The Brihaddharma Purana (abridged)

by Syama Charan Banerji | 1915 | 50,976 words

The English translation of the Brihaddharma Purana, one of the several minor or Upa Puranas, and represents an epitome of several important (Major) Puranas. In this book one can observe the attempts made to reconcile the three main forms of Hindu worship, viz. the Shaiva Vaishnava and Tantrika (worship of God in the form of Kali, Durga, Ganga, and ...

Chapter 11 - History of the Bel tree (continued, 3)

The Sriphala plant sprouted in the light half of the month of Baisakha,[1] and all the gods and goddesses came to see and worship it. The great lord Vishnu ordained that an area upto a distance of a hundred times the length of an arrow-flight from the tree on all sides should be considered a Tirtha, and that, of the three leaves which grew together on this tree, the middle leaf would represent the god Shankara, the left-hand one Brahma and the right-hand one Vishnu himself.

The branches of this tree should never be cut off or broken, and no one should climb it except for the purpose of plucking leaves for worship. Its leaves, whether torn or intact, will be equally acceptable to Siva, and they may be used for purposes of worship upto six months from the day they are plucked from the tree. Except Surya and Ganesha all other gods may be worshipped with them.

The god Siva with his wife and attendants frequents the place where this tree grows. By offering its leaves to this god during the four months beginning with Chaitra[2] one reaps the reward of giving away one lakh of cows in charity, and by watering the tree during that period onĀ« propitiates the souls of his dead ancestors.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

April-May.

[2]:

March-April.

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