Date uploaded in London – – 10 March 2024
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Sankha Conch in Hinduism – Part 2 (Post No.13,081)
Hindus blew Chanks in London Demo. against Anti Hindu BBC.
Why is that Dakshinavarta (Valampuri) is considered holy? Hindus invented the clockwise system. Anything clockwise is holy in Hinduism. They do all auspicious things by going round in the clockwise direction ; if it is temple they go round the god in clockwise direction. They use only right hand in all temple rituals. Going clockwise is called Pradakshina; that is you stand facing sun in the east and turn Dakshina/South. So the very word Pradakshina shows that you turn in clockwise direction. Only in funeral ceremony they do Apradakshina (anti- clockwise). Another reason is rarity; in Nature we have less Dakshina Avarta (Right whorl) Sankhas/conches/shells.
The Indian chank Turbinella pyrum is a shell with special meaning in India. Its transformation into a shell trumpet is accomplished by simply knocking off its apex. It is found only in Indian ocean around Andaman Islands and Gulf of Mannar.
A reversed Chank is valuable because it is extremely rare. Hindus call it right whorled Chanks; but biologist call it left handed chanks because they look it from different angle (topsy turvy). These conches/ Chanks are encased in gold or silver and kept in temples for use. They have stands embedded with precious stones. Cheap varieties are available from South Africa and Florida (USA); they are not smooth ones found in temples but with thorny edges.
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In the Vedas
Valampuri = Dakshinaavarta Sankha/Chank/Conch
Following information is taken from Wisdom Library
Śaṅkha (शङ्ख) or Śaṅkhamaṇi refers to one of the Maṇis (protection amulets) mentioned in the Atharva-veda. Maṇis refer to small round objects made from natural plant parts or from the solid coverings of animal bodies. It has the properties of being an amulet for protection and warding off evil spirits. or as an herb for treating illnesses. Sudev Krishna Sharman G. listed 9 types of Maṇi [e.g., śaṅkha-maṇi [sangkhamani]—means pearl from the conch shell (Strombus gigas or Conch Pearl)] according to the Atharvaveda including specifying assumptions about the meaning.
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In Tamil Houses
Sankha Nidhi and Padma Nidhi are two treasures of Kubera. Tamil houses , particularly, Chettiar community business keep the symbols on main doors of their palatial houses.
Kubera’s Nine Treasures
Valampuri Chank- Cheap Variety
Śaṅkha (शङ्ख, “conch”):—One of the nine symbols representing the cosmic principles of the universe, according to the Pāñcarātra literature. These nine weapons and ornaments symbolize the principles which they represent as the presiding deity. The Conch (śaṅkha) represents sāttvic ahaṃkāra (‘virtuous and rightous egoism’).
Source: archive.org: Isvara Samhita Vol 5
Śaṅkha (शङ्ख) or Śaṅkhamudrā is the name of a mudrā described in the Īśvarasaṃhitā 31.33.—Accordingly, “the left thumb shall be grasped with the right fist. The fingers in the left hand are to be placed on those of the right. The tip of the left forefinger shall mutually adhere face to face with the right. This is śaṅkhamudrā when it is on the back”. Mūdra (eg., Śaṅkha-mudrā) is so called as it gives joy to the tattvas in the form of karman for those who offer spotless worship, drive out the defects which move about within and without and sealing up of what is done.
Source: archive.org: Isvara Samhita Vol 1
Śaṅkha (शङ्ख) and Padma are the two treasures (nidhis) which dharma bears. These are intended to help those people who pursue the right course conduct in order that the pursuits (kāma and artha) would have been fruitfully taken up by them. Kāma means desires in life. Artha means wealth or economic condition. Money is required to pursue these. The two measures Śaṅkha and Padma are thus helpful for them in pursuing these goals. The Viṣvaksena-aṃhitā (XX 87-88) mentions conch, discus and yellow cloth while describing dharma.
