Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8
मृत्युञ्जय-विद्या-प्रादुर्भावः
The Manifestation/Transmission of the Mṛtyuñjaya Vidyā
नवमल्लीचिबिलिकैः कुंदैस्समुचुकुन्दकैः । मन्दारैर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च द्रोणैर्मरुबकैर्वृकैः । ग्रन्थिपर्णैर्दमनकैः सुरम्यैश्चूतपल्लवैः
navamallīcibilikaiḥ kuṃdaissamucukundakaiḥ | mandārairbilvapatraiśca droṇairmarubakairvṛkaiḥ | granthiparṇairdamanakaiḥ suramyaiścūtapallavaiḥ
Ils adorèrent avec du jasmin frais et des fleurs cibilikā, avec le kunda blanc et le samucukunda; avec les mandāra célestes et les feuilles de bilva; avec les fleurs de droṇa et de marubaka; et avec le granthiparṇa parfumé, le damanaka et les ravissants jeunes pousses de manguier—offrandes sacrées de dévotion.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; notable here is explicit bilva-patra offering, a hallmark of Śiva worship across sthala traditions.
Significance: Bilva-leaf offering is classically praised as highly pleasing to Śiva; the verse reinforces the principle that simple leaves offered with devotion equal grand gifts.
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse highlights bhakti expressed through pure, sattvic offerings—flowers, bilva leaves, and fragrant shoots—showing that reverent intention (śraddhā) and devotional service to Pati (Shiva) sanctify material substances and turn them into means of grace.
Such flowers and especially bilva leaves are classic upacāras for Saguna Shiva worship, commonly offered to the Shiva-liṅga; the list reflects traditional puja materials used to honor Shiva’s manifest, approachable form while remembering his transcendence.
Perform Shiva-puja with bilva leaves and fresh flowers while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with steady attention; keep the offering mindfully as an act of inner surrender rather than mere external ritual.