Shaligram Stone All You Need To Know about Shaligram
Shaligram Stone is found in the Kali Gandaki River in Nepal at Muktinath. Shaligram Shila is worshiped by many families and in temples around the world. In this blog, I will answer some central questions and topics about Shaligram.
1. What is Shaligram?
2. Shaligram story in Hinduism
3. How to worship
Shaligram Stone?
4. Types of Shaligram
Stone
5. Which Shaligram is
best for worship at home?
6. How to identify the
original Shaligram Shila?
7. Shaligram stone
benefits worshiping at home
What is Shaligram
Stone:
Shaligram is a Blackstone brought from the banks of the Kali Gandaki River in
Nepal at Muktinath. It is a holy stone worshipped by Vishnu Bhakts in temples
and families worldwide. It is the most sacred and holy stone worshipped by the
Vaishnavas (Especially those who worship Lord Krishna). There are different
types of Shaligram with different names, and all of them are considered
auspicious idols of Lord Vishnu. Vajrakita (a kind of ancient insect with
strong teeth) has different types of chakra curves.
In scientific name,
Shaligram is a black-colored Ammonoid fossil from millions of years ago.
Shaligram story in Hinduism:
According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana/Brahmavaivarta Purana & Shiva Purana
in Hinduism. Shaligram Stone is Lord Vishnu, and Tulsi is worshiped story
mentioned in Purana.
There was a king named Vrishadhvaja, and he was a big devotee of Lord Shiva. He
only worships Lord Shiva and refuses to worship another deity because he
refuses to worship another deity. Lord Suriya Dev cursed him to suffer from poverty
and the loss of his all kingdom.
After many years, the grandson of Vrishadhvaya, Dharmadhvaja & Kusadhvaja
came to know the reason behind their poverty.
They performed very hard Tapasya(propitiate austerities) to Goddess Laxmi to
regain their prosperity.
Finally, Goddess Laxmi was pleased with their austerities (Tapasya). She
blessed them with prosperity and even promised them she would take birth as a
daughter in their life.
Both brothers were
blessed with a daughter. Dharmadhvaja's daughter Tulsi( Vrinda), and
Kusadhvaja's daughter, are Vedavati (Sita Devi). Tulsi and Vedavati are both
avatars (incarnations) of Goddess Laxmi.
Tulsi went to Badrinath to perform Tapasya. (austerities) to get Lord Vishnu as
her husband in that life, she had to marry Shankhachuda( Jalandhara).
Shankhachuda was Sudama ( a Lord Vishnu Saywak/devotee/reside) in the previous
birth. For some reason, Sudama was cursed by Radha to take rebirth as a Danava,
so as a result, Shankhachuda took birth from out of Vishu's body. He was mighty
from his natural birth from Vishnu itself, and he was a big devotee of Lord
Vishnu.
Shankhachuda is very virtuous & religious to Lord Vishnu. He was the leader
of Danavas (giant). Lord Bharma suggested he marry Tulsi to become more
powerful, and he did that.
(Lord Bharma knows that Goddess Laxmi is Tulsi and Shankhachuda a natural birth
from Lord Vishnu itself).
Shankhachuda
announced a battle against devatas. He won against many Gods in his leadership,
and even he won Svarga (Heaven) and made out all gods from it. All Gods went to
Lord Shiva to protect them and help them regain their respect and kingdom.
Finally, Shankhachuda
announced a battle against Lord Shiva to rule Kailash Parvat (Mount Kailash).
Lord Shiva also announced a battle against him to give back God's respect and
kingdom.
There was a battle between Devatas and Danavas (God and Giant) for a long time,
but the result was not coming.
Lord Bharma suggests to Lord Vishnu that due to Shankhachuda's virtue and his
wife, Tulsi Pativrata (purity), protect him. So no one can beat him in battle.
So it would help if you violated Tulsi Pativrata to win against Danavas.
