Agni Purāṇa
46 - Characteristics of different salagrama stones
The Lord said:
1.Ishall describe the characteristics of) the sålagrama marti2 (the different gods represented by different kinds of salagrama stones) which yield enjoyment and emancipation. (The stone called) Vasudeva is black (coloured) around its mouth and has (marks) of two discs on it.
2. The salagroma stones obtained from the beds of Gandaki river in Nepal are associated with the worship of Visnu. The different stones bearing different marks are taken to represent different forms of Visnu.
2. The Sankarsana (stone) is red (in colour) and has marks of two discs (and is considered as) excellent. The Pradyumna (stone) has many holes, elongated and is blue (coloured).
3. The Aniruddha (stone) is yellow (in colour) and has the mark of a lotus. It is circular (inshape) and has two or three rays. The Narayana (stone) is black (in colour) with an elevated and deep hole.
4. The Parameshti (stone) (has the marks of) the lotus and disc. It is perforated at the back and has dots on the surface. The Vishnu (stone) has a big disc (mark). It is black (in colour). It has a line in the middle part. It is of theshape of a mace.
5-6. The Nrusimha (stone) is tawny. It has (the mark of) a big disc and five dots. The Varaha (stone) is of theshape of the female divinity. It has unequal discs. It is of the colour of sapphire. It is large with the marks of three lines and is good. The Kurma stone has an elevated hinder part with circular lines and is black (in colour).
7. The Hayagriva (stone) has a line of theshape of a good. It is blue (coloured) and is dotted. The Vaikuntha (stone) has (the mark of) a disc and lotus. It has the radiance of a gem. It has tail-shaped lines.
8. The Matsya stone is long and has three dots. It is crystal line-coloured and is well formed. The Sridhara (stone) has a garland of wild flowers and five lines and is circular.
9. The Vamana (stone) is circular and is veryshort. It is blue (coloured) and has a dot. The Trivikrama (stone) is black (coloured). It has a line on the right and a dot on the left side.
10. The Ananta (stone) has the mark of the hood of a serpent, it has variegated colours and manifold forms. The Damodara (stone) is big and has a disc in the middle part with two minute dots.
11. The Sudarsana (stone) has (the mark of) a disc. The Lakshminarayana (stone) (is that which has the marks of) two discs. The Achyuta (stone) (has the marks of) three discs. Or the Trivikrama (stone) may have (the marks of) three discs.
12. The Jandrdana (stone) has (the marks of) four discs. The Vasudeva (stone) has (the marks of) five discs. The Pradyumna (stone) has (the marks of) six discs. The Sarkarshana (stone) has (the marks of) seven discs.
13. The Purushottama (stone) has the marks) of eight discs. The Navavyüha form has the marks of nine discs. (The stone representing) the ten manifestations (of Vishņu) (is marked) with ten (discs). The Aniruddha form is marked) with eleven (discs). The Dvādaśātman (class of salagrāma) (is marked) by twelve (discs). (One is deemed to be) the Ananta (class of falagrāma) (if it has) more (discs) than these.
Summary of chapter 46 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
The forty-sixth chapter provides iconographic specifications for the major forms of the Devī. Mahiṣāmardinī Durgā — seated upon or standing on the defeated buffalo demon, wielding ten weapons, attended by her lion — is described with precise specifications for each of the ten arms and their weapons. The terrific form of Kālī — dark complexioned, standing on Śiva's chest, skull-garlanded, tongue extended — is given its iconographic detail. Lakṣmī on her lotus, Sarasvatī with her vīṇā and book, and Pārvatī's benign two-armed form are also described. The chapter also addresses the twenty-four forms of the Yoginīs and their placement in the outer circuits of the maṇḍala. The principle that the Devī's fierce and gentle forms are equally to be honored — they are the same power expressing itself in response to the devotee's need — is affirmed.
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