Shaligram Pilgrimage in the Nepal Himalayas

This book was an absolutely fantastic look at the ancient traditions surrounding the Shaligram, a sacred fossil venerated by Hindus, Buddhists, Bon, and other indigenous traditions of the Himalayas. Dr. Walters spent a considerable amount of time in Nepal studying the pilgrimages and veneration of the Shaligram, and takes us through the stages and steps of the ritual, from procuring the stones all the way through the death of the practitioners.It's a complex book to read, written for academic context, but as a Hindu priest, I found the book invaluable in helping me understand some of the core ideas of my faith. Shaligrams are incredibly cool, and for people who are interested in detailed looks at religious esoterica, this is absolutely the book for you.