The blowing of the ‘shankh’ is something that is seen as absolutely essential in the performance of poojaa and the celebration of various religious occasions in Sanatan Dharma. Indeed, for many people, poojaa is incomplete if they have not heard the powerful sound that emanates from the shankh. It is one of the many practices of our religion that is rarely understood yet is of tremendous significance.
It is said that when the shankh is blown, the primordial sound, Om, reverberates within the immediate surroundings. Om is an auspicious sound that was recited by the Lord at creation. It thus represents the Lord who is the Supreme Truth behind the entire universe. It is a well-established fact that all matter possesses a certain amount of energy and all particles actually vibrate or move. The syllable Om creates positive vibrations that have the potential to bring about wonderful transformations in the lives of devotees. For this reason, it normally precedes all mantras that are recited in poojaa.
Origin of Shankh
The conch is actually called a shankh because Lord Vishnu once defeated the demon, Shankhaasura. The katha describes that the demon, after defeating the Devtas, stole the Vedas and retreated to the bottom of the ocean. After the Devtas appealed to Lord Vishnu for help, He incarnated as Matsya Avataara and killed Shankhaasura. The Lord then victoriously blew the conch-shaped bone of his ear and head. This caused the Vedas to emerge from the depths of the ocean. This is why the syllable Om is said to contain all the knowledge enshrined within the Vedas.
Every incarnation of Lord Vishnu carries the emblem of the shankha, whether as an adornment or imprinted on some part of the body.
Victory Call of Shankh
The shankh that is blown by Lord Vishnu is called ‘paanchajanya’. It is said to represent dharma or righteousness, which is one of the four goals (purushaarthas) of life. The resounding sound of the conch is thus also the victory call that signals the removal of all negativity from within the minds of the devotees. It is also capable of drowning out any unpleasant sounds that may disturb the devotee. Perhaps more importantly, it immediately stabilizes the mind and encourages the devotee to focus on the offering of prasaadam or performance of aarti.
Even if individuals are not actively participating in the worship, merely hearing the sound of the shankh can have a significant effect. It will, if even for a few minutes, help to elevate the listeners’ minds to a prayerful attitude. They instantly forget about the stresses of daily life as they pause to reflect on the Divine. The Devi Bhaagwat also declares that Lakshmi Maa is present wherever the shankh is blown.
The reasons for the inclusion of the shankh are thus quite significant. Indeed, every Hindu home should possess a shankh and even moreso, it should become a regular part of our daily worship.The Shankha is praised in Hindu scriptures as a giver of fame, longevity and prosperity, the cleanser of sin and the abode of Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and consort of Vishnu.
Submitted by Pt. Ishwar Madho Maharaj, Secretary, Dharma Mandal
