Characteristics of the Salagrama-Sila

Colour:

The sacred silas may be white, yellow, red, black, green, tawny or ash-coloured; they may contain stains, and they may be multi-coloured. The colours might be excessive or faded; the colours may otherwise be difficult to determine. The stones occur thus in many colours and forms.

The Salagrama-sila is described as the ‘field’ for the presence of Godhead. The differentiation in this regard is dependent on the colours.

Vasudeva-salagrama is white in hue;
Sridhara-salagrama is yellow;
Vishnu-salagrama is black;
Narayana-salagrama is greenish (blue-black) in colour;
Narasimha-salagrama is red;
Damodara is represented by the blue-coloured
Vamana-salagrama is like the atasi flower in colour.
Multi-coloured stones indicate Ananta
Adhoksaja is bright white in colour.
The stones which are reddish brown like honey represent Brahma
Tawny coloured sila represents Narasimha.

The colours have their own effects and influences.

The ash-coloured salagrama sila is especially suitable for worship by ascetics. The silas, which are stained, bring decay and destruction, the multi-coloured stones are also unfit for worship, unless it be Ananta-Salagrama. Highly coloured stones cause misery; the faded colours destroy the lineage; the colours that are indistinct and uncertain make for death.
The tawny-coloured stone is consort-killer; the bluish-stone brings wealth; the black-stones cause nourishment and prosperity; and the red-stone brings in sovereignty. Excessively red-stone, however, deals death; the fair-coloured stone (viz. White) bestows wealth; multi-coloured stone makes for prosperity, while the faded colours are not useful when worshipped. White coloured stones facilitate the obtainment of emancipation, and the stone with indistinct and uncertain colours destroy everything.

Shape and Size:

The Salagrama silas also differ with regard to their circumference (parimana), which is measured in terms of the size of the aperture.
The wise one will tie round the middle of the Salagrama-stone a thread; and if the aperture is located at the spot which marks one-eight of the thread’s length, then the stone is of superior variety; it may also be of the middling variety. However, the stone having an opening in the one-third part is to be rejected. (However, Brahmanda-purana has a different prescription: There are different effects in terms of locations of operators. If the aperture is downward, it is terrible; the aperture on top will be useful only in magical rites of driving away the enemy; The apertures being even are especially meritorious, while the aperture on the sides will take away fortune. If the aperture is crooked, it causes disease; if long-mouthed it devours everything (viz. Makes one impoverished). One should carefully examine the stone before ascertaining the deity-specification.

A large Salagrama is by definition eight finger-breadths (of the worshipper) in width; larger than that is recognized as ‘very large’ and is regarded as unsuitable for a householder to worship.

Deity Specification:

The features of Salagrama-silas are deity specific and attributed to the Dasavtar. The basic typology of the Salagrama is in accordance with the ‘chaturvyuha’ ideology. All the innumerable deity-specific Salagramas branch out initially from the four vyuha-deities: Vasudeva, Samkarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha; and these four originate from the ‘Para’ aspect of Godhead.

Matsya-murti-salagrama has the form like the head of the fish; a chakra is seen on the face; there are also marks of Sri-vatsa, dots and scratches resembling vanamala (garland of wild-flowers)

Maha-kurma-murti-salagrama is round, shaped like a tortoise, and has marks of vanamala, lotus and discus; its colour is green and it has golden spots.

Varaha-murti-salagrama is long-mouthed, is blue-black in colour, has an encircling mark of earth, and is distinguished by a shining chakra at the opening.

Buddha-murti-salagrama has two apertures, and two chakras in the interior. The chakras are upward-inclined at the head, or they are at the sides. The stone may be multi-coloured.

Narasimha-salagrama has an elongated mouth, tawny-hued, a longish chakra and a big belly (viz. Middle portion). This stone is suitable for worship by ascetics.

Lakshmi-Narasimha-salagrama has a chakra on its left side, is black in colour and has spots (viz. Dots). Its worship makes for worldly prosperity as well as emancipation.

Vamana-murti-salagrama is shining blue in hue; it is small in size and perfectly round in shape; it has marks of vana-mala and lotus.

