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"Shaligram"
Shaligram
is a dark stone found on the bank of river Gandakti in Nepal. It
is considered to be representing Lord Vishnu who had decided to live
in the form of Shaligram to repent for some of the deeds he had to
commit for safeguarding the world and save it from the torture of the
demons. These Shaligrams are in various sizes and shapes.
These are eaten by eaten by insects who use their sharp teeth and
leave the imprints of the charkas on these stone. Sometimes gold
or stones as Kasauti for testing the purity of gold. There are
various types of Shaligrams available and some of them are described
as under: (Reference: Shri Mad Bhagwat)
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LAXMI
NARAYAN: It has one gate, four Chakra, one garland and it is dark
in colour. (For getting happiness, wealth and family peace)
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LAXMI
AND VISHNU IDOLS: A Shaligram having one gate and four chakras
without the garland and having dark colour. (For meditation
and spiritual upliftment.)
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RAGHVENDRA:
It has two gates, four chakra, toe of cow and a garland.
(Very good results for prosperity and success).
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VAMAN:
It has two very small chakra without garland and very dark in
colour.
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SHREEDHAR:
It has two small chakra and the garland.
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DAMODAR:
It is bigger in size, round in shape without the mark of the
garland with two clear marks of charkas.
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RAM:
Medium size elliptical in shape having two chakras with mark of
bow and arrow and with impression of the cut with arrow. (For
victory over odds and success).
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RAJ
JAJESHWAR: Medium size black stone having seven chakar (Mark of an
umbrella) and ornaments (good for getting wealth).
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ANANT:
Mark of fourteen chakras and light black in colour. (the
worshipping of this Shaligram gives all fruits of Dharma, Artha,
Kam & Moksha).
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MADHUSUDAN:
The one having shape of a chakra with marks of two chakra.
Shree and toe of the cow having light black colour.
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GADADHAR:
It is having one hidden chakra.
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HAYAGREEBE:
It has two chakra and mouth of a horse.
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NARSINGH:
The one having fierce looking mouth with two chakra and having a
very fearful look. This is extremely useful Shaligram to
give detaachment from the world and mental peace.
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LAXMI
/ NARAYAN IDOLS: These have two large gates and with mark of
garland good for family people and for happiness.
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VASUDEV:
It has two chakra at the gate and clear mark of Shree on top (good
for fulfilling all desires).
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PRADYUMNA:
It is having mark of garland good for family people and for
happiness.
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SANKARSHAN:
It is having marks of small Chakra, dark and having small hole at
mouth (to give happens to family persons).
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ANIRUDDHA:
The one which is round and having light yellow sports. This
suits the family people. (For unity, affection and
happiness).
THE
VIRTUES OF SHALIGRAM: Wherever Shaligram is kept Lord Vishnu
lives there along with Goddess Laxmi. The umbrella shape
Shaligram has power to give kingdom and the one having elliptical
shape gives lots of wealth.
Shaligram
purifies a person and gives success in all walks of life. The
benefits that one get by reading all the Vedas and doing penace
(tapasya) is obtained by a person who worships Shaligram. The
one who does Abhishek of Shaligram with water gets lots of benefits
and happiness.
It
is said that if a dying person is given the water of Shaligram then he
is purified from all the sins committed by him and goes to Vishnu Lok
and get Nirvan.
POOJAN
VIDHI: Shaligram is worshipped like one worships Lord
Vishnu. Normally tulsi is used essentially and also a counch
shell (Shankh) is also kept near the Shaligram. Daily
worship with purity of heart and body is required to get full benefits
from Shaligram. (Ref.: Shrimaddevi Bhagwat).
SPECIAL
NOTE: It is not permitted to shell Shaligram and it is not a
tradable product. The persons interested in the Shaligram should
give a suitable donation while they receive the gift of Shaligram they
will get from Rudra Centre. No receipt will be given for this deal.
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Excerpts from Puranas
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The Lord resides in
many places in which he may be worshipped, but of all places
Salagrama is the best. (Skanda
Purana).
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With Keshava in the
form of Salagrama sila reside all the devatas, asuaras, yaksas and
the fourteen worlds.(Padma Purana).
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In this mortal world,
if anyone does not worship Salagram Sila, I do not at all accept any
of their worship and obeisances.
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Origin
of Shaligram
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According to the Puranas once a fierce
battle broke out between Lord Shiva and the demon Jallundhara. They
both appeared equally matched with no one ready to lose, and hence
the battle continued for a long time. In fact it was not like an
ordinary battle between the gods and the demons, but it was a match
between the chastities of two chaste women Parvati and Vrinda.
