According to the Puranas, once a fierce battle broke out between Lord Shiva and the demon Jallundhara. They both appeared equally matched with no one ready to lose, and hence the battle continued for a long time. In fact it was not like an ordinary battle between the gods and the demons, but it was a match between the chastities of two chaste women Parvati and Vrinda. read more......

Shaligrams of other deities

Although Shaligram stones are generally considered to be various forms of Lord Vishnu, there is an elaborate attempt made at times to further identify certain individual shapes and forms. Thus, there are Shaligrams representing some forms of Shiva, Shakti, Surya, and Ganesha. On close inspection, the stones reveal characteristic differences.

The marks of identification are many - like the number, location and shape of the 'chakras' or spirals present in them, the color and hue of the stones, the precise source of the stones, the lines and scratches on the surface of the stone representing the ayudhas of Lord Vishnu. The devotee needs to be acquainted with the form of the deity that a particular Shaligram symbolizes, before he proceeds to worship it.