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Mahashivratri 2025: Here’s how to offer ‘Belpatra’ on Shivlinga during Mahashivratri. Use three untorn leaves, clean with water, write ‘Om’ with sandalwood paste, and offer while chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaya’
If you do not have ‘Belpatra’, pick up the ‘Belpatra’ already offered in the ‘Shivalaya’, clean it and offer it to Lord Shiva. Doing so is not considered inauspicious. (News18)
The festival of Mahashivratri is celebrated with great pomp in Hinduism. This festival is celebrated on the Chaturdashi date of Krishna Paksha of Phalgun month every year. On the occasion of Mahashivratri, devotees offer water, milk, curd, Belpatra, Kamalgatta etc on Shivlinga in Shiva temples.
According to the scriptures, Lord Shiva is fond of Belpatra. If one has nothing to offer, it is believed that Lord Shiva can still be pleased by offering just water and Belpatra.
However, many devotees offer Belpatra incorrectly, preventing them from receiving the full benefits of their worship. Astrologer Pradeep Mishra shares the proper way to offer Belpatra on Mahashivratri.
The Right Way To Offer Belpatra
According to the Shiva Purana, offering Belpatra on Shivlinga brings good health and relief from all the pains and struggles of life.
- When you offer Belpatra on Mahashivratri, make sure that there are three leaves and the leaves are not torn. Also, there should not be any kind of stains on the leaves.
- Break the stem of the Belpatra before worshipping because the shorter the stem, the better the Belpatra is considered.
- Before offering Belpatra, clean it with water and sprinkle it with Gangajal.
- After this, make a paste mixing white sandalwood or saffron with Gangajal, and write ‘Om’ on all the leaves. If you cannot write ‘Om’, then you can skip this step.
- To offer Belpatra, first hold the middle part of the Belpatra and then offer it on Shivlinga. Keep in mind that Belpatra should always be offered on the Shivlinga in odd numbers.
Chant This Mantra While Offering ‘Belpatra’
After pouring water on Shivlinga, keep the smooth part of the Belpatra on the Shivling. Then offer the smooth part of the Belpatra on the Shivlinga.
Do not offer the Belpatra together but one by one while chanting Shiva’s Panchakshara Mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’.
If you do not have Belpatra, then do not worry about it. You can pick up the Belpatra already offered in the Shivalaya, clean it with water and then offer it to Lord Shiva. The Belpatra offered once can be used again, doing so is not considered inauspicious.
Placement Of Belpatra
After offering Belpatra on Shivlinga, place a Belpatra on the right-hand side of the Jalahari, then place a Belpatra on the left-hand side of the Jalahari.
After this, place a Belpatra on the Hasta Kamal (lotus hand), one on Lord Nandi, one at the place of Ganeshji and finally place a Belpatra at the place of Jalahari from where the water falls.
