Some questions about Salagramam

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sri:

Srimate Srilakshminrisimha Parabrahmane Nama:

Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha Divyapadukasevaka

Srivan Satakopa Sri NarayanaYatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

namo narayana!

 

adiyEn prepared the following post in response to a

question on another e-mail group. I am posting it

here first because I am sure it will be of interest

to our members also.

 

-- adiyEn

 

 

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The following is completely based on a discussion about

Saligrama Aradhanam found in pages 11 - 15 of the Tamil

book " kELvi bathil " by Sri. u. vE. Mahavidwan MelpAkkam

Narasimhachariyar Swami, published by Sri Nrisimha Priya

Trust. This book is readily available from Sri Nrisimha

Priya office at " Desika Bhavanam " , 27 Venkatesa Agraharam,

Mylapore, Chennai 600 004.

 

[1] How many Salagrama moorthees can we have?

 

Salagrama Lakshana Grantham says:

 

" sAlagrAmA: samA: viShamA na kadAcana |

viShameapyokameva syAt same dve na kadAcana || "

 

" Even number of sAlagramA may be worshipped

except two. Odd number of sAlagrAmas may

not be worshipped except one. "

 

[2] What to do if we have two salagramas at home?

 

As soon as possible get the additional number of

sAlagrama moorthys necessary to bring the count to

a prescribed number. Until this is done, separate

the moorthees. Perform Aradhanam for one sAlagramam

first. Then, after completing the Aradhganam for the

first moorthy, perform complete aradhanam for the

second moorthy. If this not possible due to time

consideration, nivedanam alone may be performed for

the second moorhty.

 

[3] Is it alright if aradhanam is not done for salagrama

moorthy everyday?

 

Vigrahas have sannidyam only after pradhishtai.

Therefore, if aradhanam is not done even for one day,

prAyaschittam must be done. However, sAlagrama

moorthees always have sAnnidyam even without pradhistai.

Therefore, if ardhanam is interrupted due to unavoidable

circumstance, just seeking the forgiveness for the

offense (apacArAdi kshamA) is sufficient to resume

Thiruvaradnam the next day. No further prAyaschittam

is necessary. It is in this sense some say it is

alright if aradhanam is done every day. Not performing

Thiruvaradanam is against our swaroopam. We must strive

our best to do Thiruvaradanam everyday without interruption.

 

[4] Many people these days are not qualified to perform

Aradhanam. In many houses it is not convenient to be able

maintain the needed acAram. In such circumstances is it

alright to give the Salagrama moorthy to someone else, or

unite them with a well?

 

The best course of action for those who feel they

are not qualified is to get the qualification. It

is not appropriate to dislodge a sAlagrama that has

been worshipped by family elders for many years.

Besides losing the grace of the sAlgramas that have

been with the family for years, the family may risk

harm by removing them.

 

If one is unable to get himself qualified, he must

get someone else who is qualified to come and do the

aradhanam. If this is not possible, at the very

least offer one or two Asanam and nivedanam to perumal.

If even this is a burden, have your mother or someone

else to just offer nivedanam. In such cases, please

note, ladies can offer nivedanam without touching the

sAlagrAma moorthy. (Side note: Srimad Azhagiya

Singar once answered a similar query from a sishyas

and instructed the sishya to recite two verses from

Nachciyar Thirumozhi (9.6 and 9.7) at the time

of nivedanam. These two pasurams are given at the

end of the post.

 

No house should be without a salagramam. A house

without a salagrama is equivalent to cremation

ground,

 

" gruham shmashAnam tava bimbavarjitam " .

 

[5] If a salagrama moorthy is broken can we still do

aradhanam to the broken moorthy?

 

Varaha puranam says,

 

" sAlagrAma shilA bhagnA pUjanIya sacatrakA |

khaNditA sphuDitA vApi sAlagrAma shilA shubhA ||

 

Even if the salagrama moorthy is broken, if

the circles are present we must do aradahanm.

Such aradhanam will give subham. From this it

seems if the circle is broken the shilA may

be sacrificed. Please check with elders about

this case.

 

 

Once again, all of the above, except the side note, is

from the " kELvi Bathil " book.

 

-- adiyEn srimad Azhagiya Singar thiruvadi Dileepan

 

 

 

 

Nacchiyar Thirumozhi 9.6 and 9.7

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nARu naRumpozhil mAlirunsOlai nambikku, nAn

nooRu thadaavil veNNey vaay nErndhu parAvi vaiththEn,

nURu thadA niRaindha akkAra vadisil sonnEn,

ERu thiruvudaiyAn inRu vanthivai koLLunkolO!

 

inRu vandhu iththanaiyum amudhu seythidappeRil, nAn

onRu nURaayiramAk kodutthup pinnum ALum seyvan,

thenRal maNam kamazhum thiru mAlirum SOlai thannuL

ninRa piraan, adiyEn manaththE vandhu nEr padilE.

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-- adiyEn ramanuja dasan

srimad azhagiya singar thiruvadi