Shaligram is also known as Shaligram shila is found only at kaligandaki river in Nepal. Shaligram is used to worship Lord Vishnu (preserver of universe). Shaligram stones is considered to be million of years old. Shaligram is sacred and holy stones for every hindus. It bears different self marks and design which makes it more beautiful like chakras,holes etc. There are different names of lord vishnu which is worshipped as shaligram. Shaligram is found in small size, medium size, big size and mostly black in color. Some are round and oval size. According to ancient story when god Vishnu destroy existent of wife of demon jalandhar "Vrinda". Being anger Vrinda gave 4 curse to God Vishnu. To be a stone(saligram), to be grass(kusha), to be tree (peepal), to be plant (Tulsi). So lord Vishnu became shaligram to truth the vrinda curse. Those home where shaligram is present has blessing of god narayana (god Vishnu). There is also huge glory of Gandaki River where god Vishnu has manifested as shaligram shila. Shila meaning the holy stone. For home small and medium size shaligram is worshipped and for Temple big size shaligram is worshipped. Worshipping shaligram daily at home attains happiness, joy and peacefulness. In hindu culture, at last stage of life shaligram Tulsi soaked water is given to person. It is believed that people attain Vaikuntha Loka (adobe of god Vishnu) when drinking it. Both shaligram and tulsi is very holy and pure material in Hinduism.
According to scripture, we should worship even no shaligram at home like 2,4,6,8,1o,12. Worshipping 12 shaligram attains religiousness and dharma. Where 6 shaligram is worshipped there thousand of shivalinga is present.
There are many name of shaligram, some of the 24 names of shaligram are as follows. 1) Matsya shaligram, 2) Kurma shaligram, 3) Varaha shaligram, 4) Buddha shaligram, 5) Narsimha shaligram, 6) Laxmi Narasimha shaligram, 7) Vamana shaligram/Baman murti 8) Parshuram shaligram, 9) Ram shaligram, 10) Balram shaligram, 11) Sridhar shaligram, 12) Kalki shaligram, 13) krishna shaligram, 14) Gopal shaligram, 15) Dadhibasan shaligram, 16) Dadhi gopal vamana murti shaligram, 17) Santan gopal shaligram, 18) pradhyumna shaligram, 19) Anirudra shaligram, 20) Hayagriv shaligram, 21) Srighan shaligram murti, 22) Laxmi Narayan shaligram, 23) Padmanabh shaligram, 24) Govinda shaligram.
Shaligram is worshipped with Tulsi leaves. It is believed that even worshipping shaligram with single Tulsi leaves pleases god vishnu. And taking those Tulsi leaves as Prasad after puja is said to be healthy and intelligence.
