Shloka 31
Śiva-Naivedya-Grāhyatā-Nirṇayaḥ
On the Proper Acceptance and Merit of Śiva’s Consecrated Food-Offering
बिल्वमूले क्षीरमुक्तमन्नमाज्येन संयुतम् । यो दद्याच्छिवभक्ताय स दरिद्रो न जायते
bilvamūle kṣīramuktamannamājyena saṃyutam | yo dadyācchivabhaktāya sa daridro na jāyate
బిల్వవృక్ష మూలంలో పాలు లేకుండా సిద్ధం చేసిన అన్నాన్ని నెయ్యితో కలిపి శివభక్తునికి దానం చేసినవాడు ఎప్పటికీ దరిద్రుడిగా జన్మించడు.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: In the Kāśī milieu, Annapūrṇā’s nourishment and Viśveśvara’s grace are intertwined: feeding Śiva’s devotee is treated as a direct channel for prosperity and non-poverty, reflecting Kāśī’s ideal of anna-dāna.
Significance: Anna-dāna to Śiva-bhaktas is promised as freedom from daridratā (poverty) and sustained well-being, interpreted as both worldly stability and support for sustained sādhana.
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that serving Shiva’s devotees with reverence—especially in a sacred setting like the bilva tree—purifies karma and invites Shiva’s grace, removing the conditions that lead to poverty and deprivation.
The bilva is a primary offering in Saguna Shiva worship; giving near the bilva tree aligns one’s dana with Shiva’s worship-symbols, treating the Shiva-bhakta as worthy of honor like Shiva’s own presence.
Perform anna-dāna (food charity) to Shiva devotees—ideally near a bilva tree—while remembering Shiva with devotion (bhāva) and, if desired, silently repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”