Sages, Sãlagrãma & Krishna

The Bhãgavata Purãna
In the Brief Introduction to Muktinath one can read that for Hindus the area of the Gandaki River - also called the Sãlagrãma river - is primarely connected to the veneration of Vishnu in the form of stones called Salagrama Shilas. It is said the most beautiful one can be found at Salagrama, a place where also Krishna, the eight incarnation of Vishnu, is connected to.

Vijayadhvaja's famous 15 th century commentary Padarathnãvali on the Bhãgavata Purãna adds to verse 28 of skandha tenth, chapter ninety, says:

Sages visiting Sãlagrãma to see Lord Krishna
28.3-6. "(In order to see Lord Krishna) Sages of tranquil minds and always engaged in observing religious vows, used to come from sacred places like Pindãraka, Kuruksetra, Sãlagrãma, Puskara, Vãrãnasi, Prayaga, Venkata (Tirupati), Sri-Parvata, from far off places like Gokarna and beautiful Candra-tirtha (the source of the Kaveri from Brahmagiri in Coorg.) from Sahyãdri, Bhrguksetra (Broach), Kumãra-hill, from the banks of the holy Godavari, from the Narmadã, from Surpãraka (Sopara, Thana Dist. Maharashtra), Prabhãsa, the holy Badarikãsrama from the holy Naimasãranya and the inaccessible Brahmadurga."

About the sages he says while continuing:

28.7. "The sages were of different categories (observing different types of vows): Some subsisted on water; some on mere air; some abstained from food altogether, but all of them were firm in the observance of vows, some were clad in bark garments and deer skin, some grew matted hair, while others had clean-shaven heads.

28.8. Some bathed thrice a day, some strictly observed the vow of silence, some were engaged in the study of the Vedas, while others in reciting prayers and hymns to Gods.

28.9. Some devoted their minds to contemplation, some determined on meditative trance. Some had only skin and bones in their persons, a bundle of veins and arteries.

28.10. O king Pariksit! These serene-minded sages came from all directions. These meditators on reality always waited upon Lord Krsna, O emperor."

Source/Translation:
The Bhãgavata Purãna
Translated and annotated by Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare M.A., Ph. D.
Part IV (Skandha X), page 1844-1845
First edition, Delhi 1978

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