Importance and use of Shankha | The Significance and Benefits of the Conch Shell (Shankha) in Hindu Traditions

Shankha is considered extremely auspicious in Jain, Buddhist, Shaiva, Vaishnava etc. traditions. It is very dear to Lord Vishnu, that is why wherever Lord Shri Narayan is worshipped, Shankhnaad is definitely done there.

Shankha is also one of the 14 gems that came out of Samudra Manthan. Shankha has great importance in the worship done in Sanatan tradition. Almost all the gods and goddesses in Hinduism have held Shankha in their hands.

According to Hindu mythology, Kubera, the god of wealth, had eight auspicious gems, and one of them was Shankhnidhi.

During the Kurukshetra war, Lord Krishna, who was the charioteer of the Pandava prince and epic hero Arjuna, blows the Panchajanya conch to announce the war. Panchajanya in Sanskrit means 'having control over the five classes of beings'. All the five Pandava brothers are described to have their own conches. Yudhishthira had Ananta-Vijaya, Bhima had Paundra-Khadga, Arjuna had Devadatta, Nakula had Sughosh and Sahadeva had Mani-Pushpaka.

Origin of Shankha

Shankha is a sacred object related to our life which is used from worship to treatment. It is believed that Shankha originated from the demon, son of Dambh, a devotee of Lord Vishnu. It is said that different types of Shankhas were formed in the bones of Shankhachud.

Importance of Shankh in Puja

Since ancient times, our sages and saints have been using the sound of Shankh in their worship and meditation. Shri Hari's favorite musical instrument fulfills the wishes of a devotee and makes his life happy. It is believed that by blowing the Shankh, all the obstacles, defects etc. are removed as far as its sound reaches. The sound emanating from the Shankh destroys negative energy.

How to worship Shankh?

After bringing a new Shankh home, first of all keep it in a clean vessel. Then clean it thoroughly with water. After this, bathe it with raw cow milk. Then bathe it with Ganga water. After this, wipe the Shankh with a clean cloth and worship it with sandalwood, flowers, incense etc. After this, request Lord Vishnu and Mother Lakshmi to reside in this Shankh. To get auspicious results, worship the Shankh in this way before performing Puja every day and then play it.

Benefits of Shankh

The Shankh was born along with Goddess Lakshmi during the Samudra Manthan. In such a situation, Shankh is considered to be the brother of Goddess Lakshmi. It is believed that in the house where there is a Shankh, Goddess Lakshmi always resides there. Dakshinavarti Shankh is considered to be equal to God. Keeping it in the place of worship and blowing it is considered extremely auspicious. Shankh should always be kept filled with water at the place of worship. Filling the Shankh with water and sprinkling it in the house eliminates the negative energy of the house. Blowing the Shankh in the morning and evening in the house also removes the hindrance of ghosts.

Benefits of Shankh for health

Conch is used in Ayurveda medicinal formulations to treat many ailments. Conch has spiritual and mythological importance, as well as it is very beneficial for health. Drinking water kept in the Shankh overnight cures many diseases like jaundice, bones, teeth, stomach problems. It contains calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and sulfur. The sound waves produced by blowing the Shankh balance the chakras in the body.

The vibrations produced by the conch purify the air and it helps in destroying disease-causing germs in the environment. It helps in developing good lung capacity. Blowing the conch also has a positive effect on the thyroid, neck muscles and vocal cords.