On Salagrama
Folks, Greetings!
I would like to present the role of Salagrama aradhanai in the daily lives of observant SVs. Even though Salagrama aradhanai is not an ordained ritual like nithya and naimitika karmas, it is highly recommended. So much as, no householder can lead a traditional SV life without at least one SG moorthy. A household with a set of 12 is verily a Dhivya Desham.
SVs believe the supreme Brahman is an inseparable combination of Dhivya Atma Swaroopam and Dhivya Managala Vigraham, both of which are nityam and infused with ocean of auspicious characteristics -- கல்யாண குணகண மஹார்ணவம் . This supreme Brahman, characterized by the eternal Dhivya Atma Swaroopam and Dhivya Managala Vigraham, takes five avatharas, says Pancharatra Agama, a part of divine SV canon. They are called, (i) Para, (ii) Vyuga, (iii) vibhava, (iv) Antharyami, and (v) archa.
- Para roopam is the one in Sri vaikuntam, the one that the Nitya Soories and Mukthas are supposed to serve and enjoy eternally.
- Vibhava comprises of Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha and they have some esoteric theological roles to play in creation, sustenance, and dissolution.
- Vibhava refers to the incarnations most people are familiar with. There are some 32 odd such avatharas, of which 10 are well known as Dasa Avathara. Lord Sri Krishna explained the reason for these avatharas in chapter 4.
- Antharyami, aka, haarta, is a specific roopam the lord takes and resides in the heart of all human beings. This form has four hands, shangu, chakram, etc. The purpose of this avathara is to reveal himself to those who engage in Bhakthi Yoga -- which requires constant and uninterrupted meditation upon this roopam.
- The fifth type, Archa avathara, refers to properly consecrated vighrahas and Salagramas. In the case of Vighrahas, only at the time of consecration the idol becomes divine. At that time, the Lord is supposed to take a physical form made up of Sudda Satva (different from the material of three gunas we see in the material universe), identical in shape and form to that of the statue, and pervades it completely. From that point onwards, the vighraha is no different from the Iswara in Sri Vaikunta.
No consecration is necessary for Salagramam because the lord is said to reside in all salagramas on his own accord.
For SVs, all the five types are non-different. Yet archa is supposed to be very special. Swami Pillai Lokachariya compares these five categories to water desired by an intensely thirsty person, as follows.
- Para is up in Sri Vaikuntam like water in the clouds -- of not much use to anyone,
- Vyuha is inaccessible like Thirupparkadal,
- Vibhahava are like flood water of river -- long gone
- Antharyami is like water deep down in the ground, requires tremendous effort to get to,
- Archa roopams are like cool waterholes readily available in all temples and homes, for one and all.
So, Swami concludes, like the water in a waterhole for a thirsty man, archa avathara is the best for one tied down by samasara.
Thiruvaradhanai for archa moorthees must be performed everyday. The divinity of Vighraha moorthees will be lost if thiruvaradanam gets interrupted. Salagrama moorthees are somewhat forgiving as the lord is supposed to be ever present in them on his own accord. However, aradhanam for salagrama moorthy must also be not interrupted. In case of saucham, one should have somebody else perform the aradhanai. In case of unavoidable interruption, thirumanjanam of salagrama moorthy in milk is supposed to make up for the lapse, but for Vighrahas a new consecration is needed to restore the divinity.
The thiruvaradhanam for vighrahas must follow strict rules, but salagrama aradhanai can be brief or elaborate, as per desire or convenience. At the very least, one must offer plain cooked or rice, or even just fruits and recite the following two verses from Nachchiyar Thirumozhi.
நாறு நறும் பொழில் மாலிருஞ்சோலை நம்பிக்கு நான்
நூறு தடாவில் வெண்ணை வாய்நேர்ந்து பராவி வைத்தேன்
நூறு தடா நிறைந்த அக்காரவடிசில் சொன்னேன்
ஏறு திருவுடையான் இன்று வந்திவை கொள்ளுங்கொலோ
இன்று வந்தித்தனையும் அமுது செய்திடப் பெறில், நான்
ஒன்று நூறாயிரமாக் கொடுத்து பின்னும் ஆளும் செய்வன்
தென்றல் மணம் கமழும் திருமாலிருஞ்சோலை தன்னுள்
நின்ற பிரான் அடியேன் மனத்தே வந்து நேர் படிலே.
Now, strictly speaking, if cooked food is going to be offered, only a person who is a fully initiated SV (panca samskara) must prepare the food. All vessels and implements must be ritually cleansed, a process called சித்தப் பண்ணுவது. Finally, the SVs are supposed to restrict their intake of food only to the prasdam offered to the Salagramam moorthy during thiruvaradanam. This is the long and short of why SVs are strict about what and where they eat anything.
I offer this explanation without making any value judgment. My own personal position is well known here.