A shaligram is an ammonite or fossilized stone, found in or near the Kali Gandaki. Works of Hindu literature such as the Viramitrodaya, Chaturvarga-chintamani, Matsyasukta, Vaishvanara Samhita, Puranasamgraha, and the Pranatoshani Tantra refer to various types of shaligrams. These types are defined on the basis of shape, colour, the imprint of the Ammonoidea (ammonite) shell on the surface of the stone, the aperture through which the imprint can be seen, and other distinct markings.
A detailed classification of shaligrams is provided in the Meru Tantra, and in the book Shalagrama Kosha compiled by S. K. Ramachandra Rao from a manuscript named Shalagrama Pariksha written by a Telugu Brahmin named Anupasimha, and unpublished sections of the Sritattvanidhi dealing with shaligrams.
Markings
The imprints of the ammonite are referred to as the , as they resemble the Sudarshana Chakra, the discus of Vishnu.
The aperture, known as the , or , resembles an open mouth.
The is a white line in the body of the stone which resembles a garland.
A is a circular marking on the outer surface of the rock.
A is a conch marking in the rock.
Description of types of shaligrams in Hindu literature and their significance +NameDistinguishing FeaturesEffect upon being worshippedKeshava Marked with a single chakra, a vanamala, and four bindus of golden hue arranged in a square. Marked with a shankha and chakra on the lower middle portion.Grants prosperity and fulfilment of all desires.Hayagriva Blue in colour at the top, shaped like an elephant goad or the head of a horse, with a linear mark present near the chakra and several bindus. Marked with five linear marks, its other characteristics being the same as above. Marked with a single chakra and a marking resembling a banner. Has both yellow and red colours on its surface, two chakras, and markings resembling earrings and gems on the sides. Shaped like an elephant goad or lotus bud. Shaped like a lotus bud, the mukha being shaped like the head of a horse, with a marking resembling a rosary. Green in colour, marked with a single chakra, the left side being elevated like that of a kapinjala (grey francolin) bird.Grants knowledge, prosperity and wordly enjoyment.Paramesthin Has a hole (which does not reach the other side of the stone, otherwise the stone would be unfit for worship) at the top, a single chakra, markings resembling a lotus, and several bindus White in colour, has a single chakra, and markings resembling a lotus, a snake's hood, a pearl necklace, or a sphere, with a perforated and hard top. Reddish in colour and circular in shape with a single chakra and linear mark, perforated and hard. Round in shape, yellow in colour, with a hole at the top; Red/white in colour, yellowish and perforated on the top surface, marked with a single chakra and markings resembling a lotus.Grants enjoyment and liberation.Hiranyagarbha Honey-coloured and slightly elongated in shape, with several golden linear marks on the body, a crystal-like glow, and a shape like the round moon. Black in colour, round in shape, the vadana is glazed, marked with a single chakra, and a marking resembling the shrivatsa on the top surface.Grants prosperity and increase in progeny.ChaturbhujaOf a blue colour similar to a rain cloud. Round in shape and marked with four chakras.Grants fearlessness.GadadharaCircular in shape and yellow in colour. The chakra is situated towards the left, the middle part is marked with three linear marks, and markings resembling a banner, a vajra, and an elephant-goad are present.Narayana Shyama (the colour of Krishna's skin) in colour. The chakra is situated in the middle portion, marked with a long linear mark, and the right side is perforated. The vadana is situated centrally in the body, within which lies the chakra at the front, with markings resembling ornaments like ear-rings, bracelets, and necklaces.
This shaligram can be found in three varieties:
Lakshminarayana: Endowed with a single vadana, four chakras, and a vanamala. Circular in shape, the colour is yellow/blue like a fresh rain-cloud, the vadana is glazed and situated towards the left side within which lie four chakras, with markings resembling a banner, a vajra, and an elephant-goad. A vanamala is present, and the top is raised and features some bindus on its surface. Naranarayana: The chakra is red while the body is green like the tamala tree, with patches of golden colouration. Rupinarayana: Markings resembling a pestle, a gada, and a shankha are present alongside a single chakra, while another marking resembling a bow is situated near the vadana. Grants all sorts of success. Grants enjoyment, liberation, fulfilment of all desires, the four aims of human life, and redemption from sins.MadhavaWith a colour similar to honey, marked with a gada and a shankha. The chakra is situated at the middle and is glazed. Grants liberation.Govinda Black in colour, lustrous in appearance, endowed with a single chakra alongside markings resembling a gada on the right side and a mountain on the left. Black in colour, small in size, with the central portion raised upwards, endowed with a large vadana marked with five chakras situated towards the left.VishnuBlack in colour with a large chakra. Shaped like a gada, with a linear mark on the top surface near the vadana.Grants liberation.MadhusudhanaGolden in colour with a lustrous appearance, has a single chakra and endowed with markings resembling a lotus and a shankha.Destroys enemies.TrivikramaShyama in colour, triangular in shape, with a shining appearance. Has one or two chakras along with some bindus on the left-side and a linear mark on the right-side.Grants wealth.Shridhara Round in shape like the kadamba flower, endowed with a vanamala and five linear marks at the top surface and sides.
