Gandaki River | Story of River Gandaki | Kali Gandaki River

The Kali Gandaki River or Gandaki River is also known as the Narayani River in southern Nepal & the Gandak in India. This Gandaki River is one of the major rivers of Nepal and a left-bank tributary of the Ganges in India. This river is also called as Krishna Gandaki in Nepal. Basically five main tributaries of the Gandaki River / Kali Gandaki River / Gandaki Water, which are Daraudi, Seti, Madi, Marsyandi & Budhi Gandaki.

Gandaki River or River Gandaki is formed by the union of the Kali & Trisuli rivers and both of these rivers rise in the Great Himalaya Range in Nepal. From this junction to the Indian border this river is called the Narayani River. Gandaki River flows southwest into India and then turns southeast along the Bihar-Uttar Pradesh state border. Along with the Indo-Gangetic Plain, this river enters into the Ganga River opposite Patna after a winding course of 765 km (475 miles).

The story of Gandaki River of Nepal contains the universal theme of the Ultimate justifying sinners by their faith in the divine & changing them into new or reborn creations. It is a story about those who in spite of their worldly position want to seek divine truth. Story of Gandaki River is the story of Divine preventing the believer at last minute to perform a horrible act of faith.

Story of Gandaki River of Nepal

There was once a girl named “Gandaki” who was the daughter of a prostitute. As per the strict social prescriptions, the girl Gandaki must always take up the same work as her mother. But she felt was drawn to fulfil strict rule laid down for every wife which she saw in every suitor an embodiment of the heavenly husband or Pati Paramesvara. One day she was visited by a handsome youth who paid her well but unfortunately left her soon, without even having looked at her.

But with her customary faithfulness, Gandaki waited for that handsome youth and finally around midnight he reappeared. She served him & lavished upon him with all the arts of love. As she bathed him, she found that his body was eaten away all over by leprosy and without any hesitation, she surrendered herself to him completely. People were amazed and asked how she could endure it & continue to pamper him. She replied, "Before sunrise, he will still become my spouse."

But as the sun rose that morning that young man died. Then Gandaki wished to give the ultimate expression of her loyalty to her husband & she will be cremated with him (Sati). As she crouched on the funeral pyre she suddenly the young man's body was completely converted into gold & he had four arms. Then he spoke to her & said, "I am Vishnu Narayana & I came in order to test you. You have passed the test & now you may have three wishes." The girl said that she has only one wish "that you never leave me!"

Then the Lord Vishnu explained to her that he has been cursed to become a stone. He continued, "you will turn into a river, Gandaki, & in the shape of stone I will remain forever in your lap." And as a token of this, you shall bear the name "Salagrami" (having Shaligram / Shalagram / Saligram/ Salagram / Shalagrama stones).

Shaligram Shila From Gandaki River In Nepal

According to the Gautamiya Tantra, near the Gandaki river / Kali Gandaki River, there is a big place called Shalagram. The stones appear in that place are called Shaligram Shila or Shalagram Shila. As per the Hindu tradition, this stone i.e. Shaligram Shila is the shelter for a small insect known as "Vajra-Keeta". The Vajra-Keeta insects have a diamond tooth which cuts through the Shaligram stone and stays inside it.

All the marks on the Shaligram or Saligram give it a special significance. The Shaligrams come in different colours, such as black, jet black, red, blue, yellow & green. All the varieties except red coloured Salagram are considered very sacred but the yellow & golden colour Shaligrams are considered most auspicious. Red coloured Shaligram removes the terminal and dangerous diseases from the body of the devotee.

The Red Shaligram is also used for “tantra” and “vipreet tantra”, removal of black magic that is negativity, evils etc. The Shaligrams of different shapes is associated with different incarnations of Lord Vishnu such as Matsya Shaligram, Narasimha Shaligram, Kurma Shaligram, Sudarshan Shaligram and so on.