Shaligram Energized Black is the most sacred stone and is worshipped by Vaishnavites as Lord Vishnu resides in the Shaligram. The Shaligrams are black-colored fossil stones and are characterized by the presence of discus marks created by the ammonites.
The source of Shaligram is the Kali-Gandaki, called Damodar-Kunda in Nepal. The lower Gandaki is popularly known as Mukti-Natha-Kshetra, also called Shaligrama-Kshetra. The sacred stones are largely found on the banks of Kali-Gandaki.
According to the religious text of Devi Bhagwat, to kill the demon Jalandhar Lord Vishnu needed to destroy Jalandhar's wife Brindha’s sati dharma. When he did that Sati Brindha gave four curses to Lord Vishnu to become stone, grass, tree, plant. To wash away this curse Lord Vishnu took four avatars or incarnations.
He became stone (Sri Shaligram), grass (Kush), tree (Pipal), and plant (Tulsi). From this time onwards the Shaligrams are considered to be most auspicious to behold and to worship.
According to the Vaishnavas, the Shaligram is the “dwelling place of Lord Vishnu '' and anyone who keeps it must worship it daily. Lord Krishna himself mentions the qualities of Shaligram to ‘Yudhishtir’ in the Mahabharata.
All the Shaligrams are considered auspicious. They are worshipped in temples, monasteries, and households all over the world, as visible and natural emblems of Vishnu.
They are also worshipped in religious functions like house-warming (Graha-Pravesh, Vastu-puja), pacifying rites of different sorts, marriages since it draws off all negative energies.
Benefits of Shaligram Energized Black
- The use of the Shaligram Shila or Stone is similar to the use of ‘Lingam’ as an abstract symbol of Lord Shiva.
- Shaligrama worshiped with great devotion and faith makes the body pure and such a person is worthy of being propitiated.
- In times of solar or lunar eclipse, whatever ritual is undertaken becomes all the more effective when done in front of a Shaligram stone.
- The rites of expiation of sins or prayaschitta become effective more by drinking the water in which Shaligram stones are washed than by gifts or fasting or by observances of various kinds.
- Merely looking at a Shaligrama stone would wash away the negative energies of the sadhak.
- The aura from the Shaligrama cures many diseases including ignorance.
How To Energize Shaligram?
Shaligrama becomes more powerful when energized by mantras and Shaligrama sanskar. The Shaligrama sanskar is a secret subject and very few persons can energize the Shaligrama in the right way.
The Sanskar includes Shaligram Staphna, Digbandana, Bhutashudhi, Nyasa, Mudras, and invoking the Lord Vishnu with different mantras.
