Salagrama
Sila Rupi Yatra Tisthati Kesavah |
Tatra Devasurayaksa Bhuvanani Catur Dasa || With Keshava in the form of Salagrama sila reside all the devatas, asuaras, yaksas and the fourteen worlds.--- Padma Purana: Lord Shiva states, "My devotees who offer obeisances to the shalagrama even negligently become fearless. Those who adore me while making a distinction between myself and Lord Hari will become free from this offence by offering obeisances to shalagrama. Those who think themselves as my devotees, but who are proud and do not offer obeisances to my Lord Vasudeva, are actually sinful and not my devotees. O my son, I always reside in the shalagrama. Being pleased with my devotion the Lord has given me a residence in His personal abode. Giving a shalagrama, is the best form of charity, being equal to the result of donating the entire earth together with its forests, mountains, and all. Ato'dhisthana Vargesu Suryadisviva Murtisu | Salagrama Silaiva Syad Adhisthanottamam Hareh || The Lord resides in many places in which he may be worshipped, but of all the places Salagrama is the best. --- Garuda Purana Drstva Pranamita Yena Snapita Pujita Tatha | Yajna Koti Samam Punyam Gavam Koti Phalam Bhavet || Lord Siva speaking to Skanda, Any person who has seen Salagram Sila, paid obeisances to Him, bathed and worshipped Him, has achieved the results of performing ten million sacrifices and giving ten million cows in charity. --- Skanda Purana - Haribhakti vilas Pujito'ham Na Tair Martyair Namito'ham Na Tair Narah | Nakrtam Martya Loke Yaih Salagram Silarcanam || Lord Siva speaking to Skanda states, In this mortal world, if anyone does not worship Salagram Sila, I do not at all accept any of their worship and obeisances. Lord Vishnu states that, Any shila from the place of shalagramas can never be inauspicious though cracked, chipped, split in two though still in one piece, or even broken asunder.--- Brahma Purana Lord Shiva also states, Even if a shila is cracked, split, or broken it will have no harmful effect if it is worshiped with attention and love by a devotee. It further states there that the Supreme Lord Hari, along with His divine consort, Lakshmi, live in the shalagrama that has either only the mark of a cakra, a cakra along with the mark of a footprint, or only a mark resembling a flower garland.--- Skanda Purana Merely by touching a shalagrama one becomes freed from the sins of millions of births, so what to speak of worshiping Him! By shalagrama puja one gains the association of Lord Hari.--- Gautamiya Tantra Shalagramas do not require installation ceremony. When one begins the worship of shalagrama, however he should start with elaborate puja using all articles. The worship of shalagrama is the best form of worship, better than the worship of the sun.--- Skanda Purana Bhaktas should take the charanamrita mixed with Tulasi leaves from the shalagrama in their hand and sip it, sprinkling the balance on their heads. ---Gautamiya Tantra All those holy rivers awarding moksha, such as the Ganga, Godavari and others, reside in the caranamrita of shalagrama.--- Padma Purana Shalagrama should not be placed on the earth or ground and worshiped. ---Sammohana Tantra In puja of shalagrama it is unnecessary to call the Lord for worship or request Him to return His abode upon completion.--- Shrimad Bhagavatam Sri Narada Muni states, It is impossible to fully explain the importance of Tulasi leaves (Holy Basil) in the worship of shalagrama, as Tulasi is the most beloved consort of Hari in the form of shalagrama.--- Brihan-naradiya Purana Lord Shiva tells Parvati, He who takes the charanamrita of shalagrama destroys all sinful reactions at their roots, even the killing of a brahmana.