Ashtar Command Book Blog : Is God a paleontologist?

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Is God a paleontologist?

Credit: Prajina Khatiwada

So I just learned that Hindus worship fossil ammonites as divine incarnations. Corals, too! Amazing stuff, seriously. So I had a topic for tonight´s ChatGPT essay. Strangest so far?

What is the shalagrama?

A Śālagrāma (or Śālagrām Śilā) is a very sacred object of worship in Vaishnavism. It is a type of fossilized ammonite stone found only in the Gandaki River (especially around Muktinath, Nepal).

Here’s the essence:

1. Physical Nature

They are usually black, roundish stones with natural spiral markings.
These spirals are the fossilized remains of ancient ammonites (marine creatures that lived millions of years ago).
Devotees believe the natural markings represent Vishnu’s symbols like the chakra (discus), shankha (conch), gada (mace), and padma (lotus).

2. Religious Importance

Śālagrāmas are considered non-anthropomorphic forms of Lord Vishnu.
No consecration (prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā) is required — they are inherently divine.
In many households, especially among Vaishnavas, worship of the Śālagrāma is considered equal to worshiping Vishnu in a temple.

3. Worship

Traditionally kept with a Tulasi (holy basil) plant, since Tulasi is dear to Vishnu.
Worship involves offering water, tulasi leaves, and simple prayers rather than elaborate rituals.
It is believed to protect the household, grant prosperity, and purify sins.

4. Mythology

According to the Padma Purāṇa, the Śālagrāma is the form of Lord Vishnu himself, who resides eternally in the Gandaki river.
The spirals are said to be the mark of the Sudarshana Chakra.
The river itself is associated with the goddess Tulasi, making the pairing especially auspicious.

5. Special Rules

Only certain people (especially married men in the orthodox tradition) are advised to perform daily Śālagrāma pūjā.
Women and renunciates may worship indirectly by offering flowers or water, but often do not handle the stone directly.
It is considered a living deity, not just a symbol.

So in short: the Śālagrāma is a sacred fossil stone worshiped as Vishnu himself, embodying the eternal presence of God in natural form.

Would you like me to also describe the different types of Śālagrāma (there are many varieties, each associated with a form of Vishnu, like Narasimha, Varaha, Lakshmi-Narayana, etc.)?

Yes, please.

Great! Let’s dive into the types of Śālagrāmas.

In Vaishnava tradition, different Śālagrāma stones are said to embody different forms (mūrtis) of Vishnu. The distinctions come from their shape, color, number of spiral marks, and openings (vāttas).

Here are some of the important ones:

Main Types of Śālagrāma

Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa Śālagrāma
- Golden or yellowish tint, with clear markings.
- Brings wealth, prosperity, and harmony in the household.
Hayagrīva Śālagrāma
- Long shape, resembling a horse’s head.
- Grants knowledge, eloquence, and helps in studies.
Narasimha Śālagrāma
- Fierce-looking, often with multiple openings or rough surface.
- Destroys enemies, removes fear, and grants courage.
Varāha Śālagrāma
- Has a raised portion like a snout.
- Protects from calamities and uplifts devotees spiritually.
Vāmana Śālagrāma
- Small, dwarf-like shape.
- Grants humility, simplicity, and spiritual growth.
Lakṣmī-Nṛsiṁha Śālagrāma
- Combination of gentle and fierce markings.
- Removes fear while ensuring prosperity and grace.
Dāmodara Śālagrāma
- Rope-like circular mark, symbolizing baby Krishna tied to the mortar.
- Bestows devotion (bhakti) and childlike joy.
Matsya Śālagrāma
- Fish-like shape.
- Protects from dangers of water and travel.
Kūrma Śālagrāma
- Tortoise-like, flat bottom, rounded top.
- Gives stability, patience, and strength.
Ananta / Śeṣa Śālagrāma

With multiple spiral markings.
Symbolizes Vishnu resting on the cosmic serpent.
Grants protection and liberation.

General Beliefs

Some Śālagrāmas are considered very powerful and auspicious but also difficult to worship (e.g. Narasimha type).
Families often prefer Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa Śālagrāma, as it is believed to bring peace and abundance without fierce side-effects.
The Padma Purāṇa and Skanda Purāṇa describe up to 25–30 types, but local traditions sometimes expand this to hundreds of variations.

