All About Shaligram - All you need to know about Shaligram | Benefits of Shaligram
All you need to know about the Shaligram Stone
Shaligram stone is contained in the beautiful Kali Gandaki River, in Nepal, at Muktinath. This Blackstone has since its discovery gone around and become a highly worshipped and sacred stone among temples and homes alike. The Shaligram stone embodies a huge cultural connotation in Hindu Mythology and spirituality. In temples all throughout the world and by several families, Shaligram Shila is worshipped and kept as an integral part.
In this article, let us dive deep and understand everything about the Shaligram stone and the need to incorporate them into our lives.
Shaligram Stone definition:
A Blackstone known as Shaligram was transported from Muktinath, Nepal, to the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. It is a sacred stone that Vishnu Bhakts around the world revere in homes and temples. It is the holiest and most revered stone among Vaishnavas (Especially those who worship Lord Krishna).
Shaligrams come in a variety of shapes and titles, but they are always regarded as fortunate idols of Lord Vishnu. A species of ancient bug with powerful teeth called a vajrakita has many chakra curves. Shaligram, as it is known scientifically, is a fossilized ammonoid that dates back millions of years and is studied intricately over the years.
CLICK HERE TO BUY NATURAL SHALIGRAM STONE.
Story of Shaligram in Hinduism:
The Shaligram stone sure holds a huge historical and spiritual root in Hinduism. According to Hinduism's Shiva Purana, Brahmavaivarta Purana, and Devi Bhagavata Purana, Lord Vishnu is represented by Shaligram Stone, and Tulsi is revered according to a Puranic legend.
So, the legend goes like this, A king by the name of Vrishadhvaja was a fervent follower of Lord Shiva. He doesn't worship any other gods since he solely worships Lord Shiva, and he doesn't want to. He was cursed by Lord Suriya Dev to be poor and lose his entire realm. After many years had gone by, Vrishadhvaya's grandsons, Dharmadhvaja & Kusadhvaja, learned the cause of their destitution through a letter.
To restore their prosperity, they offered Goddess Laxmi very arduous Tapasya (propitiate austerities). Goddess Laxmi was then pleased with their piety (Tapasya). She wished them well and even made a pledge to give birth to a daughter in their life. A daughter was blessed with for both brothers. Tulsi (Vrinda), daughter of Dharmadhvaja, and Kusadhvaja, daughter, are Vedavati (Sita Devi). Both Tulsi and Vedavati are manifestations of Goddess Laxmi known as avatars.
Tulsi traveled to Badrinath to engage in Tapasya (austerities) in an attempt to wed Lord Vishnu here and there, but she was compelled to wed Shankhachuda ( Jalandhara). Shankhachuda was Sudama (a Lord Vishnu Sewak/devotee/reside) in a former life. Shankhachuda was born from Vishu's body because Sudama was cursed by Radha to reincarnate as a Danava for some reason.
He was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and was strong from the moment of his natural birth from Vishnu. Shankhachuda was a very good person and a devotee of Lord Vishnu. He was the Danavas' leader (giant). Lord Brahma advises him to wed Tulsi in order to gain authority, and he did so. (Lord Brahma is aware that Shankhachuda and Tulsi are natural offspring of Lord Vishnu, just as Goddess Laxmi is.)
Shankhachuda declared a conflict with the devatas. Under his command, he defeated numerous gods and even took Svarga (Heaven) and extracted all the gods from it. All the gods flocked to Lord Shiva for protection and assistance in regaining their respect and dominion. Finally, Shankhachuda declared a conflict with Lord Shiva to establish his reign over Kailash Parvat (Mount Kailash). Lord Shiva also declared war on him in order to regain the respect and throne of God.
Devatas and Danavas (God and Giant) fought for a very long period, but the outcome was not in sight. Lord Brahma advises Lord Vishnu to be shielded by Shankhachuda’s virtue and his bride, Tulsi Pativrata (purity), in order to preserve their union. He is invincible in combat. Therefore, breaking Tulsi Pativrata would be helpful if you wanted to defeat Danavas.
When Lord Shiva and Shankhachuda were engaged in combat once, Lord Vishnu went to Tulsi in the guise of Shankhachuda, his opposite, and they had physical contact. Lord Shiva, meantime, killed Shankhachuda because Tulsi Pativrata Kawach (armor) was no longer protecting him. Tulsi began to have doubts that Shankhachuda was not always present with her after Shankhachuda passed away. He must be another person. She begged him to show her his true face as she took in his appearance.
