpradānēna ēkabilvaṃ śivārpitam ॥ 5 ॥
ēkaṃ cha bilvapatraiścha kōṭiyajñna phalaṃ labhēt ।
mahādēvaiścha pūjārthaṃ ēkabilvaṃ śivārpitam ॥ 6 ॥
kāśīkṣētrē nivāsaṃ cha kālabhairava darśanam ।
gayāprayāga mē dṛṣṭvā ēkabilvaṃ śivārpitam ॥ 7 ॥
umayā saha dēvēśaṃ vāhanaṃ nandiśaṅkaram ।
muchyatē sarvapāpēbhyō ēkabilvaṃ śivārpitam ॥ 8 ॥
iti śrī bilvāṣṭakam ॥
Bilvashtakam is not just a stotra but a means of expressing the devotee’s love and devotion to Lord Shiva. Every verse in it inspires a person towards his duties and religious conduct. Shiva devotees use this stotra especially on Mahashivratri, the month of Sawan and every Monday.
Thus, Bilvashtakam is a divine stotra, which not only glorifies Lord Shiva but also provides the devotee with spiritual purification and liberation from life’s problems.
