Chapter 46 - Characteristics of different Śālagrāma stones

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1. I shall describe (the characteristics of) the śālagrāma mūrti^[1] (the different gods represented by different kinds of śālagrāma stones) which yield enjoyment and emancipation. (The stone called) Vāsudeva is black (coloured) around its mouth and has (marks) of two discs on it.

2. The Saṅkarṣaṇa (stone) is red (in colour) and has marks

3. The Aniruddha (stone) is yellow (in colour) and has the mark of a lotus. It is circular (in shape) and has two or three rays. The Nārāyaṇa (stone) is black (in colour) with an elevated, and deep hole.

4. The Parameṣṭi (stone) (has the marks of) the lotus and. disc. It is perforated at the back and has dots on the surface. The Viṣṇu (stone) has a big disc (mark). It is black (in colour). It has a line in the middle part. It is of the shape of a mace.

5-6. The Nṛsiṃha (stone) is tawny. It has (the mark of) a big disc and five dots. The Varāha (stone) is of the shape of the female divinity. It has unequal discs. It is of the colour of sapphire. It is large with the marks of three lines and is good. The Kūrma stone has an elevated hinder part with circular lines. and is black (in colour).

7. The Hayagrīva (stone) has a line of the shape of a good. It is blue (coloured) and is dotted. The Vaikuṇṭha (stone) has (the mark of) a disc and lotus. It has the radiance of a gem. It has tail-shaped lines.

8. The Matsya stone is long and has three dots. It is crystalline-coloured and is well formed. The Srīdhara (stone) has a garland of wild flowers and five lines and is circular.

9. The Vāmana (stone) is circular and is very short. It is. blue (coloured) and has a dot. The Trivikrama (stone) is black (coloured). It has a line on the right and a dot on the left side.

10. The Ananta (stone) has the mark of the hood of a serpent, it has variegated colours and manifold forms. The Dāmodara (stone) is big and has a disc in the middle part with two minute dots.

11. The Sudarśana (stone) has (the mark of) a disc. The Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa (stone) (is that which has the marks of) two discs. The Acyuta (stone) (has the marks of) three discs. Or the Trivikrama (stone) may have (the marks of) three discs.

12. The Janārdana (stone) has (the marks of) four discs. The Vāsudeva (stone) has (the marks of) five discs. The Pradyumna (stone) has (the marks of) six discs. The Saṅkarṣaṇa. (stone) has (the marks of) seven discs.

13. The Puruṣottama (stone) has (the marks) of eight discs. The Navavyūha form has the marks of nine discs. (The stone representing) the ten manifestations (of Viṣṇu) (is marked) with ten (discs). The Aniruddha form (is marked) with eleven (discs). The Dvādaśātman (class of śālagrāma) (is marked) by twelve (discs). (One is deemed to be) the Ananta (class of śālagrāma) (if it has) more (discs) than these.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The śālagrāma stones obtained from the beds of Gandaki river in Nepal are associated with the worship of Viṣṇu. The different stones bearing different marks are taken to represent different forms ofViṣṇu. of two discs (and is considered as) excellent. The Pradyumna (stone) has many holes, elongated and is blue (coloured).