Bilva Tree

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The Sacred Bilva Tree

 

Bilva or Aegle marmelos is the embodiment of Lord Shiva himself and

is one of the sacred tree symbols of Hinduism. One finds the

reference of this tree throughout India. In Sanskrit this is known as

Bilva and in Bengali and Hindi this is called Bel. In Gujurati Bilva

is called Bili

From the Hindu pantheism point of view this tree is the symbolic

representation of Shiva, Parvati, Suryaand Lakshmi- the Goddess of

Wealth. It is said that no worship of Shiva is complete without

offering Belpatraor Bilva leaf. Thus Shiva is called Vilvadanda or

staff of the bel-wood. Indologist Dr. Sankar Sengupta recorded

that " These leaves on the lingam cool and refresh the heated deity.

Its trifoliate leaf or tripatra symbolises the three functions-

creation, preservation and destruction:-of the Lord as well as His

three eyes. "

 

It is forbidden to break the branches of the tree as Brahmodaitya or

Ghost Gods reside on it. In Bengal during the Durga Pooja on the

ashtami (eighth day) the Goddess Durga is invoked on a twig of Bel

tree. And in the prayer a devout says, " I shall get hold of thee and

worship thee as the Goddess Durga. Thou art Sriphala. Thou art great

virtue, and always dear to Sankara. I welcome thee, in order to

invoke the Goddess Chandika. " The fruit of Bel tree is also called

Sriphala because it is said the fruit is made out of the milk of

Goddess Sri.

 

Mahant Rama Shankar of Banaras wrote quoting the Skanda Purana and

explained the origin of Bilva tree, " One day while Parvati was

resting some drops of sweat fell from her forehead on the mountain

Mandara, from which grew the bel tree, Girija lives on the root of

the tree, Maheswari on its shoulder, Dukshayani on its branches,

Parvati among its leaves, Katyayani in its fruit, Gaori in its

flowers while in thorns the numerous Saktis find a home. It is also

believed that Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, also lives in the bel

tree. " Those who perform the puja of Shiva and Parvati devoutly,

using the leaves, will be endowed with spiritual powers. The leaves

are-symbols of three gunasr.Sattva, Rajasand Tamos. The five portions

of the tree, the root, bark, leaf, flowers and fruit, also have great

medicinal value and are used' o cure snakebites.

 

This Bilva tree is found throughout India and Pakistan and a special

variety of this tree is also found in Burma. Mythological sources

throw some light on the origin of Bilva. It states that " God thought

of making storement for yonder sun who did not shine; they offered a

white cow to Surya, thereby they restored his brilliance. The Bilva

tree was born at the very reappearance of yonder Sun. n Thus be

branches are used in kindling sticks during religious ceremonies

symbolically representing light due to its divine origin from the

yonder Sun.

 

From the medicinal point of view Bel fruits are very useful. In the

ancient Ayurvedic system of medicine one can find ample references of

usefulness of Bel for the cure o habitual constipation, dysentery and

dyspepsia. In the dasamula-the famous Ayurvedic tonic, Bel is one of

the ten vital ingredients. According to the Smriti those who wear

amulet of Bilva, their offspring is not harmed at the time of birth

and misfortune never invades the house.

 

Really speaking Bilva is medicinally and religiously very powerful.

On the one hand it acts as a boost to health and cure for many

ailments, on the other hand it has great spiritual significance which

permeates the Hindu way of life.

 

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