Shankha Uses Part 2

Shankha- Part 2, Uses

Did you know that Shankha in a powdered form of its shell material is used in Ayurveda as a treatment for stomach ailments?

Shankha, a Gastropod shell of any suitable sea snail is a sacred [[emblem]] of The Hindu preserver god Vishnu, wiedely used in ancient days as a war trumpet is a part of the state emblem and seal of the Indian state of Kerala. It was the earliest known sound-producing agency as a manifestation of sound, and the other elements came later, hence it is regarded as the origin of the elements.

A Hindu legend in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana recalls the creation of conchs: Shiva flung a trident towards the asuras, burning them instantaneously. Their ashes flew in the sea creating conchs.[6] Shankha is believed to be a brother of Lakshmi as both of them were born from the sea.

Nowadays, the shankha is blown at the time of worship in Hindu temples and homes, especially in the ritual of the Hindu aarti, when light is offered to the deities. The shankha is also used to bathe images of deities, especially Vishnu, and for ritual purification. No hole is drilled for these purposes, though the aperture is cut clean or rarely the whorls are cut to represent five consecutive shells with five mouths.

To make a trumpet or wind instrument, one drills a hole near the tip of the apex of the shankha. When air is blown through this hole, it travels through the whorls of the shankha, producing a loud, sharp, shrill sound. This sound is the reason the shankha was used as a war trumpet, to summon helpers and friends. Shanka continued to be used in battles for a long time. The sound it produced was called "Shankanad".

Shankha is used in Ayurveda medicinal formulations to treat many ailments. It is prepared as conch shell ash, known in Sanskrit as shankha bhasma, which is prepared by soaking the shell in lime juice and calcinating in covered crucibles, 10 to 12 times, and finally reducing it to powder ash. Shankha bhasma contains calcium, iron and magnesium and is considered to possess antacid and digestive properties.

Shankha is used as a material for making bangles, bracelets and other objects. Because of its aquatic origin and resemblance to the vulva, it has become an integral part of the Tantric rites. In view of this, its symbolism is also said to represent female fertility. Since water itself is a fertility symbol, shankha, which is an aquatic product, is recognised as symbolic of female fertility. In ancient Greece, shells, along with pearls, are mentioned as denoting sexual love and marriage, and also mother goddesses.

Brahma Vaivarta Purana declares that shankha is the residence of both Lakshmi and Vishnu, bathing by the waters led through a shankha is considered like bathing with all holy waters at once. 

Shankha was the Royal State Emblem of Travancore and also figured on the Royal Flag of the Jaffna kingdom. It is also the election symbol of the Indian political party Biju Janata Dal.[18] Shankh was also used by sikh warriors before they started the war. The maryada is still practiced by all nihangs while doing aarti aarta prayer and is used in hola mohalla festival as well.

During the great Mahabharata war, Krishna, as the charioteer of the Pandava prince and a protagonist of the epic – Arjuna – resounds the Panchajanya to declare war. Panchajanya in Sanskrit means 'having control over the five classes of beings.

Source: Extracts from article in Wikipedia with my inputs.

Narasipur Char 

Shankha - Characteristics, types and history Part 1

Shankha - Part 1 Characteristics, types and history

Did you know that because of its aquatic origin and resemblance to the vulva, the shankha is linked with female fertility and is an integral part of Tantric rites?

Shankha (conch shell) has religious ritual importance in Hinduism. It is also one of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism, the Ashtamangala, and represents the pervasive sound of Buddhism. It is the shell of any suitable sea snail which had a hole made for the performer's embouchure. It was the earliest known sound-producing agency as a manifestation of sound, and the other elements came later, hence it is regarded as the origin of the elements. It is identified with the elements themselves.

It is of aquatic origin and resemblance to the vulva. In view of this, its symbolism is also said to represent female fertility. Since water itself is a fertility symbol, shankha, which is an aquatic product, is recognised as symbolic of female fertility. It has become an integral part of the Tantric rites.

Shanka shell is from a sea snail species Turbinella pyrum in the family Turbinellidae. This species is found living in the Indian Ocean and surrounding seas. The shell is porcelaneous (i.e. the surface of the shell is strong, hard, shiny, and somewhat translucent, like porcelain).

