Saligramas- The Sacred Stone of Liberation
The Lord resides in many places in which He may be worshipped, but of all the places Saligram is the best – Garuda Purana, [1000 CE]
Fossils can tell us rich stories, if we are willing to listen. But it ain’t easy to become a fossil – only a fun-size fraction in a million of the earth’s extinct species; for it takes a great many thousands of years for the fortunate few preserved remains to fossilize, usually under severe catastrophic conditions.
Yet, there are no fossils in the wrong place, and whatsoever have been found have always been in the appropriate place, in the time sequence, according to Richard Dawkins, a distinguished evolutionary biologist.
In that vein, of immeasurable intrigue are the smooth, black, oval-shaped ammonoid fossils of Nepal Himalayas, found in the riverbed of Kali Gandaki, near the temple of Muktinath – called Shaligram shila/Saligram/Salagrama.
I. Scientific Sense: Shaligrams are fossilized shells of ammonites which were a type of mollusks that lived 400 – 65 million years ago.
Carried down through millennia, the fossil stones were formed due to massive geological movements of mega rocks and sea water, which in turn created a high pressure and compressed organic matter.
Paleontology: The Nepal Himalayas are said to contain a variety of ammonite species, of which the Shaligrams are generally comprised of four species of Jurassic ammonites: Blandifordiceras, Haplophylloceras, Perisphictids and Retroceramus.
Thus, Shaligram shilas are carefully identified even today by the beautiful spiral markings that are clearly visible in these peculiar stones.

II. Divine Dispositions; not just amusing artifacts: Why are the spirals so precise, even though their sizes vary?
A majority of the religious South Asian diaspora who follow Hinduism, Buddhism, and Bon, seriously believe that they are not ordinary fossils, but ‘Living Fossils’ of the Lord who is the ‘Protector of the Universe’, naturally imprinted with the symbol of His holy discus.
Known to be sacred objects of worship since the time of saint Adi Shakaracharya {9th century CE}, shaligrams are venerated in many important Temples either as the main idol {murti} itself or alongside the main deity like in Muktinath Temple (Nepal), Sri Krishna Temple (Udupi), Jagannath Temple (Puri), Narayan Temple (Badrinath), Tirumala Temple (Tirupati), Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Thiruvananthapuram), Sri Narasimha Temple (Saligram) and Radha Raman Temple (Vrindavan).
III. Legend & Lore: In Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu Himself is the chief cause of His manifestation, a desire to appear in a form that can be easily taken care of and worshipped by His devotees.
According to Puranic scriptures, Lord Vishnu had to endure a curse to dwell in stones, by Tulsi/Vrinda for testing her chastity despite being His ardent devotee. The Lord who accepts her curse takes the form of a rocky mountain on the banks of river Gandaki (stones from the mountain eroding into the river to be known as Shaligram).
At the same time, Gandaki a female devotee is granted a boon by Lord Brahma to fulfill her wish of carrying Vishnu in her womb as her own offspring. Hence she flows as a river bearing the fossil bed.
It is also said that a worm called Vajrakita cuts into the stones of Shaligram mountain with its sharp teeth to create the spiral impressions (Vishnu’s discus or sudarshan chakra), which then fall into the river as the great Lord Vishnu Himself personified.
The myth further continues that Vishnu as shaligram and Tulsi as tulsi plant (manifestation of Lordess Lakshmi) are married to each other as a sign of restoring her chastity.
This is celebrated as a ceremonial festival till date on Tulsi Vivaah or Tulsi Kalyanam, during the Hindu Kartik month on Prabodhini Ekadashi (11th lunar day) before Kartik Purnima (full moon day).
IV. Powers & Benefits: Worship of these “fossilized deities” marked with Vishnu’s sudharshan chakra, favors spiritual elevation by relieving the devotee from karmic debts (liberation from sins).