Once, when Shankhachuda was busy in battle fighting with Lord Shiva, Lord
Vishnu took the form (counterpart) of Shankhachuda and went to Tulsi and
cohabited (Physical intimacy) with her. Tulsi lost her Pativrata (purity).
Meanwhile, Shankhachuda was killed by Lord Shiva because Tulsi Pativrata Kawach
(armor) was no more protecting him.
Meanwhile, after Shankhachuda's death, Tulsi became doubtful that the person
with her at the time was not Shankhachuda. So he must be someone else. So she
looked at him and asked him to see his natural face.
Lord Vishnu turns into his avatar. Now she knows that Lord Vishnu destroyed her
Pativrata (purity).
She got so angry that
she cursed Lord Vishnu, saying I was your devotee and even my husband. We
always pray to you. Your idol statue is a stone, so you don't have any feelings
or emotions. So I cursed you that you become a stone for destroying my
Pativarta and the reason for my husband's death.
Lord Vishnu explains to her that he wants to end the curse on Sudama by Radha,
who took rebirth as Shankhachuda as a leader of Danavas. So you are my devotee
and incarnation of Goddess Laxmi only.
After hearing that, Tulsi fired and destroyed herself, saying I don't want to
leave with her husband.
Later, God planted some seed on Tulsi's body, rakh (ash). And the blessing that
she would remain with Lord Vishnu on earth in the form of the Tulsi plant, and Lord
Krishna took the curse of Tulsi and went to Kali Gandi River and took both and
became a stone.
Shaligram is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and Tulsi is the incarnation of
Goddess Laxmi. A home where Tulsi and Shaligram at home. Both Laxmi Narayan blesses
them. So Tulsi is married to Shaligram Ji in Hindu mythology.
How to worship Shaligram Stone?
There are different ways to worship Shaligram at home. But every people are not
perfect in puja as Guru Ji in temples.
I will let you know the simple way to do Shaligram Shila pooja( Prey) to get
blessed by Lord Vishnu at home.
First, Abhishek
Shaligram Ji with some holy or ordinary water will do.
Then Abhishek with Panchamrita (it is a mixture of honey, sugar, cow milk,
curd, and ghee)
Then Abhishek it with simple water and cleaned it with some cloth.
Apply Chandan(Sandalwood) Tika on Shaligram Ji.
Offer him some flowers, and Tulsi leaps.
Light a Diya(lamp usually made from clay, with a cotton wick dipped in ghee or
oils) before him.
Chant Mantra: Om Namo Narayana or Om Vishnu Hari Narayan or any Lord Vishnu
Mantra you know.
( It should be chanted a minimum of 21 times, or 108 times is best).
If some item is unavailable, puja, just prey with a pure soul, will do. The
same puja can be offered every day.
It is good to keep Shankha (Conch) near Shaligram Shila. (Chakra,
Padma(Flower), Gada(Mace), Shankha(Conch) are appurtenances of Lord Vishnu.
Types of Shaligram Stone:
The Vishnu Puran mentioned different types of Shaligram Shila. All are the
incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Name of Shaligram according to several Sudarshana Chakra on it.
- Sudarsan Shaligram - One
Vishnu chakra
- Laxmi Narayan Shaligram -
Two Vishnu Chakra
- Achyut Shaligram - Three
Vishnu Chakra
- Janardan Shaligram - Four
Vishnu Chakra
- Basudev Shaligram - Five
Vishnu Chakra
- Pradhyumna Shaligram -
Six Vishnu Chakra
- Shankarshan Shaligram -
Seven Vishnu Chakra
- Purushottam Shaligram -
Eight Vishnu Chakra
- Navavyuha Shaligram - Nine
Vishnu Chakra
- Dashavatar Shaligram - Ten
Vishnu Chakra
- Aniruddha Shaligram -
Eleven Vishnu Chakra
- Ananta Shaligram - Twelve
Vishnu Chakra
- Paramatma Shaligram
-Thirteen Vishnu Chakra
Name of Shaligram
Shila according to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu:
1) Matsya Shaligram - Fish Avatar (Incarnation)
2) Kurma Shaligram - Tortoise avatar
3) Varaha Shaligram - Boar avat
4) Narshimba Shaligram - Half lion, half men avatar
5) Vamana Shaligram - Brahman avatar
6) Parashurama Shaligram - Vishnu avatar
7) Rama Shaligram - Rama avatar
8) Krishna Shaligram - Krishan avatar
9) Buddha Shaligram - Buddha avatar
10) Kalki Shaligram - Vishnu avatar to appear at the end of the Kali Yuga.