The overall shape of the main body of the shell is oblong or conical. In the oblong form, it has a protuberance in the middle, but tapers at each end. The upper portion (the siphonal canal) is corkscrew-shaped, while the lower end (the spire) is twisted and tapering. Its colour is dull, and the surface is hard, brittle and translucent. Like all snail shells, the interior is hollow. The inner surfaces of the shell are very shiny, but the outer surface exhibits high tuberculation. In Hinduism, the shiny, white, soft shankha with pointed ends and heavy is the most sought after.

Based on its direction of coiling, the shankha has two varieties - Vamavarta Shankha and Dakshinavarti Shankha

The Vamavarta ("left-turned" as viewed with the aperture uppermost), which is the very commonly occurring dextral form of the species, where the shell coils or whorls expand in a clockwise spiral when viewed from the apex of the shell. In Hinduism, a dakshinavarta shankha symbolizes infinite space and is associated with Vishnu. The Vamavarta shankha represents the reversal of the laws of nature and is linked with Shiva.

A Dakshinavarti Shankh is the very rare sinistral form of the species, where the shell coils or whorls expand in a counterclockwise spiral if viewed from the apex of the shell.

In Hindu history, the shankha is a sacred emblem of the Hindu preserver god Vishnu. It is still used as a trumpet in Hindu ritual, and in the past was used as a war trumpet. 

The shankha is praised in Hindu scriptures as a giver of fame, longevity and prosperity, the cleanser of sin and the abode of goddess Lakshmi, who is the goddess of prosperity and consort of Vishnu.The sound of the shankha symbolises the sacred Om sound.

Shankha is displayed in Hindu art in association with Vishnu. As a symbol of water, it is associated with female fertility and serpents (Nāgas). 

In the Western world, in the English language, the shell of this species is known as the "divine conch" or the "sacred chank" or simply a "chank" or conch. The more common form of this shell is known as "right-turning" in a religious context with scientists calling it "dextral". A very rarely encountered form has reverse coiling which is called "left-turning" in a religious context, which in scientific terminology is known as "sinistral" or left-coiling.

Note: To be continued in - "Shanka- Part 2, Uses"

Source: Extracts from artcile in Wikipedia with my inputs in December 2009

Narasipur Char 

Shankha (Conch) Medicinal Properties & Usage in Ayurveda

Shankha (Conch) Medicinal Properties & Usage in Ayurveda

Shankha (Conch) in AyurvedaSankh (Conch or Sea Shell) has great importance in Ayurveda.

It was used in warfare too by ancient Indians. Krishna’s Conch Paanchajanya, Arjun’s Conch Devdatt, Bheema’s Paundra , Yudhisthira’s Anantavijaya, Nakula’s Sughosa and Sahadeva’s Manipushpaka were extensively used in Mahabharat’s Kurukshetra war.

Warriors of ancient India used to blow conches to announce commencement of war.

Scientific Name : Turbinella pyrum

Common Name : Conch, Shankh (Hindi), Sangu (Tamil), Shankha (Sanskrit), Sankham (Telugu).

Distribution : Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Khambat, and near the Narmada river mouth.

Conch shell is a major object used in prayer by Hindus and Buddhists. It is used as a trumpet to get rid of negative energy and evil spirits.

is also blown to invoke Siva. The special relation between the conch (sankha ) and Siva is evident from the similarity between the word Sankha and the word Sankara, which is one of Siva’s many names.

The word Sankara could have been derived from Sankha-kara which means conch-blower (hankha = conch, Kara = blower).

The shankha is praised in Hindu scriptures as a giver of fame, longevity and prosperity, the cleanser of sin and the abode of Lakshmi, who is the goddess of wealth and consort of Vishnu.

It is also used as a container for holy water ( shankha teertham ). The shankha (conch shell) mudra is also used during various tantric rituals and meditation.

The sound of the conch is associated with the sacred syllable AUM, the first sound of creation. Conches that spiral clockwise are said to symbolize the expansion of infinite space. These conches belong to Lord Vishnu, the preserver god. Conches that spiral counterclockwise are said to defy the “laws of nature,” and belong to the destroyer/transformation god, Lord Siva.

