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The shaligrams are specifically described as black marble-stones which have taken shape in the Gandaki-river, and as characterized by the presence of discus marks. The legend, related at length tells us that Gandaki, the lady-devotee, performed penances for long years and that she got a boon from Vishnu, which made Vishnu reside in her womb (in her depths) as her own offspring; the Shaligram-stones are thus the forms of Vishnu. As the worship of Siva in the form of a lingam, the worship of Vishnu in the shape of a Shaligram is iconic in character. Shaligrams are always naturally found in the river Gandaki. The region where Shaligrams are found is also called Shalgrams. The Shaligrams region is in Mustang and River Gandaki basin. These also include the famous Kali-Gandaki river, Muktinath, Damodar Himal, Damodar Kunda, Devghat.