Varaha Purana 145.28: Adhyaya 145, Shloka 28
The Greatness of the Śālagrāma Sacred Region
शालग्राममिति ख्यातं तन्निबोध मुने शुभम् ॥ योऽयं वृक्षस्त्वया दृष्टः सोऽहमेव न संशयः ॥
śālagrāmam iti khyātaṁ tannibodha mune śubham || yo 'yaṁ vṛkṣas tvayā dṛṣṭaḥ so 'ham eva na saṁśayaḥ ||
Ia masyhur dengan nama ‘Śāligrāma’—ketahuilah hakikat yang mulia itu, wahai muni. Pohon yang engkau lihat ini, sesungguhnya Akulah sendiri; tiada keraguan.
Varāha (default dialogue framework)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"dialogue","boar_form_detail":"None (theophany is via identification with a tree named Śāligrāma)","earth_interaction":"Varāha reveals himself to the sage as immanent in a sacred tree, teaching Bhu-devī (as listener) about localized theophany."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious, receptive to sacred-geographic revelation","key_question":"How can the Lord be directly present and recognizable in a specific sacred object/place (here, the Śāligrāma tree)?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The Lord’s cosmic transcendence is paired with immanence: he can be approached through a localized ‘body’ in sacred geography, making darśana accessible without diminishing divinity.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Not the classic limb-to-yajña mapping; instead, ‘tree = deity’ functions as a kṣetra-icon where the visible form becomes a ritual focus for reverence and circumambulation.","vedantic_connection":"Supports saguna-brahman upāsanā: Brahman/Īśvara is knowable through a concrete support (ālambana) while remaining ultimately beyond form."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"theology of presence","core_concept":"Divine self-disclosure: the Lord can identify with a particular locus to grant accessible realization to devotees.","practical_application":"Approach sacred loci with reverence; treat theophanic objects (trees, stones, tīrthas) as living supports for devotion and contemplation."}
Subject Matter: ["Heritage Sites","Sacred Geography","Cosmology"]
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: sacred tree / theophanic site
Related Themes: 145.32.0; 145.34.0
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sage beholds an auspicious tree; Varāha’s voice (or subtle manifestation) declares the tree to be the Lord himself, naming it Śāligrāma.","item_prompts":["prominent sacred tree with markings/garlands","sage in astonishment (añjali)","subtle divine signs: conch/discus motifs in aura or on bark","forest shrine elements: lamp, offerings"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Stylized sacred tree with decorative garlands; the sage in añjali; divine presence indicated by a glowing conch-chakra aura behind the trunk; vivid yet serene.","tanjore_prompt":"Gold-leaf halo around the tree; embossed conch and discus motifs; richly ornamented offerings at the base.","mysore_prompt":"Naturalistic tree with delicate ornamentation; restrained divine aura; emphasis on the sage’s reverent expression.","pahari_prompt":"Lyrical forest scene; the tree as central icon; soft aura and minimal shrine objects; wonder-filled stillness."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"revelatory, wonder-struck","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, declarative, with emphasis on ‘so’ham-eva’"}
FAQs
It is a textual marker for Śāligrāma traditions, presenting a direct identification between a perceived natural object and the speaker’s self-revelation, typical of Purāṇic sacralization of landscape.
Śāligrāma is named; in broader South Asian tradition it is often associated with the Kali-Gaṇḍakī region, though this verse itself does not specify a river or modern location.
It encourages attentive understanding (nibodha) and disciplined perception—recognizing significance attributed to natural forms within the text’s worldview.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Varaha Purana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.