Bilvaashtakam
Bilvaashtakam
bilvASTakam
tridalaM triguNAkAraM trinetraM ca triyAyudham |
trijanma pApasaMhAraM ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
trizAkhaiH bilvapatraizca acchidraiH komalaiH zubhaiH |
tavapUjAM kariSyAmi ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
koTi kanyA mahAdAnaM tilaparvata koTayaH |
kAJcanaM zailadAnena ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
kAzIkSetra nivAsaM ca kAlabhairava darzanam |
prayAge mAdhavaM dRSTvA ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
induvAre vrataM sthitvA nirAhAro mahezvarAH |
naktaM hauSyAmi deveza ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
rAmaliGga pratiSThA ca vaivAhika kRtaM tathA |
taTAkAnica sandhAnaM ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
akhaNDa bilvapatraM ca AyutaM zivapUjanam |
kRtaM nAma sahasreNa ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
umayA sahadeveza nandi vAhanameva ca |
bhasmalepana sarvAGgaM ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
sAlagrAmeSu viprANAM taTAkaM dazakUpayoH |
yajJnakoTi sahasrasya ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
danti koTi sahasreSu azvamedhazatakratau | [azvamedha zatAni ca / vAjapeya zatAni ca]
koTikanyA mahAdAnaM ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
bilvANAM darzanaM puNyaM sparzanaM pApanAzanam |
aghora pApasaMhAraM ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
sahasraveda pATeSu brahmastApanamucyate |
anekavrata koTInAM ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
annadAna sahasreSu sahasropanayanaM tadhA |
aneka janmapApAni ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
bilvASTakamidaM puNyaM yaH paThezziva sannidhau |
zivalokamavApnoti ekabilvaM zivArpaNam ||
vikalpa saGkarpaNa
tridalaM triguNAkAraM trinetraM ca triyAyudham |
trijanma pApasaMhAraM ekabilvaM zivArpitam || 1 ||
trizAkhaiH bilvapatraizca acchidraiH komalaiH zubhaiH |
tavapUjAM kariSyAmi ekabilvaM zivArpitam || 2 ||
darzanaM bilvavRkSasya sparzanaM pApanAzanam |
aghorapApasaMhAraM ekabilvaM zivArpitam || 3 ||
sAlagrAmeSu vipreSu taTAke vanakUpayoH |
yajJnakoTi sahasrANAM ekabilvaM zivArpitam || 4 ||
dantikoTi sahasreSu azvamedha zatAni ca |
koTikanyApradAnena ekabilvaM zivArpitam || 5 ||
ekaM ca bilvapatraizca koTiyajJna phalaM labhet |
mahAdevaizca pUjArthaM ekabilvaM zivArpitam || 6 ||
kAzIkSetre nivAsaM ca kAlabhairava darzanam |
gayAprayAga me dRSTvA ekabilvaM zivArpitam || 7 ||
umayA saha devezaM vAhanaM nandizaGkaram |
mucyate sarvapApebhyo ekabilvaM zivArpitam || 8 ||
iti zrI bilvASTakam ||
About This Stotram
Overview
The Bilvaashtakam is an 8-verse Sanskrit stotram dedicated to Lord Shiva that describes the spiritual significance of the Bilva leaf (Aegle marmelos) in his worship. Each verse explains why offering a Bilva leaf to Shiva is meritorious, with the three-lobed leaf symbolically linked to the three gunas, Shiva's three eyes, and his three divine weapons. The text belongs to the Shaivite devotional tradition.
What are the benefits of chanting Bilvaashtakam?
- Remission of sins said to span three lifetimes
- Spiritual merit equivalent to major charitable donations and pilgrimages
- Fulfillment of desires through Shiva's grace
- Merit associated with residing in Kashi and visiting Kala Bhairava
When is the best time to recite this?
The Bilvaashtakam is traditionally recited on Mondays (Somavaram) and on Maha Shivaratri, both days strongly associated with Shiva worship. It may also be recited daily by devotees of Shiva, particularly when offering Bilva leaves as part of puja.
What is the historical and traditional background?
The Bilvaashtakam is a product of the Shaivite devotional literature that developed over centuries in India. While specific records of its composition are not available, the practice of offering Bilva leaves to Shiva is referenced in various Puranic and Agamic texts, indicating great antiquity. The text has been widely circulated in devotional compilations and is known to practitioners across regional Shaivite traditions. The author is not identified in any known source.
Available scripts
This text is available in 14 scripts: devanagari, tamil, telugu, kannada, malayalam, gujarati, bengali, iast, gurmukhi, oriya, assamese, sinhala, itrans, hk. Use the script selector above to switch between them.
Related Texts
- Lingashtakam — an 8-verse hymn to the Shiva Linga, also commonly recited in Shiva worship
- Shiva Tandava Stotram — a longer hymn describing Shiva's cosmic dance, attributed to the demon king Ravana