Why is Belva leaf or Bel Patra offered to Lord Shiva 

1. The products of the Belva tree have medicinal properties. It’s roots, fruits snd leaves have been used in Ayurveda. It’s taken in the form of a drink made from the fruit (bel sharbat). It keeps the stomach cool, relieves diarrhoea, dysentery, constipation and ulcers. The medicines made from the parts of the trees cure many more diseases.

2. Puranic legends – There is a mention of the importance of worshipping Shiva on Shivratri using Bela leaves in various puranas. In Padma puran and Brahma puran, Shiva hid in the Bel fruit to escape the demons. According to Skand puran, Bel tree grew from Ma Parvati’s perspiration while performing penance. It is a belief that different incarnations of devi reside in different parts of this tree. Girija devi lives in the root, Maheshwari on the shoulder, Dukshyani on the branches, Parvati amongst the leaves, Katyayani in the fruit, Gauri in its flowers and various Shakti in the thorns. In Bhavishya puran when goddess Laxmi came out of the ocean she rested on the Bel tree. She too resides in the tree.

3. The Belva leaf has the capacity to absorb and emit Satvik frequencies. It’s three leaves can represent Shiv, Shakti and Ganapati tatva or Rajas, Tamas and Satvik gunas.

So offer Belva to Shiva and absorb the positive energy.