What is Shaligram stone??

What is its importance??

Shaligram is a type of fossil stone. On religious grounds it is used to invoke God as God’s representative.

Shaligram is originally obtained from the Kali Gandaki River originating from Damodar Kund located in Nepal. That is why Shaligram is also called Gandaki Nandan.

Vaishnavas (Hindus) worship a spherical, usually black, ammonoid fossil found in the sacred river Gandaki as a representative of Vishnu. Shaligram is a famous name of Lord Vishnu. Which is the name he got after the curse of Goddess Vrinda.

Shaligram is also known as Salagram in Hinduism. Shaligram is also related to a village named Salgram. This village is situated on the banks of river named Gandaki in Nepal.

Shivalinga and Shaligram are considered to be the Deity form of God and according to the Puranas only this Deity form of God should be worshipped. There are lakhs of temples of Shivling in India, but there is only one temple of Shaligramji.

In Hinduism, there is a common practice of worshiping anthropomorphic religious idols. But before these idols, Lord Brahma was worshiped in the form of conch, Vishnu was worshiped in the form of Shaligram and Lord Shiva was worshiped in the form of Shivalinga. Lord Krishna has said in the 5th verse of the 12th chapter of Srimad Bhagwat Geeta…

“Progress is very difficult for those whose minds are attached to the indirect, impersonal qualities of God. It is always difficult for a living being with a body to progress in this discipline.”

🔷️ Location of Shaligram….
The only temple of Shaligram is located in Muktinath area of ​​Nepal. This is one of the major temples of Vaishnava sect. Muktinath’s journey is quite difficult. It is believed that from here people get freedom from all kinds of troubles.

To visit Muktinath from Kathmandu one has to go to Pokhara. You can go to Pokhara by road or air, from here you have to go to Jomsom. You can take a helicopter or flight from Jomsom to Muktinath. To reach Pokhara by road, total distance is 200 km. Distance has to be covered.

🔷️ How is Shaligram done….
Like Shivling, Shaligram is also rare. Most of the Shaligrams are found in Muktinath area of ​​Nepal, on the banks of Kali Gandaki River. Apart from black and brown Shaligram, there is also a Shaligram with white, blue and golden aura. But it is very rare to find a golden and lit Shaligram. In the complete Shaligram, the shape of the Chakra of Lord Vishnu is naturally formed.

🔷️ Type of Shaligram….
There are approximately 33 types of Shaligrams, out of which 24 types of Shaligrams are considered to be related to the 24 incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that all these 24 Shaligrams are related to the 24 Ekadashi fasts of the year.

According to the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, if Shaligram is round then it is the Gopal form of Lord Vishnu. The fish shaped Shaligram is considered to be the symbol of the Matsya incarnation of Shri Hari. If Shaligram is in the shape of a tortoise then it is considered a symbol of the tortoise and Kurma incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The circles and lines emerging on the Shaligram indicate other incarnations of Vishnuji and his clan in the form of Shri Krishna.