Bilvaashtakam
Bilvaashtakam
Bilvaashtakam
bilvAShTakam
tridalaM triguNAkAraM trinetraM cha triyAyudham |
trijanma pApasaMhAraM ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
trishAkhaiH bilvapatraishcha achChidraiH komalaiH shubhaiH |
tavapUjAM kariShyAmi ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
koTi kanyA mahAdAnaM tilaparvata koTayaH |
kA~nchanaM shailadAnena ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
kAshIkShetra nivAsaM cha kAlabhairava darshanam |
prayAge mAdhavaM dRRiShTvA ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
induvAre vrataM sthitvA nirAhAro maheshvarAH |
naktaM hauShyAmi devesha ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
rAmali~Nga pratiShThA cha vaivAhika kRRitaM tathA |
taTAkAnicha sandhAnaM ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
akhaNDa bilvapatraM cha AyutaM shivapUjanam |
kRRitaM nAma sahasreNa ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
umayA sahadevesha nandi vAhanameva cha |
bhasmalepana sarvA~NgaM ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
sAlagrAmeShu viprANAM taTAkaM dashakUpayoH |
yaj~nnakoTi sahasrasya ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
danti koTi sahasreShu ashvamedhashatakratau | [ashvamedha shatAni cha / vAjapeya shatAni cha]
koTikanyA mahAdAnaM ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
bilvANAM darshanaM puNyaM sparshanaM pApanAshanam |
aghora pApasaMhAraM ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
sahasraveda pATeShu brahmastApanamuchyate |
anekavrata koTInAM ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
annadAna sahasreShu sahasropanayanaM tadhA |
aneka janmapApAni ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
bilvAShTakamidaM puNyaM yaH paTheshshiva sannidhau |
shivalokamavApnoti ekabilvaM shivArpaNam ||
vikalpa sa~NkarpaNa
tridalaM triguNAkAraM trinetraM cha triyAyudham |
trijanma pApasaMhAraM ekabilvaM shivArpitam || 1 ||
trishAkhaiH bilvapatraishcha achChidraiH komalaiH shubhaiH |
tavapUjAM kariShyAmi ekabilvaM shivArpitam || 2 ||
darshanaM bilvavRRikShasya sparshanaM pApanAshanam |
aghorapApasaMhAraM ekabilvaM shivArpitam || 3 ||
sAlagrAmeShu vipreShu taTAke vanakUpayoH |
yaj~nnakoTi sahasrANAM ekabilvaM shivArpitam || 4 ||
dantikoTi sahasreShu ashvamedha shatAni cha |
koTikanyApradAnena ekabilvaM shivArpitam || 5 ||
ekaM cha bilvapatraishcha koTiyaj~nna phalaM labhet |
mahAdevaishcha pUjArthaM ekabilvaM shivArpitam || 6 ||
kAshIkShetre nivAsaM cha kAlabhairava darshanam |
gayAprayAga me dRRiShTvA ekabilvaM shivArpitam || 7 ||
umayA saha deveshaM vAhanaM nandisha~Nkaram |
muchyate sarvapApebhyo ekabilvaM shivArpitam || 8 ||
iti shrI bilvAShTakam ||
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