Shankha (Conch) in Ayurveda

A powder made from the shell material is used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, primarily as a cure for stomach ailments and for increasing beauty and strength.

Types of Shankha (Conch)

Dakshinavarti Shankha : Dakshinavarta or Dakshinavarti (“right-turned” as viewed with the aperture uppermost): This is the very rare sinistral form of the species, where the shell coils or whorls expand in a counterclockwise spiral if viewed from the apex of the shell.

Lord Kuber (God of wealth) resides in South and so this shankha represents wealth and prosperity. The sizes differ and can be from the size of a wheat grain to as large as a coconut. Dakshinavarti type of shankhas come from deep seas and are very rare. They’re considered as form of Goddess Lakshmi and kept wrapped in a white cloth at any sacred place or the place of worship or the locker in the house. It is believed to bring good fortune to the person and his family.

Vamavarti Shankha : This is the very commonly occurring dextral form of the species, where the shell coils or whorls expand in a clockwise spiral when viewed from the apex of the shell.

The special geometry of a natural shankha creates a positive energy field and so they are used as Yantras.

Astrologers also recommend the types of shankha and the location where these are to be placed to control negative planetary effects.

Blowing of a Vaamavarti shankha removes the ill effects of negative energies and it purifies our surroundings and soul.

There are many more types of conches like Gaumukhi, Ganesha, Kauri, Moti, Heera etc.

The primordial sound of creation, that is the ‘ Omkar‘ or ‘ Pranavanadham‘ , is what emits when a conch is blowed.

Store some water in a conch overnight and next morning massage your skin with this water. This cures many skin diseases, rashes, allergies etc. It also cures ‘white spots‘ on skin if process repeated for a month.

Store water overnight as above and in morning, add ‘rose water‘ to it. Wash your hair with this mixture. Natural color of hair will restored within few days. This can be used to wash eyebrows, moustache and beard too. Hair will become smooth.

If you suffer from stomach pain, indigestion, laceration in the intestines, drink two spoons of this overnight shankha stored water.

Take equal amount of overnight shankha stored water and normal water. Mix them and wash your eyes to increase eye sight. Take this water in your palm and dip your open eye into it. Move the eyeball from left to right rapidly for few seconds and remove it. This will cure dry eyes, pus in eyes and many eye related problems.

Wrinkles on skin can be reduced by rubbing with a Conch on face and neck after bath. Glow of skin will increase naturally.

Dark Circles under eyes can be cured by gently rubbing with Conch for 5 minutes per day before sleep.

Shankha Bhasma : is an Ayurvedic medicine prepared from Conch shell and is used in treatment of gastritis, abdominal pain, malabsorption syndrome etc. It is a coolant and improves skin color and complexion.

A compound pill called Shankavati is also prepared for use in dyspepsia. In this case, the procedure followed is to mix shankha bhasma with tamarind seed ash, five salts (panchlavana), asafoetida, ammonium chloride, pepper, carui, caraway, ginger, long pepper, purified mercury and aconite in specified proportions. It is then triturated in juices of lemon and made into a pill-mass. It is prescribed for vaata (wind/air) and pitta (bile) ailments, as well as for beauty and strength.

Religious Importance of Shankha (Conch)

Shankha has tremendous religious importance among the Bengalis. Conch bangles ( Shankha porana ) made of conch shell are worn by Bengali Hindu women as ornaments at their weddings as a religious rite. During recitation of wedding hymns, the father of the bride gives her a pair of conch bangles. The groom also brings a pair for her. Hindu women wear conch bangles with utmost devotion seeking the well being of their husbands.

Even in Buddhism, the conch shell has been incorporated as one of the eight auspicious symbols, also called Ashtamangala. The right-turning white conch shell (Tibetan: དུང་གྱས་འཁྱིལ, Wylie: dung gyas ‘khyil), represents the elegant, deep, melodious, interpenetrating and pervasive sound of the Buddhadharma, which awakens disciples from the deep slumber of ignorance and urges them to accomplish their own welfare and the welfare of others.

- Sri Eswaran