Parasu-rama-murti-salagrama is distinguished by the line-scratches resembling an axe; it is dark blue-green like the blade of the durva-grass; it is high in stature and is adorned with a chakra at its navel.

Sri-rama-murti-salagrama is large, elongated and has spots on its body; there are also line-markings resembling bow and arrow; there is a chakra at the navel, and dark stone has many fissures.

Bala-rama-murti-salagrama has marks of the plough-share, and of the pestle-like weapon on it; it is whitish in colour, and has line-scratches of vana-mala; there are also dots like honey drops. This is the abode of Samkarshana.

Sridhara-murti-salagrama is white in colour and exceedingly smooth to touch. It has a thousand (viz. Many) spots on the surface, and also a chakra.

Kalki-murti-salagrama is recognized by the line-markings resembling a horse, and the weapon called Kunta (lance). It is white in colour, and has a long mouth.

Sri-Krishna-murti-salagrama has markings of the five weapons (conch called Panchajanya, discus called Sudarsana, mace called Kaumodaki, bow called Sarnga, and sword called Nandaka), vana-mala and lotus; is has a minute chakra.

Sri-Gopala-murti-salagrama has the markings of the five holy weapons (mentioned above); it has no apertures; it is either round in shape or elongated; a vana-mala mark is seen on it.
This salagrama can have identification marks of a single deity or of a combination. It may be longish in shape, and is characterized by a big belly (viz. Middle portion being big); it has scratches resembling flute-openings.

Dadhi-Vamana-murti-salagrama has a downward chakra at the top which are spots like honey drops, the stone has a bluish tinge as well as reddish hue.

Dadhi-Gopala-vamana-salagrama has a chakra on top, with spots like honey-drops at its upper end.

Santana-Gopala-murti-salagrama has marks of cudgel and horn (which cowherds carry) on its sides, and at the head position can be seen the mark of a flute. The worship of this stone ensures progeny. This stone is blue in colour and elongated in shape; it has an aperture that resembles the elephant-goad, a chakra.

Pradyumna-murti-salagrama is of the colour of a hibiscus flower (viz. Red) and is marked by lines and scratches resembling vana-mala, bow, arrow and lotus. Its worship bestows whatever one longs for.

Aniruddha-murti-salagrama has the same characteristics as the above (viz. Pradyumna murti), but is recognized be an aperture with a minute chakra, and by marks of golden and silver lines.

Hayagriva-murti-salagrama has the form of a ripe jambu-fruit (rose apple, Eugenia Jambolana), with a face in the shape of an elephant god; it has also longish spots on its body.

Srihari-murti-salagrama shines like fresh green grass, has uneven chakras and there are marks on it resembling vana-mala.

Lakshmi-narayana-murti-salagrama has a low or depressed look, and is perfectly round, and cold to touch; it has a chakra on its head; there are two apertures and there are four chakras either to the left or to the right.

Padmanabha-murti-salagrama has a lotus-like chakra at its navel, and is of the colour of a rose apple (Eugenia Jambolana).

Govinda-murti-salagrama is dark blue like the blade of a fresh durva grass; it has ten apertures and twenty chakras; and there are scratches on its body that look like vana-mala. The worship of this stone secures the fulfillment of all desires.

Visvarupa-murti-salagrama is known by its twelve apertures and twenty-four chakras. Its worship will bring about worldly prosperity as well as final beatitude.

Ananta-murti-salagrama is always cold to touch, but shines like a blaze of fire; it has an even number of minute chakras, with marks of the classical five weapons of Vishnu (conch, discus, mace, bow and sword), and also of Sri-vatsa-mark on the chest.

Lakshmi-Narayana-murti-salagrama is hard to obtain, and its worship quickly fulfills ones desires. At the entrance to the aperture are lines that resemble the flying bird Garuda (the vehicle of Vishnu).

Narayana-murti-salagrama is recognized by the shape of the serpent’s hood that seems to surround it. Its worship secures the fulfillment of whatever one seeks for.

