Bilwa Ashtakam, also spelled Bilwashtakam, Vilvashtakam, or Bilvashtakam, is the asthakam (the eight hymns) addressed to Lord Shiva. Bilwa Ashtakam is a highly powerful Sanskrit Shiva stotra which are chanted while offering Bilwa (Vilva) leaves to Lord Shiva. The Bilwa (aegle marmelos) leaves are one of the main offering to Lord Shiv and by offering Bilva leaves, a devotee can easily please Him.
Chanting Bilwa Ashtakam especially on Maha Shivaratri is considered auspicious.
प्रसिद्ध बिल्वाष्टकम् में बेल-पत्र के गुणों और उसके प्रति शिव के प्रेम का वर्णन किया गया है।
Tridalam Trigunakaaram Trinethram Cha Triyayusham,
Trijanma Papa Samharam Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam _1
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रियायुधम्
त्रिजन्मपाप संहारं एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम् II1.II
I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
Which has three leaves,
Which causes three qualities,
Which are like the three eyes of Shiva,
Which is like the triad of weapons,
And which destroys sins of three births.
Trishakhai Bilwapathraischa Hyachidrai Komalai Shubai,
Shiva Poojam Karishyami, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam _2
त्रिशाखैः बिल्वपत्रैश्च अच्चिद्रैः कॊमलैः शुभैः
तवपूजां करिष्यामि ऎकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं II2.II
I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
Which(Bilwa leaf) has three shoots,
Which do not have holes,
Which are good and pretty,
And worship Lord Shiva.
Aganda Bilwa Pathrena Poojithe Nandikeshware,
Shudhyanthi Sarva Papebhyo, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam _3
अखण्ड बिल्व पात्रेण पूजिते नन्दिकेश्र्वरे
शुद्ध्यन्ति सर्वपापेभ्यो एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥3.॥
I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
For if an uncut leaf is offered,
To his steed the god Nandi,
We get cleaned of all our sins.
Salagrama Shilamekaam Vipranam Jatha Cha Arpayeth,
Soma Yagna Maha Punyam, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam _4
शालिग्राम शिलामेकां विप्राणां जातु चार्पयेत्
सोमयज्ञ महापुण्यं एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम् II4.II
I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
For it is equal to, offering a saligrama to a Brahmin,
Or the great blessing got out of performing Soma Yaga,
Dandi Koti Sahasrani Vajapeya Sathani Cha,
Koti Kanya Maha Danam, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam _5
दन्तिकोटि सहस्राणि वाजपेय शतानि च
कोटि कन्या महादानं एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम् II5.II
I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
For it is equal to gifting thousand elephants,
Or the performing of hundred fire sacrifices,
Or giving away billions of girls.
Lakshmyasthanutha Uthpannam Mahadevasya Cha Priyam,
Bilwa Vruksham Prayachami, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam _6
लक्ष्म्या स्तनुत उत्पन्नं महादेवस्य च प्रियम्
बिल्ववृक्षं प्रयच्छामि एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥6.॥
I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
For it is equal to giving a tree of Bilwa,
Which was born from the breast of Lakshmi,
And which is very dear to the Lord Shiva.
Darshanam Bilwa Vrukshasya, Sparsanam Papa Nasanam,
Aghora Papa Samharam, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam _7
दर्शनं बिल्ववृक्षस्य स्पर्शनं पापनाशनम्
अघोरपापसंहारं एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥7.॥
I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
As seeing and touching of a tree of Bilwa,
Washes away ones sins and also very great sins.
Moolatho Brahma Roopaya, Madhyatho Vishnu Roopine
Agratha Shiva Roopaya, Eka Bilwam Shivarpanam _8
मूलतो ब्रह्मरूपाय मध्यतो विष्णुरूपिणे
अग्रतः शिवरूपाय एक बिल्वं शिवार्पणम् ॥8.॥
I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
As Brahma resides at its bottom,
Lord Vishnu lives in its middle,
And Lord Shiva lives in its tip.
Phalasruti _ Benefits of this Chant
Bilwashtakam Idham Punyaam, Padeth Shiva Sannidhou,
Sarva Papa Nirmuktha Shiva Loka Maapnuyath
बिल्वस्तोत्रमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेश्शिव सन्निधौ |
शिवलोकमवाप्नोति एकबिल्वं शिवार्पणं ॥
Reading this holy octet of Bilwa,
In the presence of Lord Shiva,
Would save one from all sins,
And in the end take him to the world of Shiva.
Divinity 