Devotees of the Hindu religion are known for their firm devotion and that is why they worship their deities in the most beautiful and unique forms. This can be seen in the worship of the Shaligram Shila by the devotees of the Vaishnava tradition. The Shaligram stones are sacred for Hindus because they are considered to be a form of Lord Vishnu who is considered to be the preserver and protector of the universe. They are found near the Gandaki River which flows in Nepal and is one of the largest tributaries of the holy Ganga. The unique thing about them is that they are smooth and shiny and that they are even marked with the impressions of the Sudarshan Chakra which is the divine discus of Lord Vishnu. Mostly Shaligram stones are black but they are found in other hues as well like yellow, red, blue, etc.
As per beliefs in Hinduism Lord Vishnu, she had to take the form of Shaligram stones due to a curse he received.
An asura named Jalandhara wreaked havoc on the Gods. When they asked Lord Shiva to help them he agreed to battle him. However, he was not able to defeat Jalandhara because of the latter’s power that he drew from the immense devotion and loyalty of his wife, Tulsi. When he realized this he sought the help of Lord Vishnu who assumed the form of Jalandhar and appeared before Tulsi. At that time she was preparing for a ritual of remarrying her husband to increase his powers. When she mistook Lord Vishnu for her husband she married him and that broke her loyalty towards her husband. This reduced Jalandhar’s powers and caused Lord Shiva to kill him.
When she realized that the person standing before her was not her husband she asked him to reveal himself. Lord Vishnu appeared in his true avatara and revealed that her husband had been killed. Overcome with grief she cursed Lord Vishnu into becoming a stone. He accepted the curse and granted a boon to Tulsi. He blessed her that she would take the form of a plant in her next life and would be worshiped by everyone. He also said that she would be married to his Shaligram Shila form which would restore devotion and loyalty.
To this day this is followed by Hindus residing in every part of the world in the form of a ceremony called the Tulsi Vivah in which the Tulsi Plant is decked as a bride and is married to the Shaligram stone. This takes place on the Ekadashi of the Kartik month and marks the start of the wedding season in India.
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Shaligram Shilas come in many forms and shapes and each of them has a different name. There are many classifications for different types of Shaligram Shila as well.
One classification is done based on the number of Sudarshan Chakra impressions on the shilas -
Different types of Shaligram Shilas are also classified based on the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu -
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Other different types of Shaligram stones include -
Pradyumna Shaligram and many more
Installing a Shaligram Shila in the house is considered to be very auspicious and is said to bring the blessings of Lord Vishnu to the homeowners.
It blesses them with positivity, brings peace of mind, and protects them from negative energies.
It grants prosperity, material wealth, and success in all their endeavors.
Consuming water that has stoked the Shaligram stone removes all ailments from one’s body and absolves one of all sins.
If this water is given to a dying person then she or he is said to attain salvation and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
The Shaligram Shila is so sacred that it can be worshiped even if it is broken as long as the mark of the Chakra remains intact. These stones are already alive with divine energy and that is why the Pran Pratshtha ceremony is not necessary to install the Shila and worship it. It can be worshiped without the ceremony. You can either worship 1 Shaligram stone or if you wish to worship more than 1 Shaligram stone then they should be in even number. While worshiping the Shaligram Shila it must be placed on a copper plate and it must be offered the leaves of the sacred Tulsi plant.
The Shaligram stone is the manifestation of Lord Vishnu among many of the other forms that he has taken time and again. These sacred stones are found only near river Gandaki in Nepal and are worshiped ardently by the devotees of Lord Vishnu. There are different types of Shaligram shilas and each of them has a unique appearance. One must ensure that they purchase only genuine and authentic Shaligram stones.
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The Shaligram stone is worshiped and used in Hindu rituals. It brings positivity and prosperity.
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