Damodara-murti-salagrama is longish in shape, and brilliant in appearance; there are marks on its body of conch, discus, mace and vana-mala.

Trivikrama-murti-salagrama is longish in shape, and brilliant in appearance; there are marks on its body of conch, discus, mace and vanamala.

Janardana-murti-salagrama is characterized by its blue colour and marks of conch, discus and lotus; it is cold like ice; and has a shape like a spear.

Vasudeva-murti-salagrama has the appearance of tranquillity, and shines like moonlight; it bears the marks of the five weapons of Vishnu (conch, discus, mace, bow and sword), and has a chakra at its navel.

Vishnu-murti-salagrama has the dark colour of the Vishnu-kranta flower (Clitoria Ternatea or Evolvulus Alsinoides), the marks of the five weapons of Vishnu (mentioned above), and also of vanamala and lotus.

Achyuta-murti-salagrama is bluish in hue and large in size; it is smooth and has minute chakras; it has marks of vanamala on its body.

Upendra-murti-salagrama is also shining blue in colour, with marks of conch, discus and mace on its body. Its worship will cause happiness and good fortune.

Siva-nabha-murti-salagrama is roundish like an elephant’s body; and in the central portion thick lines are seen. It is hard to obtain, but its worship secures all desires.

Hiranya-garbha-murti-salagrama is blue-black in colour and cold to touch; it has no apertures, but it contains gold within (viz. It has spots in golden colour in the middle portion of the stone).

Madana-gopala-salagrama is partly black in colour and partly reddish; it has a long aperture on its left side; and there are marks of conch, discus, bow and moon.

Janardana-murti-salagrama shines like blue water-lily (utpala, Nymphala caerulea); it is recognized by the vana-mala mark which goes round the stone.
It is elsewhere described as having six apertures and twelve chakras, slippery to touch, and marked by vana-mala.

Lakshmi-narayana-murti-salagrama has two chakras on top and two chakras at the bottom.

Sriman-narayana-salagrama has two chakras on each of its sides.

Sudarsana-murti-salagrama is round in shape or sometimes oval; there is a single chakra seen at the aperture; and there are spots on the body of the stone. Elsewhere, this is described as equipped with two chakras at the top, and as exceedingly ferocious in aspect, and as such worthy of worship only by ascetics.

Vanamala-murti-salagrama is of tawny hue, and has an aperture at the sides of which are fang-like structures and inside which are two chakras; the aperture is crooked, and by its side is the vanamala mark.

Maha-jvala-nrsimha-murti-salagrama is thick in shape, blue-black or tawny in colour, and has a gaping mouth (aperture). This is fit for worship only by mendicants.

Siva-nabha-murti-salagrama has a linga-like form on top where there is also an aperture; it is perfectly round in shape and cold to touch. It is auspicious and secures all prosperity.

Buddha-murti-salagrama is muddy coloured and has spots on it; the chakra is there in the aperture, but unseen; the chakra also is dark gray in colour.

Lakshmi-Narasimha-murti-salagrama is tawny in hue, and inside its aperture is a large chakra within which is another chakra, minute in size.

Sveta-Varaha-murti-salagrama has a long snout, and one tusk; it is whitish in colour and exceedingly clear; there is but a single mark on its body which resembles vanamala.

Bhu-Varaha-salagrama has a raised body with a head shaped like an elephant goad; there is a chakra at the bottom, and near it can be seen a structure like the single tusk. It is an auspicious stone.

Kurma-murti-salagrama is thick and compact in structure, blue-black in colour, variegated hue, tawny or black; it has chakras.

Hrshikesa-murti-salagrama is dark blue (or black) in colour, soft to touch; it has five apertures and ten chakras.

Kesava-murti-salagrama is blue black in colour with minute chakras; it has golden and silver spots, and a mark resembling vanamala.

Achyuta-murti-salagrama is extremely cold to touch, and has a small aperture; it has a chakra on the surface and two chakras within the aperture.

Vaikuntha-murti-salagrama is blue-black in colour and soft to touch; there are line marks of eight weapons of Vishnu, and also a mark of vana-mala; there is an aperture like the lotus stalk.

