Blowing a Conch (shell)

We consciously or unconsciously follow or perform many customs and rituals during the course of our life. We found ourselves thoroughly involved in these customs. These customs start from our birth and remain with ourselves throughout whole of our life. And one such important ritual is- Blowing a Conch in Hinduism.

In Hindu religion, Conch (Shankh), is of great importance and symbolizes luster, brilliance, purity and auspicious beginning. The conch stands for the five elements, the sound of AUM, salagrama, goddess Lakshmi, the waters, purity and perfection. The discus is the terrible weapon of the Lord Vishnu which he used to destroy the evil and protect the righteous. It symbolically represents the light bearing sun, which illuminates and removes darkness. It also stands for higher consciousness which destroys all illusions.

Shankh literally means ‘pacifying the inauspicious.’ It is used as a trumpet and in order to get rid of negative energy and evil spirits. 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. "Shankha" is considered to be one of the most auspicious objects that emerged from the sea during the Samudra Manthan or churning of ocean. 

Shankha is blown at every festival and auspicious beginning and the sound ushers in freshness and new hope. People usually collect and keep water in conch shell and is sprinkled while performing pujas. While performing Lakshmi Puja, conch shell is filled with milk and then it is poured over the idol. Water collected in Shankh is offered while worshipping sun.

Leaving aside the mythology part, the conch shells significance can also be corroborated by science. If you try holding a shankha near your ear, the sound of the gently humming ocean can be heard. This is actually the natural vibration or cosmic energy of the Earth which gets magnified on entering the conch shell.

The vibrations from these conch shells can overpower evil forces from the Earth and at the same time also clear environmental pollution including healing the hole in the ozone layer which causes global warming. According to science, the blowing of a conch shell enhances the positive psychological vibrations such as courage, determination, hope, optimism, willpower, etc. in the blower as well as those around him.

Blowing conch removes speech defects also. It controls and cures stammering, pulmonary disorders, asthma, cough, liver and spleen ailments etc.

It is also said that if a pregnant lady drinks the water of conch collected after offering to the God, then the new born baby will be a healthy one and free from speech defects.

Thus, we can say that the blowing of Conch in Hinduism is a very important ritual. It holds many scientific secrets which not only benefits us but, also help us in getting closer with the Indian rituals.