Significance of Bilva

Significance of Bilva
https://ramamohanraocheruku.blogspot.com/2016/07/significance-of-bilva.html

Significance of Bilva

Ayurveda is considered as upaveda of Vedas. It deals with the widest range of Botanical plants. Ayurveda is said to have been gifted by Lord Brahma.   It is estimated that around 1000 plants are useful in Ayurvedic Medicines as against 100 or less than that in the other forms of medicines. Of these Bilva Vriksha (Wood apple and its botanical name is Aegle marmilos) is of more significance. The science of Ayurveda values the Bilva highly for the medicinal properties contained in its root, fruit and leaves. According to Swami Sivananda, it is a healing tree which cures all diseases caused by vata (wind,వాతము) and gives strength to the body.

The leaves are generally trifoliate. This trifoliate leaf is symbolic 

of Trikaal, Trimurthy, (known as Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh.)

(Creation, maintenance and dissolution or resolution, called ‘srishti’, 

‘sthiti’, and ‘laya’. This is indeed fascinating as it strongly 

complies with the recycling of matter.) Trigunas (Satwa, Rajas, 

Tamas) Trishakthi (Mental, Financial, Physical) (Saraswati, 

Lakshmi, Gowri), Lord Siva’s Trident, Trinetra Etc. That is why 

it is cognate to Siva. The flowers bloom in the month of May and 

will have a sweet fragrance. The 7th one of the eight Slokas of 

Bilvashtakam says like this: 

Darsanam bilvavrikshancha sparshanam papa naasanam l

Aghora paapa samhaaram eka bilvam shivarpanam ll

Even if (one) has darsan (view) of the Bilva tree, and touches it, 

surely frees one from sin. This tree is also synonymous to Goddess 

Lakshmi. Srisukta says:

‘Aaditya varne tapasoidhijaatho vanaspathisthava vrikshodabilvaH

Tasya phalaani tapasaanudantu maayaantaraayascha baahyaa 

alakshmiH’

Oh Lakshmi you are as bright as the sun, Bilva the noble of all 

the trees was brought to the earth by your devout austerities 

(penance , tapas ) Let the fruits of the tree drive away all my 

misfortunes, poverty and short comings of any kind, both internally 

and externally.

Confirming certain devotees’ belief that he was manifestation of 

Lord Shiva, in Lord Venkateswara’s ashtottara pooja he was 

referred to as ‘bilva patraarchana priyaayai namah’. In Siva 

Purana (Chapter 22) the tree itself is manifestation of Siva. 

During Durga pooja in Kolkata the priests draw the energy from 

the twig of a bilva tree in the night with their hymns and transfers 

it to Mata Durga in the name of ‘Prana Prathishta”. At the end 

of the festival by ‘visarjan’ the power gets culminated into water. 

Such is the greatness of Bilva.

As a medicinal plant it is used in several ways. The roots, skin, 

fruits and the leaves of the Bilva tree are used for medicinal 

purpose. Bilva has astringent, edema lessening, anti-diarrhea, and 

laxative and appetizer properties hence, can be used to cure both 

internal and external diseases.

Bleeding gums can be treated. Bel or Bilva fruit clears diarrhea, 

dysentery, phlegm, high blood pressure, morning sickness in 

Pregnancy, Stress. Asthma can be controlled when a mixture of 

dry Bel leaf powder & honey is consumed daily .Jaundice can be 

cured by consuming the extracted juice of the bilva leaves. 

Anaemia can be cured by drinking the powder of the Bilva fruit 

mixed with milk. Bel fruit keeps the skin rejuvenated when pasted 

as a face pack; also cures joint aches. The fruit has so many 

medicinal uses along with the other parts of it.

Such is the greatness of that tree Let us all prostrate mentally to 

all those seers and sages who parted all this wisdom for no 

returns.

Swasthi.