Ancient Hindu texts like Skanda Purana, reiterate blessings bestowed upon worshipping the Shaligram at home for a propitious life such as health, wealth, compatible spouse, progeny, intellect, courage, fame, success, good fortune, harmony, peace of mind, clarity of thought, removal of obstacles, protection from negative energies, wish fulfillment and longevity.
How to Worship: these stones of any size can be worshipped right away without requiring primary rituals of consecration, in any manner, but if done so ritualistically then the benefits are supposedly amplified. An even number of shaligrams have to be worshipped always (any number except two), or just one. The stones do not lose their auspiciousness even if broken or cracked, as long as the marks of discus remain intact.
Additionally, drinking the water which was used to bathe Shaligram, can free a person from ailments or diseases, as well as, liberate a dying person from the karmic cycle of birth and death, to help attain salvation.
However, rough and defective Shaligrams are commonly advised to be discarded away as they are bound to bring bad luck. {Also, beware of fake shaligrams being sold; Original ones are asymmetric, and rarely found in hues other than black like yellow, white, brown and blue}

V. Saligram Pilgrimage: Shaligram hunting is a quest for the divine among nature’s treasures.
The pilgrimage usually begins in Pokhara, a touristy city towards west of the capital of Kathmandu.
Upon reaching a dainty village Jomsom (158 km), pilgrims trek through Kali Gandaki valley (Lower Mustang, 3000 meters altitude), known for stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity, including breathtaking views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges.
Further up near the sparse hamlet of Kagbeni (10 km), is where pilgrims personally wade through the river hoping to find the sacral Shaligram shila.
A key destination on this route is Muktinath (16 km), a significant shrine sanctuary, for Hindus {deity Vishnu}, Buddhists {bodhisattva Avalokiteshvar}, and followers of Bon (Jwala Mai – natural gas vent that produces a continuous flame; therefore they believe this is an extraordinary spot where elements of fire, air {winds}, water {river} and stone {shaligram} come together).
The final stop is usually Damodar Kund (4890 meters altitude), a glacial lake in Upper Mustang district (33 km) which is the source of Gandaki river, however movement in this geographically sensitive area is restricted.
Best time to visit: Spring (March – May) and Autumn (September – November) with the required permits and an expert guide.
VI. Classifications & Types: All kinds and sizes of shaligrams are sincerely revered as Lord Vishnu’s incarnations containing His divine energies.
Owing to the plenteous types discovered, they are classified based on:
- Number of Vishnu chakras on the holy stone:
eg. Sudharshan Shaligram (1), Laxmi Narayan Shaligram (2), Basudev Shaligram (5), Dashavatar Shaligram (10), Aniruddha Shaligram (11), Paramatma Shaligram (13).
- Ten Incarnations of Lord Vishnu:
eg. Matsya Shaligram (fish), Varaha Shaligram (boar), Krishna Shaligram, Kalki Shaligram etc.
- Four appurtenances of Lord Vishnu {chakra (discus), padma (lotus), gada (mace), shankh (conch)}:
eg. Keshava Shaligram, Madhava Shaligram, Padmanabha Shaligram, Surya Shaligram and so on.
Effect of Climate Change: Faster glacial melting combined with gravel mining at Gandaki, have raised panic of finding fewer Shaligram shila in the years to come by.
Rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, resulting in changes in river flow and sedimentation, thereby disrupting the delicate ecosystems that sustain these stones, consequentially lead to a decrease in their availability.
With an imminent potential threat lurking over Shaligram traditions, it is essential to realize the immediate need to scale-up conservation efforts to protect both the environment and the cultural practice.
All things considered,
Science is the profound source of Spirituality; hereby
Shaligrams represent a miraculous intersection of the divine with the material world. They provide a tangible link to God’s presence in nature, such that human-beings can cultivate a deeper connection to the cosmos by means of unfaltering faith.
Article by: Sandhya Venkatachalam Thirumaleswamy
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Saligramas- The Sacred Stone of Liberation
The Lord resides in many places in which He may be worshipped, but of all the places Saligram is the best – Garuda Purana, [1000 CE] Fossils can tell […]
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