Shaligram Worship | Shaligram Puja | Shaligram Puja Benefits

Replace new flower petals

Then clear off old flower from throne. Rinse hand again. Replace new flower petals on throne for sitting. Rinse right hand with Panca patra as described before using left hand to control the spoon, wash off right hand after each offering.

Bath

Using right hand, take a spoon of water and pour a little onto the conch. Replace spoon in pancha patra cup. Say IDAM SNANIYAM and take the conch shell with right hand and pour the water slowly on the Shila, while saying, "ONBV" 3 times, replace shell on stand. Rinse hand again.

Apply Sandal Wood oil

Take Sandal Wood oil, open bottle, pour tiny amount on right hand finger tips. Carefully pick up Shalagram and using the fingers of only your right hand carefully roll the shila around and massage the scented oil onto the Shila. (During oil massaging hold the shila over your dhoti in case He slips).

Worship

Touch the Shila to your forehead and place Him back on throne on fresh flower petals while chanting Maha-mantra.
Wipe oil off your right hand onto your head, rinse and wipe your hand dry on your dhoti.
    Take moist Tulasi leaf and offering top down stick the leaf onto the oily Shila Murti, saying, "IDAM TULASI PATRAM" and "ONBV" (one time).
 Rinse off right hand again.
   Take flower (petals) and offer to Lord Hari by saying, "IDAM PUSHPAM" and "ONBV" while waving the flowers in a clock-wise circle before the Shila Murti three times. Place flowers in front off Shila.
Rinse off right hand again.
   Light incense. Say "ESHA DHUPAH" and "ONBV" while waving the lit incense in a clock-wise circle before the Shila Murti three times. Place incense in holder in front off Shila.
Rinse off right hand again.
   Take fan, say, "IDAM PANKAM" and "ONBV" three times while fanning the Shila Murti. Place fan back in its place.
Rinse off right hand again.
   Using right hand take a spoon of water and pour a little onto the table and say "IDAM ASANAM" "ONBV" to create a sitting place for Lord Hari to eat.
   Place fruit plate and water glass on the table. Using right hand, take a spoon of water and pour a little onto the fruit and water glass, and say, "IDAM PANIYAM IDAM NIVEDYAM" "ONBV".
    Sit quietly with eyes closed and chant Gayatri Mantras and or Maha Mantra while thinking the Lord is taking the fruit and water.
   Using right hand, take a spoon of water and pour into the bathing cup saying, "IDAM ACHAMANIYAM" "ONBV". So the Lord can rinse His Mouth.
    Bow down and say prayers. In the case of a Gaudiya Vaishnava, such prayers as, "Vande gurun isha bhaktan isham isha-avatarakan tat prakashams-cha tat shakti krishna chaitanya sangakam", - chant Pancha-tattva and Maha Mantra.
   During 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."
   Next recite: "Om brahma-murari-tripurantakari bhanu, shasi, boomi-suto buddhas-ca gurus-ca-shukra, shani-rahu-ketavah sarve graha shanti kara bhavantu!"
   Prayers, Kirtana and OR read minimum ONE Sloka from Shastra.
   Place all used items on big puja thali and go rinse off the items in kitchen. Pour charanamrita (bath water) in a special cup to keep out side the temple room.
   Wipe throne area with water drops from Pancha Patra and towel, and return items.
Drink Charanamritam.
OM TAT SAT!!!


Remember1

Using left hand, ring the hand bell (ganti) with each offering.

Remember2

Lord Vishnu NEVER feels any discomfort. As God He is "atmarama" or 'always in bliss'. Even if muslims come to smash the Lord's Sri Murti, still, He is never in even the slightest distress. He is SAT CHIT ANANDA UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

Worship by Mantra-mudra

We must do mantra-mudra puja for our salagrama silas. This constitutes the usual form of daily worship. We must offer upacaras like snana (bathing) and dhupa-dipa-puspa (incense, lamp and flower) in the form of mantra and mudra. But on days when we resume worship after an interruption (for example, after a long journey), and on special holy days like Ekadasi and Janmastami,we must offer dravya (physical items). That takes more time to prepare and execute. Srila Prabhupada said that daily cooking and Deity worship should be completed within an hour's time. So generally we try to keep to that instruction by offering mantra-mudra puja.