Lord Shiva Favorite -Bilva Leaves

* Lord Shiva Favorite -Bilva Leaves *

Lakshmyaascha stana utpannam Mahaadeva sadaa priyam,

Bilva vriksham prayachchhaami eka bilvam Shivaarpanam.
Darshanam bilva vrikshasya sparshanam paapanaashanam,
Aghorapaapasamhaaram eka bilvam shivarpanam.

Born from the heart of Goddess Lakshmi, the Bilva tree is ever dear to Mahadeva. So I ask this tree to offer a Bilva leaf to Lord Shiva. To have darshan of the Bilva tree, and to touch it, frees one from sin. The most terrible karma is destroyed when a Bilva leaf is offered to Lord Shiva.
Sri Bilva Shtakam (v. 6–7)

Why is this leaf so sacred to Lord Shiva especially during ‪#‎Shravan‬month? lets find out .

1) Bel leaves are important as their trifoliate shape signifies Shiva's three eyes as well as the three spokes of the lords Trishul .Since they have a cooling effect, they are offered to the Shivalinga to soothe this hot-tempered deity. Those who perform the puja of Shiva and Parvati devoutly, using the leaves, may be endowed with spiritual powers.Even a fallen bel is never used as firewood, for fear of arousing Shiva's wrath. Its wood is used only in sacrificial fires.

2) In a battle with Devtas ,Tarakasur the demon gathered the most destructive things in the Universe and made a weapon to destroy the earth and to prevent Lord Shiva to establish the 51 Shakti-peeths formed out of the limbs of Sati fallen on Earth and prevent the Devtas getting power .Lord Shiva absorbed the weapon in his body .it formed the third eye ,the eye of destruction .It is opened by Lord Shiva only when he wants to totally destroy anybody .Some believe that the third eye signifies wisdom and is source of his untamed energy.

3 )The three segments of Bel leaf symbolically represents the three Gunas ie Tamas (physical body), Rajas (emotions) and satvic ( intellect). The proportion of satvic component is more ,hence the bel leaf has more capacity to absorb and emit satvic frequencies. If one uses these three i.e. physical, mental and intellectual in a balanced manner, the self or the soul attains liberation i.e. Moksha. Tridosh shanti ...Adhi-Bhotik, Adhi -Atmic and Adhi- Devic .

4) According to the Agni Purana, on any auspicious day in Bhadra, Shiva should be worshipped with a daylong fast and the eating of bel leaves at night The Padma Purana and the Brahma Purana say that Shiva once hid in the bel to escape conquering demons .The Skanda Purana holds that the bel grew from Parvati's perspiration, which fell to the ground while she performed penance. It also says that the various incarnations of Parvati reside in each part of the tree