Vishtara-sravo-murti-salagrama is a large one, elongated in shape and has apertures on both of its sides; there is a chakra, and also the mark of vana-mala going round.

Hiranya-garbha-salagrama is moon-like in appearance, slippery to touch, and large in size, raised on top. There is a chakra at the entrance of the aperture.

Tri-murti-salagrama is characterized by the marks resembling conch and discus (emblems of Vishnu), snake and battle axe (emblems of Siva) and lotus and water-pot (emblems of Brahma), and marks of three garlands.

Kurma-Varaha-murti-salagrama has a chakra with two dots or the mark of conch; and there is another minute chakra nearby. This is difficult to procure and its worship will secure the fulfillment of all desires.

Matsya-murti-salagrama has the shape of a fish, and is spotted; there is the mark of shakti-linga (viz. Trinagle) at the head which is unevenly situated or at the place where the mouth would be located.

Varaha-murti-salagrama is dark-blue in colour thick, and marked with three lines. Its worship promises the fulfillment of all desires.

Kapila-Narasimha-salagrama has a large chakra at the place where the tusk would be located; the colour of the stone is tawny, and there can be seen on the stone the mark of vana-mala. This must be worshipped only by celibates for worldly prosperity or for salvation.

Vamana-murti-salagrama is of the colour of flax-flower (Linum usitatissumum) and is endowed with spots on the top; there are scratches resembling ear-rings; and also a spot on the head. The stone is small and round.

Dadhi-Vamana-murti-salagrama is a small one and perfectly round; it is black in colour and has spots on top. There is a chakra in close proximity to the aperture. This is hard to get, but when worshipped it secures all desires. There is another variety of this salagrama that is small and has two spots; it is dark in colour and extremely greasy (or smooth); there is on it the mark of vana-mala. It is an auspicious stone, facilitating worldly prosperity as well as salvation.

Lakshmi-Narasimha-murti-salagrama is black coloured and spotted; on its left side are two chakras. The worship of this stone secures prosperity here and liberation hereafter.

Rama-murti-salagrama resembles in its colour the kadamba flower (Naulea Cadamba, viz. Orange) and is spotted; there are marks on it of bow, arrow and lotus. It is pleasant in appearance, but difficult to obtain. Its worship is capable of fulfilling all desires.

Sri-Rama-murti-salagrama is like hen’s egg in shape, and is blue-black in colour; the rear portion is raised; at the back are scratches resembling a bow, the wish-fulfilling tree and royal parasol; and criss-cross lines suggesting a quiver. This is a rare salagrama.

Sita-Rama-murti-salagrama has a shape that resembles a hen’s egg, and has an opening at the bottom, with marks like ear-rings. At the entrance are evenly situated chakras; and the mark of the wish-fulfilling tree is also there. There are chakras at the front and on the left side and line scratches.

Gopala-murti-salagrama has the shape of a jambu-fruit (rose apple), and is black in colour; there are also spots. At the rear there is an aperture, and a mark of ear-rings (makara-kundalas); on the forehead of the stone, slanting to the left are the mark of he arrow and bow, with spots. This sacred stone is capable of eliminating enemies and fulfilling all desires when worshipped. One who has no progeny will procure progeny; and the stone is all-auspicious.

Brahma-murti-salagrama (Parameshthi) is whitish in hue, and perfectly round; it may also be yellowish. It has a single chakra and mark of a lotus; and at the rear portion is an aperture.

Vasudeva-murti-salagrama is small and round, very much like an areca-nut; there are two chakras evenly located at the entrance of the aperture. However, there are no chakras in the interior. It is rather whitish in colour and brilliant in appearance. When worshipped, it can help avoid untimely death; and it will secure all desires.

Maha-Vishnu-murti-salagrama is pleasant in appearance, and the spiral mark in lines is seen on its surface. It shines brilliantly, and is black in colour. It is an auspicious stone and will remove all fear of death.

Narayana-murti-salagrama is blue-black in colour, and has a chakra at the navel, which is also raised. There is long line marking on its surface and the mark of vanamala in gold.

