The shankh or the conch is the most ancient wind instrument known to
man. It was obtained as a gift from the great ocean-churning. It is
held very sacred and reference to it is found in all the
ancientliterature of India. It is seen in the hands of almost all the
goddess/god, whenever they are happy or setting out on a war. Goddess
Lakshmi were carried ashore on a scallop shell

The spiral formation inside the conch-shell is symbolic of infinite
space which gradually expands in clock-wise direction. The Shell is
also like the Human Journey Through Life, Birth, Life, Resurrection,
Love, Good Luck. The shell's hard casing protects life, the pearl
inside, and its aquatic nature associates it with the feminine, lunar,
and virginity. Symbolic with music, the conch shell's spiral form and
relation to water cause it to represent the beginning of existence.

The shankh is regarded as one of the attributes of Vishnu. It is one
of the 5 weapons of Vishnu to destroy evil forces. On the battle field
of Kurukshetra in the Mahabhrata, every morning the start of warfare
was signaled by the blowing of the Shankh and again every evening, the
war for that day used to be ended with blowing the Shankh. Every great
King and army chief had his own particular Shankh.

Whenever the shell is blown, it is said to purify the environment from
all evil effect. Even the scientists have agreed to the fact that the
blowing of a conch increases the positive qualities in the atmosphere
such as courage, hope, determination, will-power, optimism, etc. It is
also a call to awakened one from ignorance and announces the victory
of good over evil. The sonorous sound of conch shell honors and
salutes the Lord of Creation. It was the primordial sound of creation
and the divine sound "Om" The sound of welcome and in relation to its
symbolic nature with music and water, the conch shell's spiral form
represent the beginning of existence.

The devotees blow the Shankh before the supreme God with sentiments
of welcoming Him in their hearts and as a symbol of His divine grace
especially at the beginning of worship of the deity. The blowing of
the shell during any auspicious occasion, is said also to bring good
luck and prosperity.

In Buddhism the conch shell's call too meant to awakens the faithful
from ignorance and a sign of victory over samsara, or suffering
existence. In Chinese Buddhism, the conch shell can signify a
prosperous journey, and in Islam it represents the hearing of the
divine word. In medieval Christianity the scallop shell was the emblem
of St. James, the patron of pilgrims, so the shell came to symbolize a
pilgrimage. The scallop shell is also associated with the guardian
angel Raphael, and the Virgin Mary. In later Christianity, it
symbolized resurrection and baptism. Used throughout the Pacific rim
cultures as a signaling and ceremonial wind instrument. Known as
'Putatara' to the Maori. Used by the Aztec culture in ceremonies to
signal the 4 directions, and used to call the rain god 'Tlaloc'. It is
said that Quetzalcoatl created life with the aid of a conch shell and
he is always pictured wearing a conch pectoral. In the Maya region,
conch shells were associated with the Underworld and conch trumpets
were used during rituals to recall ancestors or supernaturals. Known
as the 'Pututo' among the Indians of the highlands in South America.
Used in religious events, communal gatherings, festivals, and
processions. Used by Triton the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, this
merman of the ancient Greeks was often depicted with a trumpet made
from a conch which he used to raise or calm storms

adi_shakthi16

in every bengali household, one will see a conch placed near the
deities at the altar!. the conch is blown once or several times before
ritualistic worship (pooja). It is sometimes blown whilst during
aartis. The conch is placed at the altar in temples and homes next to
the Lord as a symbol of naada brahma (truth), the vedas, Om, dharma,
victory and auspiciousness. the conch is often used to offer devotees
tirth (sanctified water) to raise their minds to the highest truth.

during, weddings (bengali) the conch is blown real loudly to drown any
evil spirits... our chumki can elaborate on this custom better than i
do. Another wel known purpose of blowing the conch and other
instruments, known traditionally to produce auspicious sounds is to
drown or mask the negative comments or noises that may disturb or
upset the atmosphere or the minds of the worshippers.

in certain indian dance forms like manipuri , conch is one of the
important accompanyments.

the conch is blown before a battle starts or to announce the victory
of an army. thus in the bhagvat gita, there is a vivid description of
the blowing of the conch....

a dear friend of mine yogaji wrote in our club bhraman on this...
Bhishma blew his conch-shell---"simhanaadam vinadyochaihi";

Lord Krshna also blew his, Paancajanya (name of a special tyoe of
conch) ----"maadhavaf paandavaschaiva divyosankhau pradadhmatuh ..."

Then, Arjuna, Yudhishthira, Bhim sena, Nakula and Sahadev all blew
their respective conchshells--

"paancajanyam hrshikesho devadattam dhananjayah,
paundram dadhmau mahaasankham bhimakarma vrkodarah"..
"anantavijayam raajaa kuntiputro yudhishthirah,
nakula sahadevasca sughoshamanipushpakau.."

in yoga, we have a mudra called shankha mudra...



SHANKH MUDRA (SHELL POSTURE)

Place firmly the left-hand thumb on the right palm and close the
fist.
Let the right-hand thumb touch the remaining fingers. Thus all the
four fingers touch the fire element. This mudra leads the hand in
conch shape. Thus it is called "Shankh mudra". The opening
between fingers and thumb at the upper side is like the mouth of
the
conch. If You try to blow through this portion, as you blow a sound
similar to that provided by a conch is generated. This mudra can
also be formed by changing hands.


evil_djinia

I have to add a few things:

Resonance from sound of conch can destroy airborne
microorganisms

2 types of conchs are used, right and left handed. Left handed or
with an opening on the left if head is towards bearer is the
brother
of Laxshmi and friend of Vishnu. Right handed has opening on right
and is still held in right hand. Vishnu held the right handed conch
in
right hand at the churning of the ocean of existence. Laxshmi was
born from the churning ocean and then Vishnu married her. The
right handed conch bestows prosperity when worshipped.

On Thursday the right handed conch should be washed in
panchramit, then kept on red cloth and worshipped with white
sandalwood mixed with camphor and saffron, flowers, rice, incense,
and light. One should feed a young priest and give him some money.
The conch should then be kept wrapped in red cloth in a silver pot.
This conch can be worshipped as Vishnu and Laxshmi and will
solve financial problems. Japa can be done - the mantra is

om hreem shreem kleem shreedhar karasthaya payonidhi jataya
shree dakshinavart shankhaya hreem shreem kleem shree karaaya
poojyaaya namah.

Finally, water poured from conch on a person destroys his sins, and
milk poured from conch on Laxshmi statue increases wealth.

All this taken from guide "Gems and Rudraksha" put out by Rudra
Centre www.rudraksha-ratna.com



adi_shakthi16


thanks djinia for a post filled with valuable information.

my sister brought for me a beautifuul "valampuri" shankh from a
temple resort in south india - believe me, i gave it to my daughter
with my blessings and since then, "lakshmi devi" has taken a
permanent residence in their abode!

have you heard of "moti shankh" - a shankh shining like a pearl?
well, it has great properties...

pl visit this link

www.siddhashram.org/s20000529.shtml - 29k - Cached - Similar
pages

members, our djinia has mentioned about panchamrit -

what is this panchamrit? it is made out of five ingredients and i
have
the vest receipe for it - obtained from the tirupatti devastanam?
any
one interested?


Love