As his avatar, Lord Vishnu appears. She is aware that her Pativrata was destroyed by Lord Vishnu today (purity). She denounced Lord Vishnu in her rage, claiming that “I was a devotee of yours and even her husband. We constantly pray for you. You don't have any sensations or emotions because your idol statue is made of stone. I curse you, saying that because you destroyed my Pativrata and were the cause of my husband's demise, you turned into a stone”.
She is told by Lord Vishnu that you are merely her disciple and an avatar of Goddess Laxmi and that he wants to remove the curse placed on Sudama by Radha, who later assumed the form of Shankhachuda to lead the Danavas. Tulsi fired and destroyed herself after hearing that, declaring, "I don't want to leave with my husband."
Lord Krishna took the curse of the Tulsi plant and went to the Kali Gandi River and became a stone. And the blessing that she would continue to be with Lord Vishnu on Earth in the form of the Tulsi plant.
Lord Vishnu's incarnation is Shaligram, while Goddess Laxmi's incarnation is Tulsi. A residence where Tulsi and Shaligram are present are both blessed by Laxmi Narayan. As a result, Shaligram and Tulsi are wed in Hindu mythology.
CLICK HERE TO BUY NATURAL SHALIGRAM STONE.
How to worship the Shaligram Stone?
Shaligram is the shapeless Swaroop of Lord Vishnu. One must perform a daily Salagrama puja if they set the Salagrama Sila in their home's puja altar because this holy stone contains Lord Vishnu's divine energies. Shaligram is "Jagrut" in nature (awakened), hence no Pran Prathistha Puja ceremonies or invocation are necessary.
However, a small act of adoration and daily reverence is necessary. This serves to energize Shaligram's energies and convey happiness and hope to all who reside there. Be careful to install a Shaligram on a copper plate and offer prayers to it if you plan to use one at home. After the puja, be sure to provide fresh flowers and food along with a new Tulsi leaf next to the Shaligram.
Shaligram can be worshipped in a variety of ways at home. Let us learn one way to worship them.
- Do the Abhishekam of the Shaligram Ji first, with either holy water or just regular water.
- Then Abhishekam it with Panchamrita (a concoction of honey, sugar, cow milk, curd, and ghee), abhishekam it again with plain water, and wipe it down with a clean cloth.
- On Shaligram Ji, now apply the Chandan (Sandalwood) Tika.
- Offer flowers, and Tulsi leaves.
- Light a Diya (a lamp often constructed of clay with a cotton wick dipped in ghee or oils) in front of the Shaligram stone.
- Chant the Lord Vishnu mantra “Om Namo Narayana, Om Vishnu Hari Narayan,” or any other that you are familiar with continuously.
(It should be chanted at least 21 times, ideally 108 times.) The idea is to pray with all purity and nobility of the heart. The ingredients and items used to do so are merely just mediums. So, if an item is not readily available, just a dedicated pooja would do. Every day, the exact same puja can be offered.
Maintaining a Shankha (Conch) next to Shaligram Shila is always a great idea. Lord Vishnu's appurtenances are the chakra, Padma (flower), Gada (mace), and shankha (conch).
CLICK HERE TO BUY NATURAL SHALIGRAM STONE.
Different types of Shaligram Stone:
The Vishnu Puran listed various Shaligram Shila types. They are all Lord Vishnu's incarnations. Numerous Sudarshana Chakras on it give it the name Shaligram.
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 avatar
4) Narsimha 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.
Different Shaligram stones
The Kali Gandaki River in Muktinath, Nepal, contains a variety of Shaligram species.
- Keshava Shaligram,
- Narayana Shaligram,
- Laxmi Narayan Sudarshan 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,
There are many other names for the Shaligram stone. The four appurtenances of Lord Vishnu—Chakra, Padma, Gada, and Shankha—which make up the Shaligram structure are what give it its name.
CLICK HERE TO BUY NATURAL SHALIGRAM STONE.
Which one is the ideal Shaligram for worship at home?
There are various Shaligram varieties. You can worship any Shaligram among them because they are all the Lord's avatars. There is no restriction on the number of Shaligrams you can worship; you are free to worship any number of Shaligrams. Shaligram comes in several sizes, and you can worship any size.
How do you recognize the genuine Shaligram Shila?
Nowadays, it's difficult for the average person to recognize the original Shaligram. False goods constructed of black cement or connected are often sold. However, very few people really sell Shaligram stones. When making a purchase, Shaligram, there are a few fundamental considerations that you should bear in mind:
- Shaligram is always asymmetrical in both size and shape due to its nature. It is not original if someone offers you a Shaligram that is the same size and form.
