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Religious significance
The puranas describe river Gandak as a sacred
stream. Legends have that the river is actually the body of Vrinda Devi
(one of the incarnations of Goddess Lakshmi), daughter of a demon named
Nemi and the faithful wife of Jalandhar. Jalandhar became invincible in the
three worlds, mainly because of a boon from Lord Bramha – he would be free
from death till his wife Vrinda was a chaste. As a last resort to kill
Jalandhar, Lord Vishnu cheated on Vrinda by assuming Jalandhar’s form.
Vrinda in her wrath cursed and turned the Lord into a black stone or
Saligrama. Lord Vishnu too retaliated and turned Vrinda’s body into Gandak
river and her hair into the sacred Tulsi plant. Thus, origin of the
ammonite black stone or Saligrama found on the bed of the river Gandak may
be attributed to their legend.
The sacred Saligrama stones (black
ammonite stone), are found only on the bed of river Gandak near Muktinath,
Nepal. These naturally formed stones are used by devout Hindus to worship Lord
Vishnu.
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Saligrama stones
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