Salagramam / Muktinath

Sthala Purāṇam

Thiru Salagramam, identified with Muktinath in the Mustang region of Nepal's snow-clad Himalayas (some 140-170 miles from Kathmandu), is reckoned among the northernmost of the 108 Divya Desams and stands on the bank of the Gandaki (Kandaki) river, which is famed as the source of the naturally self-manifesting salagrama shilas - aniconic stones regarded as forms of Sriman Narayana that require no consecration (samprokshanam), with the worship of twelve well-kept salagramas held equivalent to honouring all 108 Divya Desams. The presiding deity is Sri Moorthy Perumal, in standing posture (nindra thirukkolam) facing north, with his consort Sri Devi Nachiyar; the vimanam is the Kanaka Vimanam and the tirthams are the Chakkara Theertham and the Kandaki Nadhi. The sthala puranam centres on Tulasi (the goddess of the holy basil), who was promised union with Sriman Narayana; on fulfilling her destiny the Lord declared that her purity and atma would flow forth as a river - the Gandaki - and that he himself would manifest within its waters as the salagrama stones. A distinctive feature is the wall enclosing the shrine on three sides, from which 108 gomukhs (cow-mouth spouts) pour icy glacial water. In the Nalayira Divya Prabandham this kshetram received mangalasasanam from Periyalvar and Thirumangai Alvar.

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📍 28.81708, 83.87169

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