Significance of Bilva leaves

Bilva leaves

According to Shiva Purana, the great epic on Lord Shiva, the Bilva tree is the manifest form of Lord Shiva himself, while all the great tirthas (pilgrimage places) are said to reside at its base. One who worships the Shiva Linga while sitting under the Bilva tree attains the highest bliss of oneness with Lord Shiva. The trifoliate leaves symbolize the tridentthat Shiva holds in his right hand.

The Scientific Name of Bilva tree is – Aegle Mermelos. Its fruits which have surplus health benefits is referred as Golden Apple or Stone Apple in English.

Just like Tulsi plant is sacred to Lord Krishna and Durva grass is sacred to Lord Ganesha, Bilva tree is sacred to Lord Shiva. Since the Bilva leaf has such significance in the worship of Lord Shiva, it is common to find Bilva trees cultivated in the vicinity of Shiva temples. Bilva leaves are also auspicious to Goddess Lakshmi who is considered as the sister of Lord Shiva.

When a Bilva leaf is offered to Lord Shiva,the most terrible karma(sin) is destroyed.The unbelievable merits one receives on offering a single Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva are described in the 9 verses of the sacred hymn known as Bilvashtakam.

Tridalam trigunakaram trinetram cha triyayudham

Trijanmapapasamharam ekabilvam shivarpanam     .. 1

Trishakhaih bilvapatraishcha hyachchidraih komalaih shubhaih .

Tavavapujam karishhyami ekabilvam shivarpanam    .. 2

Koti kanya maha danam tila parvata kotayah

Kanchanam sheela danena ekabilvam shivarpanam    .. 3

Kashikshetranivasam cha kalabhairavadarshanam

Prayagamadhavam druishtva ekabilvam shivarpanamh    ..  4

Induvare vratam sthitwa niraharo maheshwara

Naktam haoushyami devecha eka bilvam shivarpanam    .. 5

Ramalinga pratistha cha vaivahika krutam tatha

tatakadi cha santanam eka bilvam shivarpanam     .. 6

Akhanda bilva patram cha ayutam shiva poojanam

Krutam nama sahasrena eka bilvam shivarpanam    .. 7

Umaya sahadevesha nandi vahana meva cha

Bhasma lepana sarvangam eka bilvam shivarpanam     .. .8

alagrameshu vipranam tatakam dasha koopayo

Yagyakoti saharacha eka bilvam shivarpanam     .. 9

Dantikoti sahasreshu ashwamedha shatakratau

Kotikanya mahadanam ekabilvam shivarpanam    .. 10

Bilvanam darshanam punyam sparshanam papa nashanam

Aghora papa samharam eka bilvam shivarpanam    .. 11

Sahasra veda patheshu brahma sthapana muchyate

Aneka vrata kotinam eka bilvam shivarpanam     .. 12

Annadana sahasreshu sahasropanayanam tatha

Aneka janma papani eka bilvam shivarpanam     .. 13

Phalastuti 

Bilvashhtakamidam punyam yah patheth shivasannidhau.

Shivalokamavapnoti eka bilvam shivarpanam    .. 14

Temple and Puja performance for Lord Sarabeswara

It is firmly believed that for removing obstacles in marriage, for begetting a child, for recovery from debts, for winning legal battles, for neutralizing the effects of black magic etc., worshipping Lord Sarabeswara is the best remedy. Arulmighu Kambahareswara temple, also known as "Thirubuvana Veera Deva temple" located in the village of Thirubuvanam, a town which is about 8 miles from Kumbakonam in the east on the road leading to Mayiladuthurai is the only temple where Lord Shiva Perumaan is manifested as "Sarabeswarar" while in other places Sarabeswarar can be found in pillars.

Lord Sarabeswara

Lord Sarabeswara is please or the best time to do abishekam and puja to Lord sarabeswara is on 

• Chandra horai during raagu kaalam on Sunday - perform abishekam for Sri Sarabesvara using pure cow's milk. Do archana using little spheres of butter and perform archana with 108 namas and offer white colored dishes as neivédyam and distribute the same to the poor and the needy. Doing this will cure migraine problems, cure the long illness of husband, get back your awaited finance and bring peace in family
• Sani Horai during raagu Kaalam on Sunday - offer selfless service to the handicapped, Offer sesame based dishes and fruits as neivédyam, Distribute black or blackish blue clothes to the poor and Do archana using flowers from the Nagalingam tree in this time span.Doing this will cure severe illness, remove the obstacles, gain good fame, rejoin the estranged couples
• Guru horai during raagu Kaalam on Sunday - one must offer beauty products and ornaments as gifts to married women who can't afford these on their own. Doing this is good for women on all aspects to get rid of problems with husband, relations, in laws, and reduce the intensity of enemity.

Gayatri Mantra

Om Saaluvesaaya vidhmahé

pakshi raajaaya dheemahi

thannó Sarabesvara prachodayaath 

Thulasi - Holy basil - Sacred to Lord Vishnu

This is Holy basil in English and Thulasi in Tamil, and Tulsi in Hindi. The entire plant is considered to be very sacred and is auspicious to Lord Vishnu. This plant is considered to be a form of Goddess Lakshmi. Based on Hindu customs this plant is placed in a pot called 'maadam'. This maadam is placed or constructed either in front of house or at back of house based on Vaastu or fengshui. The ladies regarded as sumangali does pooja to this plant daily in the dawn after shower. She has to clean the pot, put sandal tikka and kumkum tikka on the pot and decorates it with flowers. Lamp has to be lit in front of it. After reciting mantras aarti has to be shown. One who does regular pooja to Tulsi matha, is benefitted with a pleasant life and longitivity of  their husband's life span.

Garland of cotton with turmeric and kumkum(saffron) tikka is special to tulsi matha and doing such garland gives a prosperous life.

Tulsi Mantra

tulsi srisaki papa harini
punyathe namaste naratha nuthe
narayani nama prabe

Ixora - Sacred flower of Lord Vishnu

This flower is called as 'idli poo' in Tamil and Ixora in English. This flower is very auspicious for Lord Vishnu. It is mostly used for sahasra namavali to Lord Vishnu on saturdays. This flower is in varied colors like orange, yellow, red and white. The red colored and white colored are very sacred and auspicious to Lord Sriman Narayana(Lord Vishnu).

Lingapoo - the sacred flower of Lord Shiva

The creations of God the Almighty are really astonishing. The above flower is referred as 'Linga poo' or 'nagalinga poo' in Tamil. Its English name or Botanical name is unknown. This flower is considered to be very sacred and auspicious to Lord Shiva. The flower figures out aavudaiyar at the bottom holding Linga (incarnation of Lord Shiva) over it and the shelter is given by naga like thing over lingam.

This flower is very auspicious to do pooja to Linga. Anyhow this flower shouldn't be used for prayers or any pooja done at home. The flower can be witnessed in all Shiva temples especially in Southern India. It has very strong fragrance that all bees can be seen rounding it. Its tree is too tall. The branch that holds this flower is too thin and thats the real wonder.