Lord Shiva knew it well, that unless the chastity of
Vrinda, the wife of Jallundhara, was spoiled, Jallundhara could not
be killed. But it was against the nature of gods, they could not
spoil the chastity of a chaste woman, Hence despite knowing
everything, the gods were helpless, but for Jallundhara, nothing was
a taboo.
So thinking, that spoiling the chastity of Parvati,
he could defeat Lord Shiva, Jallundhara reached Parvati in the guise
of Lord Shiva. But Parvati, who is herself the supreme ruler of
illusion (MAYA) knew by her virtues the craftiness of Jallundhara.
She at once ended his guise and signalled Lord Krishna (Vishnu) that
it was now just to spoil the chastity of Jallundhara's wife, Vrinda,
and it will not be a sin.
So, Lord Krishna approached Vrinda
in the guise of Jallundhana. Vrinda could not understand the
craftiness, and because of intimate presence her chastity got
spoiled. Later on when Vrinda came to know the reality, she got
infuriated and cursed Lord Krishna - O Lord, despite being a learned
God you have behaved like stupids. So go and turn into shapeless
black stone.
Thus by the curse of a chaste woman Lord Krishna
turned into a blackstone. But later on Vrinda felt guilty that at
the surge of excitement she had cursed none other than her own
tutelary deity. Thus begging pardon of God, she sought a boon that
from that moment onward, God will be worshipped in the same stone
form. Saying Tathastu, God accepted her curse and turned into a
black stone, and came to be known as Shaligrama.
Lord Shiva further declares that, "My
devotees who offer obeisances to the shalagrama-shila even
negligently become fearless. Those who adore me while making a
distinction between myself (Shiva) and Lord Hari will become
free from this offence by offering obeisances to shalagrama-shila.
Those who think themselves as my devotees, but who are proud and do
not offer obeisances to my Lord Vasudeva, are actually sinful and
not my devotees. O my son, I always reside in the shalagrama-shila.
Being pleased with my devotion the Lord has given
me a
residence in His personal abode.
The Padma Purana says giving a
shalagrama-shila, is the best form of charity, being equal to the
result of donating the entire earth together with its forests,
mountains, and all. The Garuda Purana describes the glories of
keeping a shalagrama-shila with the auspicious mark of a cakra in
one's house. |
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Sasidhar
Parvati
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Importance of Shaligram
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Ato'dhisthana Vargesu
Suryadisviva Murtisu |
Salagrama Silaiva Syad
Adhisthanottamam Hareh ||
The Lord resides in many places in which he may be
worshipped, but of all places Salagrama is the best. (Skanda Purana)
Salagrama Sila Rupi Yatra
Tisthati Kesavah |
Tatra Devasurayaksa Bhuvanani Catur Dasa
||
With Keshava in the form of Salagrama sila reside all
the devatas, asuaras, yaksas and the fourteen worlds.(Padma Purana)
However having said all that, there are verses encouraging the
worship and service of Lord Siva for Vaishnavas as mentioned and
collected in Hari Bhakti Vilas: such as in the Shivaratri
information and observances herein:
Drstva Pranamita Yena Snapita
Pujita Tatha |
Yajna Koti Samam Punyam Gavam Koti Phalam Bhavet
||
Lord Siva spoke to
Skanda, his son, saying that any
person who has seen Salagram Sila, paid obeisances to Him, bathed
and worshipped Him, has achieved the results of performing ten
million sacrifices and giving ten million cows in charity. (HARI
BHAKTI VILASA 5/384 from SKANDA PURANA)
Pujito'ham Na Tair Martyair
Namito'ham Na Tair Narah |
Nakrtam Martya Loke Yaih Salagram
Silarcanam ||
(Lord Siva speaks to his son,
Skanda) In this mortal
world, if anyone does not worship Salagram Sila, I do not at all
accept any of their worship and obeisances.(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 5/396
from SKANDA PURANA) |
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The Divine Shaligrams
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Myths
about Shaligram
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The Agni Purana
mentions several types of shalagrama-shilas whose worship brings
unhappiness and never happiness. These include a shila with a mouth
like that of a snake, a broken shila, one with cakras facing each
other, with a circled cakra, a shila with a producting navel, a
tawny-coloured shila known as Narasimha, a shila with many lines
inside the circle, and a shila unidentifiable due to its confusing
markings.
