Astroshastra offers an exotic and rare collections
of Shaligrams (saligram, saligrama or shalagrams) from Gandaki
river in Nepal. Shaligram represents a natural form of Lord
Vishnu. Shaligrams are worshiped in temples and households
all over the world for the blessings of Lord Vishnu and goddess
Lakshmi.
The Salagramas are specifically described as fossil-stones
which have taken shape in the Gandaki-river, and as characterized
by the presence of discus marks (‘gandakyudbhava-vajra-kita-krta-chakra-samayukta-sila).
Salagrama stones are obtained only from the river Gandaki,
which is a Himalayan stream, celebrated since antiquity as
Narayani, Salagrami, Hiranvati and Hiranyavati. The epic Mahabharata
speaks of its sanctity (Bhishma-parva): it contains in itself
the waters of all the holy-rivers (Vana-parvan, 84, 113),
and it is the abode of Agni, the fire-god.
Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima are said to have crossed this river
on their way from India-prastha to Girivraja. The puranas
also describe it as a sacred stream in which all the gods
and titans abide (‘punyodaka surasura-nishevita’).
By merely looking at it, one would eliminate all his mental
defilement’s, by touching it his bodily sins are burnt
up, and by sipping its water the verbal demerits are thrown
out.
By worshiping Maha Vishnu in the form of shaligrama , one
gains the merit of performing a thousand Rajasuya sacrifices.
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