INTRODUCTION:

THE LEGEND OF SHALIGRAM WATER
The good effects of drinking of Shaligram water which has bathed the Shaligram Shilas are enormous as mentioned in the texts. A small round Narayana Shaligram can be used to generate the powerful water which is extremely good for health and spirituality by keeping the Narayana Shila in the silver or copper or Panchdhatu glass filled with cooled boiled water over night with Narayana Shila inside and same may be consumed in the morning after daily worship or after bath. This water is considered much more powerful than even Rudraksha water in terms of providing longitivity, good health and spiritual upliftment.



Procedure:
Material Required: A silver or copper or Panchadhatu 200 ml glass, 1 or 2 Narayana Shaligram Shila, half glass boiling water, one glass of boiled water but cooled down and a glass cover or lid.

Method:
Rinse the silver or copper or panchdhatu glass with small quantity of boiled water. Wash 1 or 2 Narayana Shilas with the cooled down boiled water and collect this water in a separate utensil. Carefully place the Narayana Shila(s) inside the glass. Fill the glass with cooled boiled water. Place the glass in a safe place and cover the glass with a small plate or lid. Let the water remain like this for minimum 12 hours. The Shaligram water can be made in the morning for its consumption in the evening and the water can also be made in the evening for its consumption in the next day morning. Same procedure is repeated every day.

TEXTS DESCRIBING THE MERITS OF DRINKING SHALIGRAM WATER

As per Purana Sangraha when a dying person is made to sip a little of the water from Gandaki river or in which the Salagrama-stone is bathed, he will be freed from all sins, and will reach the heavenly abode of Vishnu. And death itself when it occurs in the presence of a Salagrama-stone will pave the way for Vishnu’s realm, for Vishnu is present in that stone (Purana-samgraha). The rites of expiation of sins (prayaschitta) becomes effective more by drinking the Gandaki water or the water in which Shaligram stones are washed than by gifts or fasting or by observances of various kinds. In times of solar or lunar eclipse, whatever ritual is undertaken becomes all the more effective when done in front of a Salagrama-stone and Gandaki water so says Hemadri. Even the worst criminal who has committed countless sins will instantaneously get purified by sipping the Gandaki water or the water in which has been bathed/washed Salagrama Shilas.

SALAGRAMA SILA TOYAM PIVET VINDUNA SAMAM
MATUH STANYAM PUNAR NAIVA SAPIVET BHAKTI BANG NARAH
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/22 FROM PADMA PURANA)
As per Padma Purana any person if he has even taken one drop of water which has bathed or washed Salagram Shila will not have to suck a mother’s breast again in the furure. He will attain Moksha.

GANGA GODAVARI REVA NADYO MUKTI PRADAS TO YAH
NIVASANTI SA TIRTHAS TAH SALAGRAMA SILA JALE
KOTE TIRTHA SAHASRAIS TU SEVITAIH KIM PRAYOJANAM
TIRHAM YADI BHAVET PUNYAM SALAGRAMA SILODBHAVAM
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 3/293, 294 From PADMA PURANA)
As per Padma Puran the water which has bathed or washed Shalagram Shila includes the water from the Ganga, Godavari, Reva and other liberating rivers. If this bath water from the Shalagram Shila is available, then there is no need for thousands of other places of piligrimage. The Gandaki water or Shaligram water itself is a pilgrimage of the most higest order.

YE PIVANTI NARA NITYAN SALAGRAMA SILA JALAM
PANCA GAVYA SAHASRAIS TU SEVITAIH KIM PRAYOJANAM
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/20 FROM PADMA PURANA)
Any persopn who has drank the water which has bathed Shalagram shila is equivalent to drinking thousand and thousands of times panchagavya.
(Panchagavya is made from five auspicious products of a cow offered to the Lord)

DRSTVA PRANAMITA YENA SNAPITA PUJITA TATHA
YAJNA KOTI SAMAM PUNYAN GAVAM KOTI PHALM BHAVET. .
(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 5/384 From SKANDA PURANA)
Lord Shiva is telling to His son Skanda, that any person who has seen Shalagram Shila, paid obeisances to Him, bathed the Shila, drank this water and worshipped Him, has achieved the results of performing ten million sacrifices and giving ten million cows in charity.