47 - Mode of worshipping Salagrama 

The Lord said:

1. Ishall describe the mode of worshipping the salagrāma marked with discs for (the sake of) accomplishment. The worship of Hari (in the sålagrāma) is of three kinds- 

(i) kämya performed for gaining particular benefit (ii) akamya performed with disinterestedness about the benefits (iii) Subhayātmikā, that is of the nature of both of them. 

2. (The worship) of the five (manifestations of Vishnu) (such as the Fish¹ etc., is either kämyå or ubhayātmikā. (The worship of the manifestations) of the Boar Man-lion and Dwarf forms (of Vishņu is) for emancipation. 

1. The text does not specify the names of other manifestations. 

3-6. Listen to the three-fold worship of the śālagrāma endowed with discs. The excellent worship is that performed without desiring for the fruits. The worship with desire for the fruits is the last in the rank). The worship of an image is mediocre. In a circular lotus placed on a rectangular seat, having assigned the pranava (the syllable Om) to the heart and having assigned (the sacred syllables) to the parts of the body and havingshown three mudras (positions of fingers in the practice of worship), the preceptorshould be worshipped outside the circle. The attendant gods (ganas)should be worshipped on the west. Dhåtr on the north-west, Vidhatr on the south-west, the Kartå and Hartā on the south and north, Vishvaksena (Vishņu)should be worshipped in the north-east, and Kshetrapalaka (the guardian deity) on the south-east. 

7. The Vedas, Rugveda etc. (should be worshipped) in the east etc. (The serpent) Ananta (which is) the support of the earth, the seat of worship, the lotus, the three orbs-sun, moon and fires (should be worshipped). 

8. The seat (should consist) of twelve letters¹ (forming the mystic formula of the God). Having placed (the God) there, the stoneshould be worshipped with the individual syllables and the whole of the sacred syllable in order. 

1. Om namo bhagavate odsudoodga.

9-10. Then oneshould worship with the vedic sacred syllables accomplished by the syllables such as the gayatri, etc. and praṇava on the east and other directions. Then the three mudrās of the Vishvaksena (Vishņu), the disc and the Kshetrapālashould beshown. This is the first variety of the worship of śālagrāma. Then Ishall describe the one with no merits. 

11. Oneshould draw a circle as before with sixteen radii and with a lotus. Oneshould then worship the preceptor and others with a conch, disc, mace and sword. 

12. The bow and the arrows (should be placed) in the east and the north. The seatshould be placed with the vedic (syllables). The stoneshould be placed with the (sacred) twelve syllables² of the lord. Listen to the third variety of worship.

2. See the previous note. 

13. Oneshould draw a lotus having eight radii and worship the preceptor and others as before. Having offered the seat with the eight sacred letters³ oneshould place the stone with the same (formula). Oneshould worship ten times with that (formula). It is then accomplished by gayatri etc. 

3. Om namo odsudadya.