Shloka 24
Śiva-Naivedya-Grāhyatā-Nirṇayaḥ
On the Proper Acceptance and Merit of Śiva’s Consecrated Food-Offering
बिल्वमूले महादेवं लिंगरूपिणमव्ययम् । यः पूजयति पुण्यात्मा स शिवं प्राप्नुयाद्ध्रुवम्
bilvamūle mahādevaṃ liṃgarūpiṇamavyayam | yaḥ pūjayati puṇyātmā sa śivaṃ prāpnuyāddhruvam
బిల్వమూలంలో అవ్యయ లింగరూపుడైన మహాదేవుని పుణ్యాత్ముడు ఎవడు పూజిస్తాడో, అతడు నిశ్చయంగా శివుని పొందుతాడు।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Mahādeva is affirmed as liṅgarūpin (liṅga-formed) and avyaya (imperishable). Worship at the bilva-root is treated as direct approach to the liṅga-principle, yielding ‘Śiva-prāpti’ (attainment of Śiva), i.e., liberation through grace.
Significance: Promises Śiva-prāpti: not merely tīrtha-phala but mokṣa-oriented fruit, aligning bilva-root worship with liṅga-upāsanā as a complete sādhana.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that sincere devotion (bhakti) directed to Mahādeva in His Liṅga-form—especially through sanctified acts like bilva-associated worship—leads the devotee toward Śiva-realization, i.e., attaining the Lord as the supreme refuge and goal.
The Liṅga is presented as an accessible, sacred embodiment of Śiva for worship (saguṇa-upāsanā), while also pointing to His imperishable nature (avyaya), indicating that the visible form leads the devotee toward the transcendent reality of Pati (Śiva).
Perform Liṅga-pūjā with bilva as a primary sacred association—mentally or physically offering reverence at a bilva tree or with bilva leaves—ideally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”