--- Skanda Purana By taking the remnants of foodstuffs offered to shalagrama, one will get the result of performing many sacrifices.--- Skanda Purana Shree Saligram Sila-stotram Yudhistiro Uvacha King Yudhistir asked Shree Dev Dev devesa Devarchanamutamam Tat sarbam srotaumichhami Bruhime Purushotamam / 1/ My dear Supreme Lordship Purushotam, I request you know the significance of the saligram sila. Shree Bhagavan Uvacha - The Lord Replied Gandakyam Chotare Tire Girirajshchya Dakshine ! Das Yojan Vistirnam Mahachhetra Vasundhara //2// Saligramo Vabet Devo Devi Dwara Bati Vabet Uvayo Sangamo Yatra Mutistratrana Sansaya //3// Saligramo Sila Yatra Yatra dwara Bati Sila Uvayo Sangamo Yatra Mutistratrana Sansaya //4// The mountains known as the Himalaya are situated on the bank of river Gandaki. In the south of this Himalaya a big and beautiful tract of land is situated where you can find saligrams sila. This is the place where Devi Dwarabati begins. This place is called by those who know, Sri Mukti Kshetra. Ajanma Krita Papanam Prayaschitam Ya Ichati Saligram Silawari Paphari Namastute //5// Akal Mritu Haranam Sarvabyadhi Binasanam Vishu Padodakam Pitwa Shirasha Dharyamyaham //6// Sankha Madhya Sthitam Toyyam Vramitam Keshavopari Angalagnam Manukshanam Bramha Hatya Dikam Dayat //7// Saligram Silas found here are very precious and significant. These silas are considered to be directly Lord Vishnu Himself and the person who worships or even keeps in the house or bathes the Salagram and drinks water or pour those waters on their head, that man becomes free from all sin and it prevents from untimely death. That person becomes free from all sin and all material disease. The most feared sin of Bramahatya ( killing of a Brahmin) is also washed away simply by worshiping the Saligram. Snano Dakam Piben Nityam Chakrankita Sirot Vabam Partkshallya Sudham Tatoyam Bramha Hatya Byapohati //8// Agnistomasahasnani Vajapaya Satanicha Samyak Phalama Bapnoti Visnornai Vedya Vakshina //9// That person who does snan (bathing) of saligram with chakra everyday get gets rid of all sin like Bramahatya, and if he drinks such water daily gets the equal boon of thousand of havan (fire sacrifices) of Lord Vishnu. Naivadyayuktam Tulsim cha Misritam Vishesta Pada Jalen Vishnu Yoshnati Nityam Purato Murari Prapnoti Yazya Uta Koti Pundyam //10// The person, who worships saligram with Tulsi leaf daily, gets the boon of million Yajna also. Khandita Sphutita Viina Vandi Dakdhya Tathi Va Cha Saligram Sialyatra Tatra Dosho Na Vidyate//11// Even if a Salagram is damaged or broken, all sila are good to worship Namantra Pujanam Naiva Natirtham Na cha Bhabanaa Na stutir Na uppachars cha Saligram Silar cha ne //12// Bramha Hatya Dikam Papam Manobak Karya Sambhamam Shirgram Nachyati Tatsarvam Saligram Silrchana//13// With out worship, with out offering any sweets or with out any pilgrims - only chanting this saligram mantra is enough to wash away all sins and is the fulfillment of all desire. Nanabarna Mayam Chiva Nana Bhogena Vestitam Tathavarprasadena Laxmi Kantam Balamhayam //14// Narayanorbhabo Dev Chakramadya Cha Karmana Tathavarprasadena Laxmi Kantam Balamhayam//15// There are various kinds of size and shape of saligram in which Lord Vishnu is situated representing all the different incarnations. Krishane Sila Taneyatra Susmam Cakram Cha Drisyate Saovagyam Santatim Dhatye Sarva Sakshaym Dadhaticha//16// Good Luck increases and one gets satisfaction from children, and in every way in every aspect, all good enters one's life by worshipping saligram black in colour with little chakras. Vashu Devschya Chinhani Distwa Papai Pramuchyate Sridhar Sukare Bame Harivbarnatu Disyate//17// Varaha Rupenam Devam Kurmangai Rapi Chinhitam Gopadam Tatra Dissheta Varaham Vamanam Tatha //18// A person who gets the