The Shaligram Stone, also referred to as the Shaligram Shila, stands as the Vaishnavite rendition of the Shivling, holding a special place as a representation of Bhagawan Vishnu himself, deeply revered and worshipped by followers of Vaishnavism.
This sacred stone possesses a serene and tranquil appearance, which aligns seamlessly with the serene nature of Bhagawan Vishnu, known as “Shantakaram” (the Epitome of Tranquility).
According to Shastras, worship of Shree Shaligram represents six values of life;- Righteous living, Wealth, Protection, good health, pleasures, and Spiritual blessing.
According to chapter 20 of Patala Khanda of Padma Purana, The disc found in Dvaravati and the stone found in Gandaki (river), were destroyed in a moment Human’s sins earned during a hundred existences.
This means Shaligram stones found in the Gandaki River are the purest.
It further states:
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रो वेदपतिस्तथा । शालग्रामं पूजयित्वा गृहस्थो मोक्षमाप्नुयात् ॥
A brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, or sudra householder, who is on the path of the Vedas, would obtain Moksha on worshipping a Salagrama.
Adi Shankaracharya also referred to the Shaligrama stone as the abode of Vishnu on two occasions. One instance is found in the Sixth Anuvaka of the Taittirya Upanishad:
According to it, hridaya–akasa, the bright space in the heart, is the proper place for the contemplation and immediate perception of that Brahman whose limbs the other Gods are, just as the Shaligrama stone is the proper place for the contemplation of Bhagawan Vishnu.
Furthermore, the reference can be found in the Brahma Sutra Bhasya which clearly states that Bhagawan Vishnu is near to us in the Shaligrama-stone.
According to the Prakriti Khanda of Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Bhagawan Vishnu becomes a stone due to the curse of Tulasi.
Brahma Vaivarta Purana further states the significance of shaligram stone as follows-
शालग्रामशिला यत्र तत्र संनिहितो हरिः। तत्रैव लक्ष्मीर्वसति सर्वतीर्थसमन्विताः।।
यानि कानि च पापानि ब्रह्महत्यादिकानि च। तानि सर्वाणि नश्यन्ति शालग्रामशिलार्चनात्॥
“Wherever the stone of Salagrama is kept, Bhagawan Vishnu with Laksmi also resides there. By adoring the stone of Salagrama one is relieved of all the sins.”
शालग्रामशिलातोयं नित्यं भुङते च यो नरः। सुरेप्सितं प्रसादं च जन्ममृत्युजराहरम्।।
तस्य स्पर्श घ वाञ्छन्ति तीर्थानि निखिलानि च। जीवन्मुक्तो महापूतोऽप्यन्ते याति हरेः पदम्।।८७।।
“The one who sips the water of the Salagrama stone and also consumes the prasada of the god, he/she will skip the old-age troubles and is freed from birth and death, and moves on to the abode of Bhagawan Vishnu.”
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