Lakshmi-Narayana-murti is of yellowish hue, and its left side is rounded; there are four chakras surrounded by a long time. There are markings of pestle, sword, bow, vanamala, conch, discus and mace on the face and at the navel. The stone is suitable for all prescribed rituals; it will cause prosperity, and accomplishment of ones desires.

Sridhara-murti-salagrama is recognized by the prominent marking of vanamala; the stone’s colour is very much like the Kadamba flower (Nauclea Cadamba, viz. Orange). Its worship secures all attainments

Samkarshana-murti-salagrama is characterized by two chakras situated in the same spot, and by the front portion being large. The colour of the stone is reddish, and it is beautiful to look at.

Pradyumna-murti-salagrama is of bright yellow colour; there is a minute chakra, and there are numerous apertures in the elongated body of the stone.

Vishnu-murti-salagrama is bluish in colour, round in shape and has a chakra which is large in size. It may otherwise be blue-black in colour. It is a beautiful salagrama.

Krishna-murti-salagrama is recognized by a long line in the middle, which resembles the mace. The worship of this stone helps one to acquire worldly prosperity and also obtain emancipation.

Kurma-murti-salagrama is raised on the rear side, and is adorned by white hood-like structure and marked by a hoof (foot mark of horse). It has black spots but otherwise clear. The stone is suitable to be worshipped on all auspicious occasions.

Ananta-murti-salagrama is distinguished by the marking of the serpent hood. The banner-like marking is seen in the middle, accompanied by a line. The stone is a large one, shaped like a serpent; and has seven chakras. Another variety of Ananta-murti has eight or ten chakras, which indicate its superior merit. It may also have thirteen or fourteen chakras, which enhance its value. The stone is yellowish, bluish or variegated in colour. It has markings of discus, conch, mace, lotus and vanamala. The worship of this stone is calculated to secure all prosperity.

Trivikrama-salagrama is shaped like a hen’s egg; it has a chakra on the top-position; there are two other chakras and on one side of the stone is larger on the other. There are markings of flag, conch and ploughshare; there are also spots. Its worship helps avoid untimely death.

Lakshmi-Gopala-murti-salagrama is also shaped like a hen’s egg, but has markings and ear-rings. This stone is an extremely rare one; and its worship assures progeny, prosperity and salvation.

Sri-Hari-murti-salagrama is a large one and its colour is that of copper (or red).

Balabhadra-murti-salagrama, which is worshipped for obtaining celebrity and cattle wealth is blue-black in colour and its shape is that of a parasol; it is smooth (greasy). It is characterized by animating opening, by a spot and by red lines. Its fore-part is bulky, and its body is soft and shining.

Gopala-murti-salagrama, which is a very rare one, is worshipped for obtaining progeny, increase of cattle-wealth and emancipation.

Lakshmi-gopala-murti-salagrama is shaped like parasol, and is extremely unctuous: it has no apertures, but spotted. It is large, heavily and brilliant.

Varaha-murti-salagrama is dark in colour (blue-black), has the rear part raised, and is adorned by a golden spot at the back. There are two chakras evenly located; and at the bottom is a minute chakra.

Sudarsana-murti-salagrama has but a single chakra, while the Lakshmi-narayana murti has two chakras, the Achyuta-murti three and the Janardana-murti four. Vasudeva-murti has five chakras, while Samkarshana has six, Varaha-murti seven, Purushottama-murti eight, Narasimha-murti nine, Vamana-murti ten, Pradyumna-murti eleven, and Ananta-murti twelve. The supreme spirit abides in other multi-chakra-stones also.

The especial benefits of worshipping these different varieties of salagramas are narrated as under:

The Hiranya-garbha-salagrama brings all good fortune to the worshipper; it is like worshipping a thousand Shiva-nabha salagramas. It assures worldly prosperity.

An even number of Salagramas must be worshipped, except when they are only two (in which case, they must not be worshipped); and an odd number of Salagramas must never be worshipped unless it is only one Salagrama (when it may be worshipped).