Many types of Shaligram are found in the Kali Gandaki River in
Nepal at Muktinath. A few names are following.
Laxmi Narayan Shaligram, Laxmi Narayan Sudarshna Shaligram, Keshava Shaligram,
Narayana Shaligram, Madhava Shaligram, Govinda Shaligram, Vishnu Shaligram,
Madusudhana Shaligram, Trivikrama Shaligram, Vamana Shaligram, Shridhara
Shaligram, Hrishikesh Shaligram, Padmanabha Shaligram, Damodara Shaligram,
Sankarshana Shaligram, Pradyumna Shaligram, Aniruddha Shaligram, Purushottama
Shaligram, Adokshaja Shaligram, Narashima Shaligram, Achyuta Shaligram,
Janardana Shaligram, Upendra Shaligram, Hari Shaligram, Krishna Shaligram,
Vasudeva Shaligram, Buddha Shaligram, Suriya Shaligram, Janeudhari Shaligram,
Kalki Shaligram, Shesha Naag Shaligram. These are a few names of the Shaligram
stone; there are many more.
The name of Shaligrams is given by their structure, by four appurtenances of
Lord Vishnu - Chakra, Padma, Gada, and Shankha.
Which Shaligram is best for worship at home?
There are different types of Shaligram. Among them, you can worship any
Shaligram; they all are the avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Any number of Shaligram you can have for worship; there is no specification
about worshiping Shaligram numbers.
You may console yourself, Guru Ji, if you have any doubts.
There are different sizes of Shaligram, and you can worship any size.
How to identify the original Shaligram Shila?
Nowadays, it is tough to identify the original Shaligram by ordinary people.
This is because so many people are selling fake made of black cement or joined.
But still, few people are selling genuine Shaligram stones. Therefore, there
are a few basic things that you keep in your mind while you purchase Shaligram:
Shaligram is always
irregular in shape and size because of nature. Therefore, it is not original if
someone gives you the same size and shape Shaligram.
Nowadays, Shaligram
mala with the same size and same shape is available in the market. However,
those mala can not be authentic because drilling holes and the exact size are
impossible. Shaligram is to worship at home and in the temple, not for wearing
on the neck.
Naturally found,
Shaligram is suitable for worship. But, unfortunately, many people are selling
Shaligram Shila with God curved on them. In that way, they made natural
Shaligram destroyed.
You can look for an expert person and some temple Guru Ji to identify for you.
They can help you to identify.
Suppose Shaligram Shila is broken/cracked or gets broken even after you
worshiped it. Nevertheless, it does not lose its good nature, so it is good to
worship.
And if you are buying
online, check and read about the owner of the site and some genuine online
reviews. Genuine reviews make you understand the product quality and website
service.
Shaligram stone benefits worshiping at home:
There are thousands of benefits. It depends on your purity and deep prey.
Primarily Shaligram Shila is worshiped for six benefits of life: Righteous
living, Wealth, Protection, Pleasures, and Spiritual blessing.
But still, there are some crucial benefits of worshiping Shaligram at home.
It protects from negative energy,
Removes obstacles in life,
Blesses with health and wealth,
Prosperity brings good luck,
Good fortune brings happiness,
Unity in the family,
Removes Vishnu Dosha,
Protects from evil eyes,
Brings success,
Give name and fame in society,
Removes kundali dosha,
Blesses with a long and healthy life,
Blesses with a person with the child.
There are many other benefits as well. These are a few of them.
No comments: