About SAlagrama

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Dear BhaghavathottamAs:

 

Here is some interesting information on Salagrama. This was compiled by

Shobha Srinivasan of Corning NY. They are great devotees of Lord Hari and

their family is known for their hospitality.

 

Vijayaraghavan

 

 

 

1. Is Saligrama in the form of black stone only ?

 

Yes. Mostly black stone only. Reddish black are also there, but they are

very rare. Red Saligrama are not worshipped in houses.

 

2. Is it available at gandaki river in nepal only or else where also ?

 

In gandaki river only.

 

3. Does it have the symbol of sudarshana chakra or other holy weapons of

lord vishnu?

 

Chakra symbol only. No other symbols.

 

4. Is it a naturall formation or impression of any river worm or insect due

to passage on the black stone or it used as a shell by the insect ?

 

It is not a stone-formation by nature. The chakras on the stones are formed

by the river worms called Vajra-keeta. Its teeth/nails are said to be

harder than

granite stone. The chakra formation is found not only on the outer surface

of the Saligrama.

 

There are chakras inside Saligrama also. This can be seen through the hole

or holes on the Saligrama with the aid of torch light. The holes are termed

as

vadana (mouth). Chakras can be seen inside these holes. At the very face of

this chakra one can confirm or suspect whether a particular Saligrama is

original or duplicate.

 

The Vajra keeta worms drill the stones, get inside and live there. During

their stay inside the stones, they cause these chakras. Similarly outside

Chakras

also are caused by the worms only. Saligrama are used as living place by

the worms not used as shells.

 

The puranic declaration is that the Lord Himself causes these chakras in

the guise of worms. He reveals His presence in Saligrama through the

Chakras.

Because He is already present there by his own choice, We do not perform

any pratishta-ritual for Saligrama just as we do for other idols.

 

There are also some normal size, small and very small size Saligramas with

no hole and ni chakra. They look like mere black stones. But if you hold it

against the lamp and look through the stone, you will be surpraised to find

it is transparent. That is, the reddish light will be visible insid the

stone. These

Saligramas are called Ratna Garbha. They are very rare.

 

5. Is it a fact that more number of chakras in a Saligrama represnet its

significance ?

 

No such significance. A Saligrama with one or two chakras is as powerful as

the one with a dozen chakras. A Saligrama with 7 holes and 14 chakras is

known as Ananta Padmanabha Murthy. 2 holes and 4 chakras is Narayana Murthy

and so on. All the Murthys are of the same power.

 

6. Is it a coincidence of the availability at river Gandaki is not the

abode of Shiva.

 

7. Any other mythological background to substantiate the prevalence of such

stones deserve worship as the manifestation of Lord Vishnu ?

 

Of the 18 Puranas, a good number of them, under different contexts,

proclaim the mahima of Saligrama as Vishnu pooja. They also proclaim that

the

White stones ashore at Dwaraka is as powerful as Saligrama. These white

stones are called : "CHAKRANIKA". This is to be kept in pooja along with

Saligrama, proclaims the Purana.

 

SALIGRAM SHILA YATRA, YATRA

DHVARAVATHI SHILA |

 

UBAYO SANKHMO YATRA, YATRA

MUKTHRNASAMSHAYAHA ||

 

8. Is any size prescribed for the worship in the daily puja by Madhwas? It

is learnt that abnormal sizes should be kept in the Temples/Mutts etc.

 

Yes. The size recommended for the puja in the house is the smaller ones

which can be accommodated in the closed fist. Abnormal ones are to be kept

in the

Temples/Mutts etc.

 

9. Is it true that Saligrama should not be kept in the house without daily

Abusheka ?

 

The emphasis is only to stress the point that you should not be lazy and

miss Saligrama Puja for too long a period on False excuses. It is not to

ask you do

away with Saligrama on grounds of imaginary problems.

 

10. Are Saligramas worshipped exclusively by Madhwas or by others also ?

 

Iyengars do Saligrama Puja as also some of the Vadama Iyers who wear

Gopichandana.