Shri Shiva Bilvashtakam was composed by Jagad Guru Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Shri Shiva Bilvashtakam is a powerful chant that speaks of the power and glory of offering bilva leaves to Lord Shiva. They are to be offered in a group of three leaves and are said to have features that identify them with Lord Shiva himself. Bilva Patra shares a very special relationship with Lord Shiva. Shiva is very fond of Belpatra or the Bilva leaves. If a person prays to Shiva with a clear mind and offers a Belpatra to the Shivalinga, the Lord blesses them with whatever they desires. Hence, Belpatra is one of the most important ingredients which is used for the worship of Lord Shiva. Bilva leaves is from the wood apple tree. This leaf is trifoliate which signifies the holy Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. It also signifies the three eyes of Shiva. According to Shiva Purana, The bilva is the symbol of lord shiva. It is adored even by the gods. it is difficult to understand its greatness. Blessed are the ones who offer Bilva. One Bilva is equal to a thousand lotus, says the Siva Purana. According to the Skanda Purana, the Bel tree grew from the sweat droplets of Parvati which fell on the Mandrachal mountain. From there the Bel tree emerged. Hence, it is believed that the Goddess resides in this tree in all Her forms. She resides as Girija in the roots of the tree, as Maheshwari in its trunk, as Dakshayani in its branches, Parvati in its leaves, Katyayani in its fruit and as Gauri in its flowers. Therefore as Parvati resides in Her various forms in this tree, Shiva is extremely fond of its leaves. According to Sri Bilva Shtakam, bel tree grew from the breast of Lakshmi. Those who offer one leaf of Bilva to Śiva is possibly equal to the spiritual bliss attained by the offer of a śāligrāma stone to a Brahman. Giving millions of elephants in charity, performing hundreds of Vājapeya sacrifice, or giving away millions of daughters in marriage equal the offering of one Bilva-leaf to Śiva. Those who recite this sacred Bilvāṣṭkam near Śiva shall be freed from all the sins and will attain the abode of Śiva.
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनॆत्रं च त्रियायुधं
त्रिजन्म पापसंहारम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Tridalam trigunakaram trinetram cha triyayudham
Trijanmapapasamharam ekabilvam shivarpanam
त्रिशाखैः बिल्वपत्रैश्च अच्चिद्रैः कॊमलैः शुभैः
तवपूजां करिष्यामि ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Trishakhaih bilvapatraishcha hyachchidraih komalaih shubhaih
Tavavapujam karishhyami ekabilvam shivarpanam
कॊटि कन्या महादानं तिलपर्वत कॊटयः
काञ्चनं क्षीलदानॆन ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Koti kanya maha danam tila parvata kotayah
Kanchanam sheela danena ekabilvam shivarpanam
काशीक्षॆत्र निवासं च कालभैरव दर्शनं
प्रयागॆ माधवं दृष्ट्वा ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Kashikshetranivasam cha kalabhairavadarshanam
Prayagamadhavam druishtva ekabilvam shivarpanam
इन्दुवारॆ व्रतं स्थित्वा निराहारॊ महॆश्वराः
नक्तं हौष्यामि दॆवॆश ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Induvare vratam sthitwa niraharo maheshwara
Naktam haoushyami devecha eka bilvam shivarpanam
रामलिङ्ग प्रतिष्ठा च वैवाहिक कृतं तधा
तटाकानिच सन्धानम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Ramalinga pratistha cha vaivahika krutam tatha
tatakadi cha santanam eka bilvam shivarpanam
अखण्ड बिल्वपत्रं च आयुतं शिवपूजनं
कृतं नाम सहस्रॆण ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Akhanda bilva patram cha ayutam shiva poojanam
Krutam nama sahasrena eka bilvam shivarpanam
उमया सहदॆवॆश नन्दि वाहनमॆव च
भस्मलॆपन सर्वाङ्गम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Umaya sahadevesha nandi vahana meva cha
Bhasma lepana sarvangam eka bilvam shivarpanam
सालग्रामॆषु विप्राणां तटाकं दशकूपयॊः
यज्नकॊटि सहस्रस्च ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Salagrameshu vipranam tatakam dasha koopayo
Yagyakoti saharacha eka bilvam shivarpanam
दन्ति कॊटि सहस्रॆषु अश्वमॆध शतक्रतौ
कॊटिकन्या महादानम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Dantikoti sahasreshu ashwamedha shatakratau
Kotikanya mahadanam ekabilvam shivarpanam
बिल्वाणां दर्शनं पुण्यं स्पर्शनं पापनाशनं
अघॊर पापसंहारम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Bilvanam darshanam punyam sparshanam papa nashanam
Aghora papa samharam eka bilvam shivarpanam
सहस्रवॆद पाटॆषु ब्रह्मस्तापन मुच्यतॆ
अनॆकव्रत कॊटीनाम् ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Sahasra veda patheshu brahma sthapana muchyate
Aneka vrata kotinam eka bilvam shivarpanam
अन्नदान सहस्रॆषु सहस्रॊप नयनं तधा
अनॆक जन्मपापानि ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Annadana sahasreshu sahasropanayanam tatha
Aneka janma papani eka bilvam shivarpanam
बिल्वस्तॊत्रमिदं पुण्यं यः पठॆश्शिव सन्निधौ
शिवलॊकमवाप्नॊति ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं
Bilvashhtakamidam punyam yah patheth shivasannidhau.
shivalokamavapnoti eka bilvam shivarpanam
