Salagrama Shila also known as Shaligram Sila or Saligram sila is considered to be Lord Sree Hari Vishnu embodied as a Swayambhu incarnation on earth. The word Shila can be plainly translated as 'stone' and Shaligram is a much less well known name of Sree Hari Vishnu. The derivation of the nam
e Salagrama Shila is traced to a remote village in Nepal where Vishnu Bhagavan is called by the name of Salagraman. In Nepal, This place is from where, on the bank of Gandaki that the holy stones Salagrama Shila are picked up.
It is a proven fact based on archaeological and other scientific examination that Salagrama Shilas are 140- 165 Million Years old. That itself make it something totally different from oblects that we see and touch everyday in this materialistic world. As per belief, An insect, vajrakeeta, inspired by the divine will of Lord Vishnu makes markings on a Salagrama Shila. The identification of a Deity is done based on the identification marks on the Salagrama Shila, like the number, size and shape of chakras, the openings on the Salagrama Shila, color, shape and how one feels upon touching it.
The Salagrama Shila which are a type of ammonite fossils are worshipped as incarnation of Lord Vishnu himself. They are identified as different forms of Bhagavan Vishnu by the special markings on them which may resemble Vishnu's ayudhas and alankaras like the mace or the gada, conch or the shankh, lotus or the padma and disc or the sudarshana chakra. Various forms of Bhagavan Vishnu like the Janardana, Padmanabha, Keshava, Madhusoodana,Trivikrama, Madhava, Govinda, Narayana, Narasimha deva, Varaha deva and Vamana deva, Krishna, Rama etc.. are popular forms of worship. They are of different colors but are mostly dark in hue.
It gives great spiritual experience to bathe the Salagrama Shila, dress up the deity, Offer alankaras, and naivedya and to have a detailed aradhana procedure. Salagrama Shila are considered to be arcavataras, which means the deity is eternally present in the Salagrama Shila always. Padma Purana, and Sreemad Bhagavatham declares that Salagrama Shila is Bhagavan Vishnu personified. Hence the Shila may be carried along with when travelling etc… Also just like people, no two Silas in this world will be the same in looks and attributes. Each has got a different personality and bhava to it.
It is said, You can never choose a Salagrama Shila, whereas a Shila Should choose you instead!
Would love to add more info in the coming days.
Shreekrishnaarppanamastu
//Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare//
