Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
हैममेकं परं प्राहुः पद्मं पद्मसहस्रकात् । नीलोत्पलादिष्वप्येतत्समानं बिल्बपत्रकैः
haimamekaṃ paraṃ prāhuḥ padmaṃ padmasahasrakāt | nīlotpalādiṣvapyetatsamānaṃ bilbapatrakaiḥ
ആയിരം സാധാരണ താമരകളേക്കാൾ ഒരു സ്വർണ്ണതാമര ശ്രേഷ്ഠമെന്ന് പറയുന്നു. അതുപോലെ നീലോത്പലാദി പുഷ്പങ്ങളിലും, ബില്വപത്രങ്ങളാൽ ശിവനു അർപ്പിക്കുന്നത് സമതുല്യമെന്നു കരുതപ്പെടുന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: This verse is a general pūjā-vidhi valuation statement (bilva-leaf supremacy) rather than a specific Jyotirliṅga māhātmya episode.
Significance: Teaches that devotion expressed through Śiva-priya offerings (especially bilva) yields heightened merit even when costly flowers are unavailable—supporting accessible bhakti for householders.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that in Śiva-bhakti, the inner devotion (bhāva) makes an offering spiritually weighty; bilva leaves, specially dear to Śiva, can equal or surpass abundant floral offerings when given with sincerity.
The verse supports Saguna Śiva worship through the Śiva-liṅga by emphasizing prescribed sacred offerings—especially bilva patra—as a direct, tangible expression of reverence that attracts Śiva’s grace.
Offer bilva leaves to the Śiva-liṅga with focused devotion, ideally while reciting the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), treating the offering as a disciplined act of bhakti and inner purification.