Interesting Point

Śālagrāma worship is seen as timeless and Vedic — it does not require temple consecration or priestly mediation. In fact, many householders in South India and Nepal keep one or more Śālagrāmas in their home shrine, usually alongside a Tulasi plant.

Would you like me to also give you the list of benefits and risks traditionally associated with worshiping the different types (for example, why some are said to be “too intense” for ordinary householders)?

Yes, please.

Perfect, let’s go into the traditional benefits and cautions associated with the different types of Śālagrāma.

Many Purāṇas and manuals (like the Bṛhat-Saṁhitā, Padma Purāṇa, Skanda Purāṇa) describe that while all Śālagrāmas are auspicious, some carry gentle blessings and others are too intense for ordinary householders (gṛhasthas).

🌸 Śālagrāmas That Are Considered “Safe” and Auspicious for Householders

These are recommended for family prosperity, harmony, and general worship:

Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa – Brings wealth, health, and household harmony.
Dāmodara – Grants devotion (bhakti) and childlike joy.
Lakṣmī-Nṛsiṁha (gentle type) – Removes fear, brings prosperity and divine grace.
Kūrma (tortoise-like) – Gives patience, stability, protection in difficulties.
Matsya – Protects from water-related dangers, travel hazards.
Ananta/Śeṣa – Ensures protection, family well-being, and spiritual progress.
Vāmana – Promotes humility, good conduct, and balance in life.

👉 These are commonly found in South Indian homes, and they are said to bless without causing disruption.

🔥 Śālagrāmas Considered Very Powerful / Intense

These are worshiped mainly by renunciates, ascetics, or in temples — not usually recommended for householders, since their energy is fierce and can “demand” more austerity from the devotee:

Nṛsiṁha (fierce type) – Extremely protective, destroys enemies, but too fiery for ordinary home life.
Sudarsana (chakra-like markings) – Gives immense energy and destroys evil, but may disrupt household harmony if not worshiped properly.
Rāma / Paraśurāma types – Associated with strict dharma and battle; worship may lead to conflicts or karmic tests.
Trivikrama / Vāmana with large features – Said to be too expansive, may disturb domestic peace.
Hayagrīva – Bestows knowledge but demands high purity; misworship is said to lead to confusion or loss of memory.

🌌 Why Some Are Considered “Risky”

The belief is not that these stones are “bad,” but that their shakti is too intense for normal family life.
If a householder without strong spiritual discipline keeps a fierce Śālagrāma, it is said that life circumstances may become difficult — like tests, conflicts, or austerities being imposed by the deity.
Ascetics and temple priests, however, often welcome these fierce forms.

🌿 General Belief

A single Śālagrāma in the house is enough; some families keep many.
Worship usually involves: bathing the stone, offering Tulasi leaves, chanting mantras like Om Namo Nārāyaṇāya.
Unlike a consecrated idol (mūrti), the Śālagrāma is believed to be self-manifest (svayambhū) and inherently divine.

👉 So, if someone wants a Śālagrāma at home, tradition suggests choosing a gentle, auspicious type (Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, Dāmodara, Kūrma, Ananta) — while leaving the fierce Narasiṁha or Sudarśana stones to temples and renunciates.

Would you like me to also explain how householders actually worship the Śālagrāma daily (the simple procedure and rules that are usually followed)?

What is a Dvaravati sila?

Good question — the Dvārāvatī Śilā (sometimes just called Dvārakā-śilā) is closely related to the Śālagrāma tradition but has its own unique identity.

🌊 What It Is

A Dvārāvatī Śilā is a naturally formed stone found in the Gomati River (in and around Dvārakā, Gujarat, the legendary city of Lord Kṛṣṇa).
Just as Śālagrāmas come from the Gandaki River in Nepal and embody Viṣṇu, the Dvārāvatī Śilās are said to embody Kṛṣṇa in His Dvārakā aspect — the Lord as king, householder, and protector.
They often have natural chakra-like markings (spirals, wheel impressions, or fossilized designs) on their surface.

✨ Scriptural Status

Mentioned in the Skanda Purāṇa and other texts as sacred stones, said to carry the presence of Lord Viṣṇu / Kṛṣṇa.
Some Vaiṣṇava traditions (especially Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas) treat them as being equally worshipful as Śālagrāmas, while others regard them as slightly different, more “accessible” for householders.

