Shaligram Worship | Shaligram Puja | Shaligram Puja Benefits

INGREDIENTS

Ganga jal, panchgavya (It is a mixture of 5 auspicious things cowdung, cow's urine, milk, ghee and curd), fresh tulsi leaves, kusha grass, pipal leaves, Incense sticks, camphor, sandal paste, aarti lamp, conch. For offerings take some milk, fruits, flowers, sweet dish, coconut etc.

PROCEDURE OF PUJA

Sit in the position so that you face East or North East direction. Wash the Shila with Gangajal using the conch. Wash it with punchgavya, again wash it with Gangajal. Put some kusha grass in a water tumbler for sprinkling purpose and sprinkle on the Shila. Place the Shaligram Shila over some pipal leaves in a plate, Pl put a red or white clean cloth on the plate. Light the camphor, incense stick and the lamp.

Apply little sandle paste over the Shila. place some fresh tulsi leaves( if leaves are not there pl place tulasi mala rosary next to the Shaligrama Shila) next to the in front of the Shila. Rotate the lamp in front of thr Shila in the clockwise direction. Chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 9 times Offer some milk, fruits or sweets to the Shila. Offer some money and then donate all offerings of the Shila to the poor person. If cowdung and cow's uine is not available pl leave them and proceed with rest of the things.

During Shalagram Shila puja prayers one should think and speak to Krishna, and tell Him how you feel unworthy to perform His puja, and still He has blessed you, and even you are sorry for having so many personal motives still you know that if one has NO motives (desires) or has ALL desires, or even if one has desire for liberation, in all cases one should worship Lord Hari for that attainment. So you are not wrong in asking the Lord for anything, because if you will ask or not, still, He is the One to ask. For this meditation you can chant:
"Om akama-sarva-kamo-va moksha-kama-udaradi tivrena bhakti-yogena yajesha purusham param."

Articles required

Picture of Lord Ganesh Sri Shalagram Shila (Gandaki Vajra-kita) Tulasi leaves (patra) ready washed Scented flowers (pushpa) Water (toya) in a pot Fruit (phala) cut-ready to offer Throne (singhasan) & stand/table Mat (asan) Incense (dhup) & Holder Fan (panka) Sandal Wood Oil (chandan) Ganges Water (ganga pani) Lighter (fire) Small Plate & Glass with fruit & water White Turbinella bathing conch & stand Small cup for bathing Shalagram Pancha Patra cup & spoon Small hand bell (ganti)

Preparation

Prepare all articles on large thali. Place Thali in front between you and altar. Place articles on thali before you in this order: Center is bathing dish, lower left is hand bell, upper left is scented sandal wood oil, upper right is bathing conch on stand bottom-up, lower right is pancha-patra and spoon. Left side of thali is lota (pot) with clean water and bowl of flower petals; and on right side of the thali is a stand with a cloth towel, incense (3 sticks), a hand fan, and a lighter.

Asanam

After bowing, take Asan, say "Idam asanam" and place the asan on the floor before the puja table saying ONBV mantra (Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya).

Seating Direction

Be seated (face East - sunrise)

Mantra Recitation

Fold hands, close eyes and recite:
      " Om apavitra-pavitro-va sarva-vastam gato api va yah smaret pundarikaksham sah bhayabhyantara suchih"

Ganga Jal

Pancha Patra water from previous day should be washed off and ready with new Ganga jala inside, by putting one drop of Ganga jala into the empty pancha patra cup and pouring to full with normal clean drinking water from the pot (lota). This makes all water in the cup as Ganga-jala.

Achmaniyam

Take a spoon of water with the left hand and forming the turned up right hand into mudra with thumb touching middle joint of middle finger, pour water into right palm… holding water say, "Om Vishnuh" 3 times, then sip the water from the base of the palm of the hand. Taking another spoon of water with the left hand rinse off the "juta" right hand (toss old water on the floor next to you). Repeat two more times.

Prayer

Fold hands and say, "Om tad vishnoh paramam padam sada paishyanti surayah daviva-chaksur-atatam"

Flower to Lord Ganesha

Take a flower (petal), offer to picture of Lord Ganesh, and say, "Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah" 3 times.

Prayer to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi

Fold hands, pray to Lord Ganesha, "Om vakra-tunda maha-kaya-suryakotir sama-prabha nir-vignan kuru may deva sarva karyeshu sarvada;" continue with the following prayer to Goddess Lakshmi: Namaste'astu maha-maye sripati sura-pujite shanka-chakra-gada haste Maha Lakshmi namo' astu'te!!!

Pray to Lord Shalagram

Pray to Lord Shalagram (Who is still sitting from previous days puja) with folded hands say, "Smrite shakala kalyana bhajanam yatra jayate purusham antam ajam nityam brajami sharanam harim!!!"

Sitting place for Shalagram

Take flower and use petals to make sitting place for Shalagram in bathing cup.

Water into the Conch

Put flower petal and a Tulasi leaf in Conch shell and pour pancha-patra water into the conch (in it's stand).

Invoke the Lord

Invoke the Lord. With folded hands call Lord Narayana by saying, "Om apani-pado javano-grahita paishyati-achakshu sah srinoty akarna sah veti vedyam naa cha tasyasti veta tamahur-agram purusham mahantam."

Placing Lord Shalagram

Using right hand, take the Shila Murti off the throne and place on top of flower petal in bathing cup.

Placing Lord Shalagram

Using right hand, take the Shila Murti off the throne and place on top of flower petal in bathing cup.