Is there a temple where they do Bilva leaves alankaram for Shivalingam / Parvathi Idol ? Whole lingam and Parvathi idol will be in Bilva leaf attire. Haven't seen or heard one @Shanvy @Suparni any idea?
Interesting, Lakshmi ! As how Thulasi is for Narayana, Vilwam is for Siva. May be on a special day like Sivarathri they would do such a Alankaram. Sadly my exposure to our temples and their customs are very limited.Me too excited to know if there is such a place.
In all temples generally during Pradosham or Mahasivaratri there is pooja performed with lot of Bilwa Leaves............ See link below wherein photo of Ujjain Mahakaleswar is with over 1 Lakh Bilwa leaves........... 101 priests performing ‘Parjanya Anushthan’ at Mahakaleshwar Temple See link below wherein a cobra is plucking bilwa leaves from tree and offering to Lord Shiva.........step by step photo is displayed........... A MIRACLE; SIVA PUJA BY KING COBRA IN THEPPERUMANALLUR - PADUGAI.COM
@jskls i have not seen this kind of alankaram. but a teasing memory my neighbor was watching koti bilwa archana and i think there was the moorthy covered with vilwam. Vilva malai i have seen a lot on pradosha days in the place i reside did not have these number of vilva trees two decades ago. Coming to possibiility of this image is maybe you will witness a chandramouleeswara pooja. check that pooja videos both in kanchi mutt and sringeri mutt. also if you can read about vilvam and periyava. Have you seen maha vilvam. heard there is one sthala vriksham that has 27 leaves..and chk this pic that has 12 i think.. (Source net)
@Suparni @Shanvy thank you both for providing such a rare information. @Suparni First time coming across koti bilvaarchanaa and snake performing bilva pooja. Thanks for sharing. @Shanvy It was spatika lingam adorned with bilva leaves entirely and Shakti together too. So Im leaning towards chandramoulishwara linga. Never knew it existed in Sringeri Mutt though I have visited that place. Will watch the YouTube links too. I have seen only 3 leaf bilva. Good to learn about 12 leaf Bilva and Maha Bilvam. Thank you both for sharing wealth of information.
Spatika linga pooja is telecasted live in shankara tv every friday night from 8:30 to 10:00 pm.....you can watch it online also in link below Sankara Tv ...........but they do not do laksha bilwarchana ..............they do all abhishekam and alankaram including bilwa pooja
@Shanvy @Suparni I m back with another question. I am unable to reveal much details but do you know of spatika lingam offered pooja with golden bilva leaves ?
@jskls it is very common today to do archana with silver and gold bilwa leaves.(yes you get these now.) and if you are looking for a temple with spatika lingam i know shri ganapati satchitananda has a spatika lingam that he does archana with swarna pushpam and not sure if he uses bilva. Maybe you will do it yourself??just loud thinking.
In Chidambaram Shiva Temple, Golden Vilva Leaves are hidden behind a curtain............Once the curtain is pushed and the darshan of golden vilva leaves is allowed for devotees.........Akasha Lingam is said to be invisible....................Bilwa Leaves is said to a garland to Akasha lingam...................Invisible all pervasive concept of God is Chidambara Rahasyam or Secret.............see photo below with Bilwa Leaves.........There is a separate Spatika Lingam to which pooja is performed...............see link below............ Hindu Temples: Chidambaram Natraja Swamy Temple (Aakasa Lingam)