As for the shalagrama-shilas that bring
misfortune and sadness, as mentioned above, one should understand
that this is only for worshipers impelled by material desires. But
for one free from material desires there is no harm to worship these
shilas. Thus in the Brahma Purana the Supreme Lord Vishnu states
that any shila from the place of shalagramas can never be
inauspicious though cracked, chipped, split in two though still in
one piece, or even broken asunder. Lord Shiva also confirms in the
Skanda Purana that even if a shila is cracked, split, or broken it
will have no harmful effect if it is worshiped with attention and
love by a devotee. It further states there that the Supreme Lord
Hari, along with His divine consort, Lakshmi, live in the
shalagrama-shila that has either only the mark of a cakra, a cakra
along with the mark of a footprint, or only a mark resembling a
flower garland.
It is written in the Gautamiya Tantra that
merely by touching a shalagrama-shila one becomes freed from the
sins of millions of births, so what to speak of worshiping Him! By
shalagrama-puja one gains the association of Lord Hari.
Worshiping shalagrama-shila is more satisfying to Lord
Narayana than the worship of His Deity form along with Lakshmiji in
the temple. By adoring Lord Hari in the cakra of a shalagrama-shila
one receives the same benefit as performing the agnihotra sacrifice
and giving the whole world with all its oceans in charity. The
lowest of men covered by lust, anger, and greed will attain the
highest abode of the Supreme Lord Hari by worshiping
shalagrama-shila. One who adores the shalagrama-shila as Govinda
will never fall from the
heavenly planets up to the end of
the universe - even without serving holy places, giving in charity,
doing sacrifices, or studying the scriptures, persons who simply
worship a shalagrama-shila will still achieve mukti.
A
shraddha ceremony done in front of shalagrama-shila will satisfy
many generations of forefathers and grant them residence in
deva-loka for hundreds of days of Brahma (kalpas).
Even if a
person lusty or angry by nature worships shalagrama-shila with
devotion, or even carelessly, he will get liberation. Those who
speak Hari-katha in front of shalagrama-shila need not fear Yamaraja
or repeated birth and death. In Kali-yuga one who devotedly worships
shalagrama-shila with prayers, kirtana, and musical instruments,
will live eternally in Hari-dhama.
The area within a radius
of twenty-four miles from where a shalagrama-shila is worshiped is
counted as a holy place (tirtha). The fruits of japa, charity,
sacrifices, or any other religious activities done in that area will
be multiplied millions of times. |
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Puja of Shri Shaligram Shilas
The Skanda Purana
also says that shalagrama-shilas do not require installation. When
one begins the worship of shalagrama-shila, however he should start
with elaborate puja using all articles. The worship of
shalagrama-shila is the best form of worship, better than the
worship of the sun.
The Gautamiya Tantra says devotees
should take the caranamrita mixed with Tulasi leaves from the
shalagrama-shila in their hand and sip it, sprinkling the balance on
their heads. If somebody refuses this caranamrita it is as if he has
killed a brahmana. The Padma Purana explains that all those holy
rivers awarding moksha, such as the Ganga, Godavari, and others,
reside in the caranamrita of shalagrama-shila.
In the
Sammohana Tantra it is written that shalagrama-shila should not be
placed on the earth or ground and worshiped. The Shrimad Bhagavatam
mentions that in the worship of shalagrama-shila it is unnecessary
to call the Lord for worship or request Him to return His abode upon
completion.
The Brihan-naradiya Purana warns that if one
worships a shalagrama-shila and doesn't offer Tulasi leaves, then
his house is considered equal to cremation ground. There Shri Narada
Muni says it's impossible to explain the importance of Tulasi leaves
in the worship of shalagrama-shila, as Tulasi is the most beloved
consort of Hari in the form of shalagrama-shila.
In the
Skanda Purana Lord Shiva tells Parvati that one who takes the
caranamrita of shalagrama-shila destroys all sinful reactions at
their roots, even the killing of a brahmana. Elsewhere the Skanda
Purana states that by taking the remnants of foodstuffs offered to
shalagrama-shila, one will get the result of performing many
sacrifices.
Note:The worshipper of Shaligram
must keep the leaves of Tulsi beside a Shaligram or it must be put
in the pot in which grows the Tulsi plant because Shaligram without
Tulsi is regarded incomplete, as described in scriptures. |
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Care
& Precautions
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The Padma Purana warns that
one who eats before worshiping shalagrama-shila becomes a worm in the
stool of a dog-eater for one millennium (a complete cycle of four yugas).
The Skanda Purana says that one who has no faith in the adoration of
shalagrama-shila will have his body smashed to bits by being thrown from
the top of high mountains.
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Sale and Purchase of Shalagrama-shilas
Prohibited
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The Skanda Purana warns
that no one should buy or sell shalagrama-shilas. One who puts a price on
a shalagrama-shila, sells a shalagrama-shila, gives his opinion on its
value, or examines one with a view to estimate its sale value, all such
people will live in hell until the time of universal
destruction. |
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