🌸 Believed Benefits

Worship brings Kṛṣṇa’s grace, prosperity, and peace in household life.
Said to be gentler than fierce Śālagrāmas, so more suitable for families.
Specifically associated with protection, devotion (bhakti), and the blessings of Dvārakā-pati Kṛṣṇa.

🔍 Difference from Śālagrāma

Origin: Śālagrāma → Gandaki River (Nepal); Dvārāvatī Śilā → Gomati River (Dvārakā).
Aspect: Śālagrāma → Viṣṇu in cosmic forms (Nārāyaṇa, Nṛsiṁha, Varāha, etc.); Dvārāvatī Śilā → Kṛṣṇa in His earthly royal aspect.
Suitability: Śālagrāmas can be very intense (some types not advised for householders), whereas Dvārāvatī Śilās are generally seen as milder and auspicious for home worship.

🌿 Worship

Similar to Śālagrāma: bathing daily, offering Tulasi, flowers, incense, and chanting mantras (e.g., Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya).
In some homes, Śālagrāma and Dvārāvatī Śilā are kept together and worshiped jointly, as symbolic of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa or Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa.

So, to put it simply:
A Dvārāvatī Śilā is a sacred stone from Dvārakā’s Gomati River that embodies Kṛṣṇa, much like the Śālagrāma embodies Viṣṇu.

Would you like me to also describe the different types of Dvārāvatī Śilās (based on their markings and colors), just like the Śālagrāma classifications?

Yes, please. Are these stones actually corals?

Excellent follow-up — you’re right to ask, because there is a fascinating natural explanation behind both Śālagrāmas and Dvārāvatī Śilās.

🔹 Are Dvārāvatī Śilās actually corals?

Yes. Most Dvārāvatī Śilās are actually fossilized corals from the Gomati River near Dvārakā (Gujarat).

The natural wheel-like patterns (chakra) seen on them are cross-sections of ancient corals.
The texture is lighter and more porous than Śālagrāmas (which are ammonite fossils from Nepal’s Gandaki river).
This fossilization links them to the ancient seabed — which fits perfectly with Dvārakā’s identity as a coastal city of Kṛṣṇa.

So:

Śālagrāma = Ammonite fossils (marine creatures with spiral shells).
Dvārāvatī Śilā = Fossil corals (with natural chakra-like structures).

🔹 Types of Dvārāvatī Śilās

Texts like the Skanda Purāṇa and Gomati Māhātmya list 25 or 30+ types, depending on classification. Each type is identified by color, shape, and markings, and each is believed to bring a distinct blessing.

Some examples:

Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa Śilā – two wheel marks together → symbolizes divine couple, grants wealth and prosperity.
Sudhārśana Śilā – strong, clear chakra mark → represents Sudarśana Cakra, protection from enemies and evil forces.
Padma Śilā – lotus-like marking → fertility, family happiness.
Śaṅkha Śilā – conch-like design → auspiciousness, removal of sins.
Matsya Śilā – fish-like marking → protection from calamities, helps spiritual progress.
Nṛsiṁha Śilā – fierce markings or rough surface → grants courage, protection from fear.
Dāmodara Śilā – rope-like pattern → devotion, especially to child Kṛṣṇa.
Garuda Śilā – wing-like impressions → liberation, removal of obstacles.

Some Śilās are said to be very auspicious for householders (e.g., Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, Padma), while a few with fierce markings (like Nṛsiṁha) are traditionally worshiped only by ascetics or in temples.

🔹 Worship and Use

Always worshiped with Tulasi leaves (since Tulasi is beloved of Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa).
Placed on a small pedestal (pīṭha) or kept together with Śālagrāma.
Daily offerings: water, sandal paste, flowers, lamp, incense, and chanting of mantras like Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya.

So, in essence:
👉 Dvārāvatī Śilās are fossil corals from Gomati River, carrying chakra-like markings, worshiped as living embodiments of Lord Kṛṣṇa in His Dvārakā aspect.
👉 Each type is classified by its markings, with specific blessings tied to it.

Would you like me to make a side-by-side comparison table of Śālagrāma vs. Dvārāvatī Śilā, showing their origin, substance, and spiritual focus?

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