Green in colour, round in shape with a flat upper surface, with a single glazed chakra and markings resembling a lotus in the middle.
Small in size, with two chakras and a vanamala.
Glittering like a gem, endowed with a single chakra, a vanamala, markings resembling a lotus/banner, and a marking resembling an elephant-goad near the vadana.Grants prosperity to householders.HrishikeshaShaped like a half moon with a single chakra and markings resembling the hair of a boar.PadmanabhaReddish in colour, endowed with a semicircular chakra and markings resembling a lotus and the hairs of an animal's mane.Causes poverty and sorrow, thus should not be worshipped.Damodara Large in size, the colour is as green as durva grass with a small chakra situated in the middle, a small vadana, and a single yellowish linear mark in the middle.
Endowed with two chakras and a cracked outer surface.Grants auspiciousness.Sudarshana Green in colour with a lustrous appearance. The chakra and markings resembling a gada are situated on the left side, while linear markings arranged like a lotus are found on the right side
Black in colour, shaped like a lotus, endowed with a single chakra, a large vadana, and a lowered middle portion.Destroys all sins and grants the results of all types of worship.VasudevaWhite in colour, endowed with one or two chakras at the dvara.Fulfills all desires.Pradyumna Yellow in colour, with a small chakra and markings resembling a makara on the sides and top surface, features many holes
Blue in colour with a small chakra, a small mukha, and many holes.Grants prosperity and happiness to householders.Aniruddha Blue in colour, round in shape and glazed, with markings resembling a lotus at the top surface and three linear marks near the dvara.
Black in colour with a beautifully-shaped dvara and a chakra near the centre, another on the sides, and a small chakra at the top surface.
Yellow in colour, round in shape.Grants happiness to householders.Purushottama Golden in colour with one chakra at the middle portion and a bigger chakra at the front
The colour is as yellow as the atasi flower, with many bindus present.
With mukhas on all directions (traditionally ennumerated as ten). Increases prosperity and grants enjoyment and liberation.AdhokshajaDark black in colour with patches of brown, circular in shape, endowed with a single chakra and red linear marks. May be large or small in size.Grants auspiciousness to worshippers.AchyutaHas four chakras on the right and left sides and two red markings resembling ear-rings at the mukha. Also features markings resembling a shankha, gada, bow, arrow, pestle, banner, white umbrella and a red elephant-goad.UpendraGreen in colour with a lustrous appearance. Has a glazed body with one or more chakras on the sides.JanardanaHas two dvaras - one on the left side and another on the right side - and four chakras - two on the top surface and other two in the middle.Grants prosperity and destroys enemies.LakshmijanardanaBlue with one dvara and four chakras.HariGreen in colour, round in shape, with one mukha at the top. The lower portion is marked with bindus.Fulfills all desires.Ananta Marked with markings resembling the hood of a snake. Has 20 red chakras, 14 dvaras, and many bindus, with different colours on its body.
The colour is as blue as a rain-cloud. Circular in shape, with 27 chakras. Grants the four aims of human life and the results of all types of worship.YogeshvaraHas a lingam-like structure on its top surface. Grants redemption from the great sin of brahmahatya.PundarikakshaHas markings resembling a pair of eyes or lotuses on the left side or top surface.Can bring the entire world under control of the worshipper.Chaturmukha Has four linear marks on the sides and two chakras on the middle portion of the body.YajnamurtiHas both yellow and red colours on its surface, with a small dvara and two chakras, one at the middle and the other on the right side.Dattatreya Has white, red and black patches, and markings resembling a rosary on the top surface.