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Rare Conch-Shanka

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Conches (Shanka in Sanskrit) have been used by the Hindus for thousands of years as money, musical instrument, decorative art pieces and objects of worship. We get them from the sea. Most of the conches are anti clockwise. But very rarely we get clockwise conches and they are called Dakshinavarta Shanka ( In Tamil ‘Valampuri’). This means right whorl or clockwise whorl. They are more valuable and holier than the normal ones. The type of conches used by the Indians is ( Turbinella Pyram) coming from Indian Ocean. But cheaper varieties are available from South Africa.
English word conch came from the Sanskrit word ‘Shank’. It is used in all the temples for doing Abhisheka (bathing the Gods/statues ) with Ganges water or milk. During the month of Kartika, all the South Indian Shiva temples use 1008 Shanks for Abhisheka, which is a sight not to be missed. Hindus throng to the temples on Kartik Somwar (Monday) to see it. Conches are revered by Vaishnavites too for being in the hand of Vishnu.

Special Names in Bhagavad Gita

Ancient Hindus gave special names for the Shanks they used in the battle fields or royal palaces. Krishna’s conch was called Panchajanya. The five Pancha Pandavas had the following Shankas: Arjuna: Devadatta (Given by God), Bhima: Paundaram (Lion’s Roar), Dharma: Anantha Vijayam (Eternal Victory), Nahula and Sahadeva: Sugosham (Sweet Voice) and Mani Pushpakam (Jewel-Blossom). Following the play of Kaurava’s war drums, the Pandavas blew their famous Shanks and started the great Mahabharata war (Bhagavad Gita 1-15).

These sacred conches were on the flags of the Hindu Kings once. Travancore Maharaja had this on his flag. It is considered one of the Eight Auspicious symbols of Buddhists. Tibetans and Chinese keep them in the Buddhist Viharas. Many of them are covered with gems, gold and silver plates. Of late these have been auctioned by big Western auction houses for thousands of dollars. Museums around the world have acquired such conches.

Tamil and Sanskrit Literature

The Dakshinavarta (Right Whorl) conches were sought after by kings and religious leaders. Tamil Sangam literature mentioned this as Valampuri Sangu in several places. Following are some of the references: Akananuru 201, 350; Ainku.193; Kali 135;Thiru.23, 127;Nar.172;Nedu.142; Pathi.67-6; Pari.3-88, 13-44, 15-59; Pura.225, 397; Peru.35; Mullai.2

Varaha Purana, Skanda Purana and other mythologies speak about the greatness of these special Shankas. If anyone does Puja with these Shankas, one gets great merits. Since they believed that they have medicinal properties children were fed with conches and conch powder was used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Dakshinavarta Shanka is considered a lucky object. Hindus believe that they will attract money. So they spend a big amount to buy them. Indian Type Right Whorl conch is sold for lakhs of rupees depending upon their size. It is very rate to get in big size. Since they are holy, they never leave them on the floor. They make special stands with precious metals for the conches.

British Museum in London, Metropolitan Museum in New York and other famous museums display gold plated or handled conches. Bengalis use bangles and other ornaments made up of white conches till this day. It plays a very important part in their wedding ceremonies. Father of the bride and the bridegroom family give conch bangles to the bride which she wears though out her life. If they are broken they are replaced immediately. Wearing broken conches or breaking them is considered inauspicious. Ancient excavations show big conch industries.

During Puja time, religious Hindus blow with conches. In the olden days, if anything valuable found anywhere, it was donated to the king and he in turn donated invaluable things to Gods in the temples. Thus temples were big depositories of rare and expensive objects.

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