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Musical Instrument
Śaṅkha (शङ्ख) refers to a “musical instruments” that existed in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) as mentioned in the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—The Nīlamata says that the land of Kaśmīra was thronged with ever-sportive and joyful people enjoying continuous festivities. Living amidst scenes of sylvan beauty they played, danced and sang to express their joys, to mitigate their pains, to please their gods and to appease their demons.
The Nīlamata mentions Śaṅkha twice.
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The conch represents the first manifestation of articulate language—AUM—nāda-brahman. This monosyllable contains within itself all language and meaning in a potential state. It is the seed from which speech developed—the nutshell containing the whole of knowledge and wisdom. All matter is light and vibration. All the forms of the universe are effects of the primeval sonic vibration. Thus the conch is the symbol of the origin of exist e nce. Its shape is a spiral, starting at one point and evolving into ever increasing spheres. It comes from water, the first compact element. When blown it produces the sound AUM.
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa (p)
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Śaṅkha (शङ्ख) refers to one of the eight Divine Serpents visualized as the decorations (nāgābharaṇa) of Garuḍa, according to the second chapter of the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā (Toxicology).—Accordingly, text text dictates that a Garuḍa-upāsaka, the aspirant, must meditate on Garuḍa of the following form—[…] He shines with his head adorned with a crown, bedecked with jewels, handsome in every limb, with tawny eyes and tremendous speed, shining like gold, long-armed, broad-shouldered and adorned with the eight divine serpents or Nāgas [e.g., Śaṅkha form his crown]. Śaṅkha form his crown.
1Śaṅkha (शङ्ख).—Considered to be a great, sublime treasure, found in Kubera’s court. Brahmadatta, King of Pāñcāla attained heaven as he used to give Śaṅkha to good brahmins. (Śānti Parva, Chapter 234 and Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 137). Śaṅkha appeared on earth, according to one belief, from the bones of Śaṅkhacūḍa. (For details see under Tulasī, Para 2).
Śaṅkha (शङ्ख, “conch”): a Musical Instrument.—The Jātakas mention it. In the epic war-scenes use of the śaṅkhas is very common, and we find in the Gītā the śaṅkhas of various warriors mentioned by name. Kauṭilya testifies to the use of śaṅkhas in war. The Vāyu-purāṇa, however, shows its use only in connection with the worship of Śiva by the Bhūtas.
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Source of Aum
The conch (Śaṅkha) in Viṣṇu’s upper left hand represents the first manifestation of articulate language— AUM— nāda Brāhman. This monosyllable contains within itself all language and meaning in a potential state. It is the seed from which speech developed — the nutshell containing the whole of wisdom.
All the forms of the universe are effects of the primeval sonic vibration. Thus the conch is the symbol of the origin of existence. Its shape is a spiral, starting at one point and evolving into ever increasing spheres. It comes from water, the first compact element. When blown it produces the sound AUM.
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In Mathematics
Śaṅkha (शङ्ख) refers to a “quintillion” (1,000,000,000,000,000,000) in various lists of numeral denominations, according to gaṇita (“science of calculation”) and Gaṇita-śāstra, ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy.—We can definitely say that from the very earliest known times, ten has formed the basis of numeration in India. While the Greeks had no terminology for denominations above the myriad (104), and the Romans above the milk (103), the ancient Hindus dealt freely with no less than eighteen denominations [e.g., śaṅkha]. Cf. Yajurveda-saṃhitā (Vājasanyī) XVII.2; Taittirīya-saṃhitā IV.40.11, VII.2.20.1; Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā II.8.14; Kāṭhaka-saṃhitā XVII.10, XXXIX.6; Anuyogadvāra-sūtra 142; Āryabhaṭīya II.2; Triśatikā R.2-3; Gaṇitasārasaṃgraha I.63-68.
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Śaṅkha (शङ्ख, “conchshell”) is a Sanskrit word referring to a musical instrument, to be sounded during the ceremony of “laying the foundation” of the playhouse (nāṭyamaṇḍapa), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra 2.35-37.
—subham—
Tags- Sankha, Chank, Conch, in Hinduism, Part 2
Tamil and Vedas 