What is the importance of a Shankh (counch shell) ?

Shankh is the shell of the mollusk. In Sanskrit, shankh signifies elimination of all misfortune – shamyati

ashubham asmad iti. Hence the shankh is considered auspicious in Sanatan Dharma. There are two

types: right sided (dakshinarvata) and left sided (vamavarta). The former is rare, considered more

scared and occurs in the river Tamraparni. It is believed that Lakshmiji resides in right sided shankhs.

Since both sprung, forth from the ocean during Samudra Manthan, they are considered as brother and

sister.

• One of the four sacred objects (ayudha) held by Shri Vishnu is the shankh, known as Panchjanya.

The other three are chakra (disc), gada (mace) and Padma (lotus). Hence it is specially revered

by Vaishnavs.

• Varuna, the diety of water is said to reside in the mind-section of the shankh; Prajapati, the

progenitor of all beings resides in its tail end and the twin river devis Ganga and Saraswati reside

in its front portion.

• It is also believed that all tirths reside in the shankh. It embodies the attributes of purity, power,

beauty and moksha.

• During puja rituals, a special worship rite is performed known as shankh sthapan. It is usually

placed on a special three-legged brass stand, and nerve on the floor. It is offered pujan before

and after puja of the murti.

Uses

• Water filled in a shankh is considered auspicious. Hence it is used during puja rituals and after

arti, representating vayu – one of the Panch Mahabhuts.

• It is used during arti, by blowing through it. Its melodious sound viberations are considered

sacred and drive away devil. This also destroys pollutions in the air.

• Milk, especially that with saffron (kesar) in a shankh is used after grand artis, as well as for

bathing (abhishek) of murtis during prana pratishta and patotsav.

• It is used for worship rituals for all deities except Shiva and Surya.

• It was used as a blow horn to announce the starting and ending the battle, as well as during

rajyabhishek (coronation of a king), to announce victory, during havan and to welcome an

eminent personage or sadhu.

• In the Gita (1/19), the deafening roar of the Pandava shankhs terrified the Kauravs.

• Shankhs are prescribed for bathing (abhishek) shaligrams with water (shankhodak) or milk. Tulsi

leaves are then placed on the shaligram and the shankh.

• The shankh must be located on the right of the kalash and to the left of the worshiper.

• Shankh eligible for worship are obtained from the sea coast of Chennai, Jagannath Puri,

Rameshwaram, and Sri Lanka.

• There also occurs an extremely rare, third type, known as Ganesh-shankh (Salagrama-Kosha

1996). Its shape resembles Ganeshji’s and it is vermilion-hued on the outer surface as well as the

inner, and has a very short tail-end, unlike the usual shankhs.