chance to see the Vasudev sila, that person he became free from sins. Shreedhar, Sukar, Vamanadev, Harivarna,Varaha, Kurma and lots of other type of saligram are available also. Some Saligram has marking of cow's foot marks and some that of Narshimha Avatara (half lion half man). Pitavarnam Tu Devanam Rakta Varnam Vayabhaham Narashinho Vawet Devo Mokshadam Cha Prakrititam//19// Sankha Chakra Gada Kurma Sankho Yatra Pradisyate Sankha Varnaschya Devanaman Vame Devaschya Lakshanam//20// Damodarm Tatha Sthulam Madhya Chakram Pratisthitam Purna Dwarena Sankrina Pita Rekha Cha Drischyate //21// Chhatrakare Vabet Rajam Vartule Cha Mahasreeya Chipite Cha MahaDukham Sulagretu Ranam Dhrubam//22// Yellowish Saligram is very auspicious as Lord Himself (Pitambara) but reddish saligram is considered to bring fearful situations and is dangerous to worship. The sacred symbols of Sankha (conch), Chakra (disc), Gada (club), Kurma (tortoise) are printed on the saligram stones. Saligram with Sankha (conch) sign is considered to be Vamanrup (Vamandev) of Lord Vishnu, where as chakra in the middle is consider as Damodar saligram. Saligrams of different shapes; round, umbrella shape which has white lines are also available; worshipping this kind of saligram gives wealth and reputation in society. Flat shaped saligram creates sorrow in a family and saligram with sharp front side creates war - fighting and tension in family. Lalate Shesha Vogastu Siropari Sukanchanam Chakrakanchanavarnanam VamaDevaschya Lakshnam//23// Vamaparbe Cha Bai Cakre Krishna Varnas tu Pingalam Laxinarshimhadevanam Prithak Varnastu Drisyate//24// Saligrams which have chakra around the head or in the forehead and rest parts are clean and smooth is considered very auspicious and this type is to be considered as Vamandev sila. Yellowish or black in left side with a chakra is consider as Laxmi Narshimha sila. Lamboste Cha Dalidram Syat Pingale Hani Revacha Lagna Cakre Vabet Baydhir Bidare Maranamdrubam//25// Worshipping a long shape sila create poverty, and saligram having lagna (rising) chakra create long term chronic diseases even death. Padom Dakamcha Nirmalyam Mastake Dharayet Shada Visnor Dristam Vakshitabyam Tulsi Jal Misritam//26// Kalpa Koti Sahasrani Vaikunthe Basate Sada Saligram Sila Vinur Hatya Koti Vinasanam//27// Any person who offers a Tulasi leaf while worshipping the saligram gets salvation and can stay at Vaikuntha (the place where Vishnu live - means free from anxiety) for million years. Tasmat Sampujayet Dhyatwa Pujitam Chapi Sarvada Saligram Silas Trotram Yah Pathecha Dijotam//28// Sa Gakshet Parmam Sthanam Yatra Lokeshworo Hari Sarva Pap Binir Muktwa Vishnu Lokam Sa Gashati//29// Therefore always worship saligram, and chant saligram stotra which is very beneficial for mankind. We can get one a higher position on Vishnu Lok (Vaikuntha) simply by doing so. All sins will also be destroyed and it is guaranteed that one gets to Vishnulok simply from this process of worshiping the saligram. Dusovataro Devanam Prithak Varnastu Disyate Ipsitam Labate Rajyam Vishnu Pooja Manukramat//30// Kotyohi Vramhahatyanamgamyagamya Kotaya Ta Sarva Nasamayamti Vishu Nai Vidya Vakshanat//31// Vishno Pador Dakam Pitwa Koti Janmaghanasanam Tasma Dasta Gunam Papam Ghumou Vindupatnat//32// There are various types of description available for Lord Vishnus ten primary incarnation therefore the Lords incarnation Shree Saligrams worship, the Prayer to the Saligram and drinking the Lord's bathing water wash away sins of million lives and one gets great prosperity, wealth and reputation through this, so everyone everywhere the Saligram should be worshiped. Iti Shree Vishotara Purane Shree Saligram Sila-stotram Sumpurnam!!..
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