Shaligram is a type of fossilized stone, which is used to invoke Lord Vishnu as the representative of the Supreme Lord. Shaligram is usually collected from the banks or banks of the holy river. Almost round in the form of Shiva Linga for Shiva devotees to worship
Shaligram is a type of fossilized stone, which is used to invoke Lord Vishnu as the representative of the Supreme Lord. Shaligram is usually collected from the banks or banks of the holy river. Shiva devotees use almost round or oval Shaligram in the form of Shiva Linga to worship.
Vaishnavas (Hindus) use a circular, usually black colored ammonoid fossil found in the holy river Gandaki as a representative of the god Vishnu. Shaligram is often called ‘Shila’. Shila is a diminutive of Shaligram which means “stone”. Shaligram is a famous name of Lord Vishnu. Evidence of the origin of this name comes from a remote village in Nepal where Vishnu is also known as Shaligramam. In Hinduism, Shaligram is known as Salagram. Shaligram is also related to a village called Salgram which is situated on the bank of river Gandak and from here this holy stone is also found.
According to Padma Purana
There is an important place named Shaligram Sthal in a region of Gandaki i.e. Narayani river; The stone coming out from there is called Shaligram. The sins of crores of births are destroyed by the mere touch of Shaligram rock. Then if it is worshipped, then what is there to say about its fruit? He is the one who brings you closer to God.
★ By the virtue of many births, if ever one gets Shri Krishna rock with the symbol of Goshpad, then by worshiping it, the rebirth of man ends.
★Shaligram-Shila should be tested first; If it is black and smooth then it is good. If her Kalima is less then she is considered to be of middle class. And if there is a mixture of any other color in it, then it is going to give mixed results. Just as the fire always hidden within the wood is revealed by churning, similarly Lord Vishnu, though pervading everywhere, is specially expressed in the Shaligram rock.
★ One who daily worships twelve Shaligram idols of Dwarka with Shila-Gomti Chakra, he is revered in Vaikuntha Loka.
★ The person who sees the cave inside the Shaligram-Shila, his ancestors are satisfied and reside in heaven till the end of the cycle.
★ Where the rock of Dwarkapuri – that is, the Gomti Chakra resides, that place is considered to be Vaikunth Lok; There the person who has died goes to Vishnudham.
★Whoever puts the price of shalgram-shila, who sells, who approves the sale and who supports the price by examining it, they all go to hell. That is why the buying and selling of Shaligram Shila and Gomti Chakra should be stopped.
★ Shaligram – Lord Shaligram appeared from the site and Gomti Chakra appeared from Dwarka – where these two deities meet, there is not the slightest doubt in getting salvation.
★ Lord Shaligram with the Gomti Chakra appearing from Dwarka, marked with many chakras and shaped like a chakrasana-stone is the only divine being Niranjan. Salutations to Omkar form and Nityananda form Shaligram.
Shaligram Form
★ The Shaligram-Shila in which there are two adjacent chakras at the door-place, which are marked with the line of shukla varna and appear to be adorned, should be considered as the form of Lord Shri Gadadhara.
★ Sankarsana idol has two contiguous chakras, red line and its anterior part is somewhat thick.
There is some yellowness in the form of Pradyumna and the sign of Chakra remains subtle in it.
★ Aniruddha’s idol is round and there is a deep and wide hole in its inner part; Apart from this, it is also with blue color and three lines in the door part.
★ Lord Narayan is of black color, there is a mace-shaped line in his middle part and his navel-lotus is very high.
★ The idol of Lord Narasimha bears the gross mark of a chakra, his character is Kapila and he consists of three or five points. His worship is prescribed for Brahmachari. He is the protector of the devotees.
★ Shaligram-Shila in which the signs of two chakras are located in the opposite house, there are three lingas and three lines are visible; That Varaha is the form of God, his color is blue and the shape is gross. Lord Varaha is also the protector of all.