- There are also Shaligram malas on the market that have the same size and shape. Due to the drill holes and impossibility of an exact size, such mala cannot be real. Shaligram should only be used for worship at home and in temples, never worn around the neck.
- Shaligram from nature is suitable for worship. God-shaped Shaligram Shila is being sold by many people. So, they caused Shaligram to be destroyed in its natural state.
- Let's suppose that after you worshipped Shaligram Shila, it breaks, cracks, or continues to break. It is beneficial to worship it even then since it retains its hopeful spirit.
- Additionally, if you plan to make an online purchase, research the website's owner and some reliable internet reviews. Real reviews help you understand the website's service and product quality.
Benefits of Shaligram stone
The Shaligram is a god that is revered. The sins of all previous incarnations are thought to be removed from the soul via sila.
- According to many Puranas, worshipping the Shaligram grants the worshipper material luxuries, a long life, great health, and success in all endeavors.
- A devotee finds peace of mind, help their minds become calmer, and fosters clarity of thought by keeping and worshipping the Shaligram at home.
- A devotee who worships a Shaligram is granted the courage, self-assurance, and protection from all types of negative energy.
- According to the Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and other Vedic Scriptures, a devotee who worships Shaligram is blessed with good health, wealth, success, a compatible spouse, and progeny.
- The Padma Purana states that those who worship the Salagrama with complete devotion will be able to end the cycle of birth and death and reach Vaikuntha or Moksha. Shaligram aids in the elimination of all barriers and constraints as well as the accomplishment of desires.
- It is intended that worshipping the Salagrama will improve one's spiritual life.
- It is said that drinking the water that was used to bathe Holy Shaligram will provide relief from all ailments and disorders. A dying person is said to pass away peacefully, free of all sins from this life and prior lives if the water is presented to them.
Benefits of praying at home with a Shaligram stone:
The six blessings of life—righteous living, wealth, protection, pleasures, and spiritual blessing—are the main reasons Shaligram Shila is worshipped. However, there are some significant advantages to worshipping Shaligram at home.
- It provides protection from negative energy, removes roadblocks in life, bestows money and health, and brings luck and prosperity.
- Brings in Success, harmony within the family,
- Removal of the Vishnu dosha,
- Protection from bad spirits, and happiness are all benefits of good fortune.
- Increases social standing;
- Removes kundali dosha;
- Helps with a long and prosperous life
- Blesses a person with a child
Meaning of the Shaligram Stone
There are numerous handwritten old holy texts that are part of Hinduism. For instance, there are 108 Upanishads, 18 Puranas, and 4 Vedas. Numerous Puranas stress the importance of the original Shaligram, which Hindus respect and try to put into practice.
Its value of it is said to surpass that of gold, silver, and other precious metals. Additionally, the water that has just been stroked through the real Shaligram Shila will transform into "Amrit" (an immortalizing liquid), which has the power to bypass any illness or bad component of the client's body.
Pay respect (Namaskar) to the Shaligram and cleanse your surroundings and yourself with water from the Ganga Jal or Gandaki rivers. Give the Shaligram a bath in Gangajal, apply a tilak of sandalwood paste to it, and present dhoop or incense sticks as a fragrant offering. There are fresh Tulsi leaves, mala, various flowers, and prasad available. Then you can recite any or all of the following mantras:
- Dhyayami Devam Lakshmisam Shankha-chakra-gadhadharam Peethambara paridhanam Padhmasannibha lochanam Mandasmitha mukhambhojam madhanayutha Sundaram Maayanirmitha lokaougam megasyamala vigraham Sri Lakshmi Narayanan dhyayami
- Namo Namasthe Karunalaya Namo Namasthe KamalAdhavaya Namo Namasthe Jagatham chasrashtre Namo namaste nathsoka harthre Thrahi maam Karunasindho! Paahi maam Kamalapathe! Thvayi bhakthi: sadhaivasthu mama sarvar Tadhayini (Om) Namo Naarayana Subhamasthu
You can also chant the Shaligram Mantra:
Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam Padmanaabham Suresham
Vishwaadhaaram Gaganasadrasham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam
Lakshmikaantam Kamalanayanam Yogibhirdhyaanagamyam
Vande Vishnum Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanaatham ||
A simple glance at the Shaligram is meritorious and divine. So just Simply bow your head, join your hands, and call out to the Lord even when you don't have time to perform the Shaligram's daily puja rituals.