Badri /Saligramam etc.

[Guest guest]

Respected Madam :

 

Although, the writer may not be that much qualified when compared with the

most erudite of scholars and accomplished members in these fora, he has

come across certain practical aspects with regard to Saligramam worship and

related areas.

 

Before elaborating, a preliminary note : Please consult your acharya for

specific details.

 

Many of the requirements may seem to be quite tough or impossible. It is a

tall order. Please do not feel discouraged as to what you have asked or

got into. Nothing wrong. The point is: Saligramam upasana is one of the

forms of Yoga i.e. should be done with dedication, faith and consistency

without expectation of any result/benefit. While this may be true generally

in case of Saligrama worship the significance assumes higher criticality

because the mental attitude is extremely important. The entire atmosphere

of the household is involved. The intensity of devoution may be

comparatively less stringent when it comes to general prayers, and routine

worships.

 

Yes it is true, one has to perform nitya pooja for Saligramam. It cannot

be treated just like any other idol, picture or image worship. It is

somewhat equal to the 'agni' upasana which one is supposed to do until the

last breath, but which most of us cannot for practical reasons keep up.

Extreme physical, external purity is the primary requirement. External

purity in terms of dust, noise, pollution, etc. A dedicated room, if

possible, or a particular spot appropriately sanctified has to be reserved

for the Saligramam. Everyone in the household has to mandatorily be always

aware mentally about the PRESENCE.

 

Noisy talking, blaring of radio channels, mindless watching of TV etc. are

to be avoided at all costs. In many houses in cities, the noise of the TV

signals, channel surfing etc. are common. They may, however, be indulged

with extreme caution and moderation on a need-basis and not as a habit.

 

Immediately on getting up early morning, preferably the lady of the house

should after/wash abulations but before

consuming tea/coffee, make an offering of raw milk in a small silver cup -

specifically reserved for the Saligramam

 

In case male members are there in the house, Sandhyavandanam is MUST.

Nothing moves without trikala Sandhi.

Without Sandhyavandanam, it is absolutely incorrect to touch, worship and

involve oneself with the Saligramam.

 

Water has to be treated with extreme care. If someone can store in a,

preferably silver or gold or copper/brass vessel it would be good. Cover

this with a linen/cotton wet cloth washed nicely, not torn/frayed. The

cloth may be dipped in a mixture of water and turmeric to make it yellow.

 

The vessels etc. must not be used for regular use, not even for other gods.

It has to be exclusively kept for the Saligramam.

 

Do do not permit outsiders, non-permenant-living people/relations to even

casually "see" the Saligramam. The Saligramam must be kept in a good box

lined appropriately.

 

Let every member of the household involve themselves into creatively

thinking about the box/container. If it can be avoided, do not buy these

readymade from the market. Let all be involved in constructing the box.

Hard physical work coupled with a sense of art and beauty and of course,

time and energy/effort has to be spent in LOVINGLY making this box. In

case you are in Bombay, please call up 24026280 and meet Mr Krishnaswamy,

who lives in Matunga area. His kind mother has a small box made out of

cloves joined together. It is painstakingly done and is a beautiful work to

behold. Very delicate, very unique. She was contemplating keeping their

Saligramam inside this box made out of cloves.

 

Preferably the box may be kept in a closed area (a sort of

mini-mandapam/temple type structure available in many houses/market). In

case someone wants to "see" just for the sake of mental worship, ensure

he/she has thoroughly washed his/her feet, hands, face etc. and is clean.

Do not permit them to touch though.

 

Preferably one, the eldest or older family member may physically

handle/touch the Saligramam. Everyone should not be permitted. If there are

grandparents in the house, the grandfather may handle. The wife

(grandmother) should if possible always accompany the grandfather.

 

After the Saligrama worship do not just begin to go about the routine

activities immediately. Sit and mentally take the Saligrama into the center

of your eyebrows. Store this mentally in your brain and then after

uttering Om Namo Narayana, get up. Be totally absorbed and involved with

the Saligrama. Never consider this a stone.

 

Even while looking at IT reflect and consider only on the strong feet and

toes of the Lord. See the toes and not the face/body/features in the

structure of the Saligramam

 

Involving with astrology, jyotisha or horoscope reviews, castings etc.

should be avoided inside the house. If at all these are to be done due to

various reasons, mentally seek the permission of the Saligramam and then

proceed but do these outside. IN HIS PRESENCE no one is permitted to dabble

and intrepret the stars, planetary positions, planetary effects etc.

 

Invalid, sick, disabled persons, including persons with mental disabilities

who cannot comprehend or very old people bedridden may be informed in their

ears that the "Saligramam" worship is about to begin. Whether they

understand or are capable of hearing or not does not matter. They may be

deaf also. A responsible member has to just "tell" into their ears.

