Maha Shivaratri – The Bilvam (Bael) plant and its Significance
Bells are used for a variety of purposes. Bael is used in Hinduism to worship Lord Shiva-Parvati. Many people also drink Bael’s sherbet very fondly. Apart from this, the vine is also used in many works. According to Ayurveda, bael has innumerable benefits, due to which it is used in the form of medicine. Planting a Belpatra plant in the house not only brings happiness and prosperity but also the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi in the house. According to Shiva Purana, the place where the plant of Belpatra is planted becomes as holy and revered as Kashi Tirtha.
Maha Shivratri is celebrated in the reverence of Lord Shiva. Shivratri is the day when Shiva married Goddess Parvati. Maha Shivratri is also known as the ‘Great Night of Shiva’, which marks the convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Bael is one of the most sacred trees, associated with God having useful medicinal properties. Botanically it is Agal Marmelos which belongs to the Rutaceae family. Its name in different languages is – Bilva or Shriphal in Sanskrit, Bel, Bel Shripal, Bilva, Bilpatra in Hindi, Bel in English, Stone Apple. This tree of Indian origin is popular in Shiva temples. It has great mythological significance for Hindus. The shade of this tree is cool and removes disorders. Due to these qualities, it is considered very holy, auspicious and purifying. All parts of this tree are medicinally useful, and act as antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, anticancer and radioprotectant.
Benefits of planting Bel leaves at home
Belpatra is very dear to Lord Shiva. According to Shiva Purana, having a plant of Belpatra in the house destroys the effect of bad deeds of a person and all the members living in the house get renewable fruits. The place where the Belpatra plant is planted becomes a holy and revered place like Kashi Tirtha. And the house becomes free from all kinds of systemic obstacles. In such a situation, if you do not have a place to plant Bel leaves in your house, then you can plant this plant in a pot. When the plant becomes too big, you donate it to a temple or a place of pilgrimage and plant another plant.
Mother Lakshmi resides
Maa Lakshmi arrives by planting Bel leaves in the house and there is never any shortage of food grains. Every member of such a family becomes wealthy. According to mythology, Goddess Lakshmi is pleased by offering Belpatra to Lord Shiva because Goddess Lakshmi resides in the root of the Bilvapatra plant. That is why its tree is also called tree tree.
Negative forces are destroyed
According to Vastu Shastra, planting a bael plant in the courtyard of the house destroys all the negative forces and positive energies reside. And the house becomes free from all kinds of systemic obstacles.
Freedom from the bad conditions of the moon
According to astrology, the members of the house where there is a plant of Bel leaves are not victims of the evil vision of the Moon. Every member of the house becomes successful and gets high respect in the society.
Benefits of planting Belpatra in different directions
Let us tell you that having Bel leaves in different directions of the house has different benefits. According to the scriptures, a bael plant placed in the north-west direction of the house makes the members living there more radiant and energetic. On the other hand, a vine plant planted in the north-south direction provides financial prosperity to the family. Every person in such a family becomes rich. To get rid of debt, a bael plant should also be planted in this direction. And by planting a vine plant in the middle of the house, love remains between all the members of the family and mutual discord remains far away.
Do not break bel leaves even by forgetting on this day
According to Vastu Shastra, just as there are some rules for keeping Tulsi plant in the house, similarly there are some special rules for the plant of Belpatra. According to astrology, bel leaves should not be broken on Ashtami, full moon date or new moon of any month.