Why Bel Patra for Shiv Puja ?

Lord Shiva is one of the key deities in the Trimurti and is popularly known as The Destroyer. The lord is also believed to be one of the easiest gods to please. It is believed that anyone who prays wholeheartedly to the deity during the Shravan month between July and August, which is special to the god, is relieved from all his/her Karma sins as well as bondages. He/she is also guided to the path of moksha or salvation.

The bel patra or bilva patra is the leaf of the willow tree. It is said that this leaf is one of the favourite personal belongings. According to the Shiva Purana, this is one of the six divine articles that must mandatorily be used when performing a Shiv puja.

The bel patra has a distinct trifoliate shape with three leaves. There are various representations for each of the three leaves. One reasoning is that the three leaves highlight the three eyes of Shiva while another states that they represent the lord’s Trishul or trident.

A third saying is that they represent the Trimurti, while a fourth statement is that they represent the three gunas of nature. Last but not least, the three leaves are considered to be representations of the sacred AUM sound.

Mythological Significance

The legend goes that when the asuras and devas churned the ocean, Halahal, a deadly poison also came out among several other things. Lord Shiva knew that if the poison spilled, it would affect all the living beings in the universe. To prevent this, He immediately swallowed the poison, enduring a lot of pain and earth. He was then offered the bel patra to soothe His troubled throat. This led to the lord developing a liking for the leaf and hence the bel patra is used when worshipping the deity.

There are references to the bel tree in the Skanda Purana as well. The purana mentions that the tree emerged when sweat drops from Shiva’s consort Goddess Parvati fell on the Mandrachal mountain. The goddess addressed the tree as bilva and began to reside in the tree. Hence, offering this leaf is a symbolic representation of worshipping Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati together.

Benefits of Using Bel Patra for Shiv Puja

Devotees believe that if they offer a bel patra to Lord Shiva and pay their obeisance to the deity with a clear mind, they will be blessed with whatever their heart desires.

Writing the 1008 names of the lord on 1008 bel leaves and offering them wholeheartedly to Shiva can help a person be blessed with good health, peace of mind, and prosperity. He/she will also achieve spiritual elevation.

The power of bel patra protects an individual from the negative forces surrounding him/her in the environment.

The bel patra has the ability to stop you from encountering difficulties and gives you the strength to overcome them if you do come across them.

The bel patra helps the worshipper find relief from the influences of any evil planet and also any kind of fear related to death.

If the bel patra is taken after placing it on the Shiva linga, it retains the reverberations of the lord for a long time. However, remember to keep the leaf such that the bel leaves with the stalk are directed towards the pindi and the upper portion of the patra directed towards yourself.

When the devotee keeps this leaf with him/her, it has a positive impact on his/her mental state, well-being, and health.

Here is a mantra that you can chant while you offer the bel patra to Lord Shiva.

Tridalam Trigunakaram Trinetram Cha Tridhayutam |

Trijanma Papasanharam Bilvapatram Shivarpanam ||

The mantra can be interpreted as given below.

The worshipper is offering the three-leaved bel patra to Shiva, the lord with three eyes, the holder of the trishul, and the destroyer of sins of three lifetimes.

How to Pluck Bel Patra

There are some important aspects to be kept in mind when plucking bel patra for any Shiva pooja.

To start with, the bel patra should be plucked only after washing one’s hands thoroughly and making sure that they are clean. Once the leaves are plucked, they should also be washed.

The bel leaves chosen as offerings to the Shivling must be plain without any stripes or chakras on them. Most leaves have stripes or chakras on them and must not be used to worship the deity. This is because such leaves are said to be fragmented. Also, avoid plucking spotted or discoloured leaves. Torn, dirty, and discoloured leaves are said to be inauspicious and can cut down the positive effect of a prayer.

Do not break an entire branch containing the bel patra from the tree. It is considered inauspicious to do so.

Monday or Somvar is the day associated with Lord Shiva. When plucking bel patra for Mondays in the Shravan month, care must be taken to make sure that they are not torn or cut in any part. It is also considered best to pluck them a day before

The leaves must not be plucked on Mondays. Also, avoid plucking on other occasions such as Ashtami, Navami, Makar Sankranti, Amavasya, and Poornima.

There is no need to pluck a large number of bel patra to satisfy Lord Shiva. The deity can be pleased with just a single bel patra that is plucked as mentioned above. However, the offering must be done with a pure intention and mindset.

To wind up, here is one more interesting trivia about how dear bel patra is to Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma was once asked what was the easiest way was to please Shiva. Brahma replied that Lord Shiva considered 1 neelkamal to be equal to 100 lotuses and 1000 neelkamals to be equivalent to a bel patra.