★ The idol of Kachchap is of black color. Its shape is round like a whirlpool of water. Signs of dots are seen everywhere in it and its surface is white in color.
There are five lines in the idol of Sridhar, in the form of Vanamali there is a mark of mace.
★ Round shape, circle mark in the middle and blue color, it is the identity of Vamana idol.
★ In which there are many types of idols and signs of snake-bodies, it is the image of Lord Anant.
★ The idol of Damodar is of gross body and blue color. In the middle of it is the symbol of a circle. Lord Damodar protected the world by means of Sankarsana, being equipped with a blue sign.
★ Whose complexion is red, and which is gross and gross with long lines, holes, a circle and lotus etc., that Shaligram should be considered as an idol of Brahma.
★ The one who has a large hole, the mark of the gross wheel and the color of Krishna, is the form of Shri Krishna. It is seen as both dotted and non-pointed.
The Hayagriva idol is shaped like an ankush and has five lines.
★ Lord Vaikuntha keeps wearing Kaustubh gem. His idol looks very pure. She is marked with a circle and is of dark colour.
The idol of Lord Matsya is in the shape of a huge lotus. Its color is white and the necklace line is seen in it.
★ The Shaligram whose color is dark, in which a line is visible in the south part and which is equipped with the signs of three chakras, is the form of Lord Shri Ramchandraji, He is the protector of all.
★ Lord Gadadhara in Shaligram form located in Dwarkapuri. Lord Gadadhara is seen marked with a wheel.
★Lakshminarayan with two chakras, Trivikram with three, Chaturvyuh with four, Vasudeva with five, Pradyumna with six, Sankarsana with seven, Purushottama with eight, Navavyuha with nine, Dashavatara with ten, Aniruddha with eleven and Dwadashatma with twelve chakras. protect the. The name of the Lord who has more than this Chakra symbol is eternal.
Lord Vishnu’s abode in the Gandaki river
According to Shiva Purana, Lord Vishnu himself had told his abode in the Gandaki river and said that I (Lord Vishnu) would reside on the banks of the river Gandaki. Crores of insects living in the river, biting them with their sharp teeth, will make a mark of my wheel in that stone and that is why this stone will be worshiped as my form.
Vishnu’s abode in Shaligram rock
According to mythological beliefs, Vishnu resides in Shaligram rock. There are many mythological stories in this regard even today. According to one of these stories, Lord Vishnu helped him when Lord Shiva was unable to win the battle with the demon Jalandhar. It is said in the stories that as long as Vrinda ‘Tulsi’, the wife of Asura Jalandhar, kept her chastity, no one could defeat Jalandhar. In such a situation, Lord Vishnu took the form of Jalandhar and succeeded in destroying the chastity of Vrinda. By the time Brinda realized this, it was too late. Saddened by this, Vrinda cursed Lord Vishnu to spend his life as a worm. As a result, later the Shaligram stone was formed, which is worshiped in Hinduism. According to old legends, Mukti Kshetra is the place where salvation is attained. This is where Lord Vishnu resides in Shaligram stone.
In other version, Vrinda was the wife of the demon Shankhachud, but she used to worship Lord Vishnu wholeheartedly to get her husband. Lord Vishnu knew what was on her mind, so when she pretended to be her husband in the form of Shankhchud, Vrinda got angry and she cursed Vishnu to become a stone because you have assumed the form of my husband by deceit.
Lord Vishnu accepted the curse of Tulsi and said that you will live on earth in the form of Gandaki river and Tulsi plant. Thereafter Vrinda abandoned that body and turned herself into the river Gandaki and took Lord Vishnu made of stone in her heart. According to religious texts, at one point Tulsi did penance for many years to get Lord Vishnu as her husband, as a result of which the Lord gave her the boon of marriage. Which is accomplished on Devprabodhini Ekadashi. There is a tradition of getting Shaligram rock and Tulsi plant married on Devprabodhini Ekadashi.