 

Vishnu sahasranamam should be chanted without fail every evening after the

evening lamps/god's lights are lit.

 

Literally you are converting the house into a local Tirupati or a Srirangam

sannadhi if one can put it in a nut shell. Last but not the least,

Saligramam upasana is a one-way street. There is no backing. Once you

start, until the end it has to continue for generations together.

 

Finally,ironical though it may seem, whether you worship or not is of

secondary importance. It may not be mandatory. But performing the

Sandhyavandanam is mandatory. If this is done one may even ask for pardon

for not keeping up the Saligramam worship. Saligramam worship to the best

of the writer's knowledge is not mandated as a nitya by the Vedas, but

Sandhyavandanam is the command of the VEDAS and this cannot be breached

under any circumstances.

 

Om Tat Sat

Tat tvam asi

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

In North India, it is common for the Saligramam to be venerated along

with the Tulasi plant. The Saligramam is kept at the root of the Tulasi

plant and watered with due reverence and devotion by women. Let us not make

devotion so much burdensome that devotees are scared of the steps of

veneration and stop worship.

Satakopan.

[Guest guest]

The writer must strongly differ Sir. It is not making devoution

burdensome. If everything is easy then the common tendency of man - of

all normal humans involved with their social-family-career commitments- is

to act casually.

 

Many of us just for the sake of doing a ritual/rite do it without a second

thought or DEPTH OF REVERENCE. Sorry but this is the blunt truth. No insult

or critism intended. If someone is hurt by this please forgive the writer.

 

While Nama chanting or general prayers etc. may be done in this casual,

generalised routine manner, Saligramam is a

totally different thing. You are bringing actually including HIM into your

family and home. HE is present everywhere etc. is all true, but the

Saligramam is different.

 

Yes,you can keep in under the Tulasi and worship etc. but remember that the

Tulasi plant is exposed to the open sun. Kept in an open area, watered and

at times the mud/dust will overflow. The Tulasi leaves are plucked by the

hands and offered. When you pluck the Tulasi you are killing the leaf.

Therefore, elsewhere the writer recommended a dedicated Tulasi. Also

inside a plant lots of insects, earthworms etc. and the quality of the mud,

fertiliser etc. matter. Over the years these naturally tend to impact the

quality of the Saligramam's natural smoothness, curvature, texture,

image,shape,size.

 

 

Further, by keeping inside the root, it remains buried, if that is what is

intended and understood by the writer. The proverb "Out of sight, out of

mind" will be applicable in this case. Hence in many houses you will find

that Saligramam is kept alongwith the Gods openly visible so that it serves

as a reminder to us constantly.

 

 

As explained in the third para what the writer clearly meant was CONSCIOUS

efforts are to be made to BE CONSTANTLY AWARE of the PRESENCE inside the

Saligramam, and this conscious effort to BE AWARE is itself is a prayer.

 

Yes people do these practices in the North and other places, but then there

is no compulsion to follow just for the sake of following. It is also

possible that they could be doing it erroenously over the years without

their knowledge, which is perfectly permitted and which will not have any

ill effect. On the flip side, there is nothing wrong in trying to

understand, repeat, trying to look with an open mind, different and

additional information. Not that the writer is right but lets have an open

mind.

 

Finally, the idea of outlining such seemingly elaborate requirements is to

make sure that the devoutee finds TIME and ENERGY to indulge in something

worthy. If you give the same Time and Energy to say any effort you get

supreme pleasure and unlimited happiness. To give a simple example. Take a

teenager in his/her first flush of love at College.

He totally forgets himself, always gets immersed in his beloved's

thoughts,knows every act, every gesture, knows every mannerism about her.

Sends her flowers, remembers her birthdays. Gets worried if she is worried

about her grandfather. The eyes when they meet take a different glow which

cannot be found otherwise. This is not lust but something pure happening.

He does not care a hoot about money, wealth, what people say or feel. The

sense of dedication is unique and cannot be easily described. Question is

: Can one have the same sense of dedication, devoution to our DEAREST

LORD?. If one can emulate Andal to the extent of 0.000000001% and be

ready to HONOUR HIS HOLINESS then life on this earth will be the sweetest.

 

Yes indeed by conforming to all or some of the so-called 'Burdensome'

requirements mentioned below, you can see for yourself a great change which

will dawn on the household.You can FEEL HIS PRESENCE. Every endeavour will

be a success. Things will start happening on their own and take a good

turn. The character of each member will undergo change for the better.

There will be less sickness. Wants will be diminished. Satisfaction will

increase.

 

Om Tat Sat

Tat Tvam asi.