Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.879.3

c9.879.3

He who habitually worships Sālagrāma, should avoid arrogance and should be charitable. He who worships Sālagrāma with the mark of wheel should not covet others’ wealth and women. The cakra from Dvārakā and the stone from Gaṇḍakī will bring atonement in a moment for sins incurred in a hundred births. Even if one has incurred thousands of sins, one will get remission for all of them by drinking the water of Sālagrāma. Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra will attain heaven if they become house-holders according to Vedic convention and worship Sālagrāma. On no account should women worship Sālagrāma. If by ignorance, a woman, whether she is good-natured or of a higher status, happens to touch Sālagrāma, all her merits earned by good deeds will be lost and she will go to hell. Brahmin sages say that women throwing flowers as oblation on Sālagrāma, commit the greatest sin. If a woman touches a Sālagrāma, the offering of Sandal-wood will be like poisoned rice, flowers like diamond, and meals presented to god before being eaten by the servants in the temple, will be like Kālakuṭa (the poison of Vāsuki), to Bhagavān Viṣṇu. If a woman touches a Sālagrāma, she will have to remain in hell for the duration of fourteen Indras. Even the sin of Brahmahatyā (killing a brahmin) will be remitted by drinking the water of Sālagrāma and he will attain heaven.