Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c7.30

v1.c7.30

to Narasimha, Vāmana, Vāsudēva, Saṃkarṣaṇa, Dāmōdara and Aniruddha, Nārāyaṇa, Kṣētra-Vaiṣṇava (?), and Śrīdhara. A *śalagrāma* with three *chakras* is said to belong to Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa. Fine spiralled ones grant all the desires of the worshipper, whereas black ones would give fame (*kīrti*); white *śalagrāmas* destroy sin, and yellow ones confer sons. *Śalagrāmas* of blue, etc., colours grant peace and wealth, while red bestows enjoyment (*bhōga*). Even pieces of the auspicious *śalagrāmas*, might be worshipped. The following specimens must be avoided: badly mutilated, and rough surfaced ones, those having a large number of holes or pits, or scarred with many lines, porous, unusually large sized, those having too many spirals, or having only one loop in the spiral (?), big mouthed or large spiralled, down-looking and burnt ones, very red ones, ill looking ones, and those with a number of *chakras* in a line; worshipping these brings only misery to the worshipper.