Lakshmi conch or shell

In Hindu religion, Shankh, or Samkha, is of great importance and symbolizes luster, brilliance, purity and auspicious beginning.

It is a pious article and is used in all religious rituals. The most famous Shankha is the Panchajanaya of Lord Vishnu. In the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna and the five Pandavas had a separate conch shell and it is referred in the beginning of the Bhagavad Gita. In religious rituals, Shankh is used to announce the beginning of a prayer or arrival of deity and in some places sacred water is collected and distributed in it.






Shankh literally means ‘pacifying the inauspicious.’ In Hinduism, origin of the conch shell took place during the Samudra Manthan or churning of ocean.

There are two types of Shankh – left handed conch shell and right handed conch shell. Valampiri Shankh or Lakshmi Shankh is the right handed conch shell and is considered auspicious.

Shankha is blown at every festival and auspicious beginning and the sound ushers in freshness and new hope. Right handed conch shell is kept at home by many people as it is believed to bring wealth and prosperity. It is also associated with Kubera, god of wealth. Many institutions and organizations employ conch shell as their symbol.

Shankha is closely associated with Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. Image of Lord Vishnu always has him holding a conch shell. It is believed that during the Samdura Manthan, first conch shell appeared and it was followed by Goddess Lakshmi.

Usually, right handed conch shell is used for worship. The shell is thoroughly cleaned and is placed on a clean cloth, usually red cloth. Normal puja is performed. In some places, conch shell is placed on a silver or clay pot. A cloth is used to cover the mouth of the pot and it is placed on it.

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.



The sea shell which open towards left hand are commonly available but rare the seashells which open towards Right Side. Shells are obtained from the water-animals especially form snails, which live in the seas.

Dakshina means the south side or when holding the sankh , Right Side. Therefore it is called Dakshinavarti Shankh. Dakshinavarti Shankh is available in white colour and with brown lines on it.

Dakshinavarti Shankh is the symbol of Maha Lakshmi. Godess Lakshmi photo always depicts Dakshinavarti Shank in her hands. Dakshinavarti Shankh shankh shall be kept in Puja Ghar or Locker during any auspicious occasionor festival, Dakshinavarti Shankh brings good luck and prosperity to the individual and his family.

In the Puranas, the gods and goddesses are depicted as holding a shell, whenever they are happy or setting out on war.Whenever the shell is blown it is said to purify the environment form all evil effects. Even the scietists have agreed othe fact that the blowing of a conch increases the positive qualities in the atmosphere such as courage, hope, determination, will -power, optimism,etc.

It is always recommended that every house shall have Dakshinavarti Shankh for wealth, prosperity and Good Luck. It is belived that who keeps this Shell in their locker , they would never face any dearth of money in there life. Dakshinavarti Shankh shall be kept on white cloth in puja Ghar or Wrapped in white cloth, if need to be kept in locker.

One shall light incense in front of dakshinavarti shankh and offer white rice and milk.Ordinarily the conches are Vamvarti i.e their bulge opening towards left side(facing North). Some shells are Dakshinvarti, their bulge opening towards the right side i.e facing south and even their sprial lines run towards the right . South is the direction of Kuber, the God of wealth, Tantrik Shastra has given great importance ot such types of shells. Dakshinvarti shells are very reare and are found only in a very few palces .



Their sizes differ, starting form the size of a wheat gram ot as large as coconut. Mostly these shells ar available only at Kanya Kumari. A completely white coloured-one is very rearely found.Dakshina varti shankh not only bring wealth but also purifies the atmosphere. All the negatives energies are drain out of the place. about Dakshinavarti Shankh.

Classification according to its length: Yavakar- These shells ar very small in size i.e as small as the size of a wheat gain and are dark grey in colour. They are quite strong and connot be crushed eaisly. Ellakar These are a little bigger in almost size of a cardamom, round supari ora lemaon. These shells ar mostly found in lakes. These shells are alos known as Hira shankh. These are as expensive as dimonds and considered very valuable among the shells.Benefits of Dakshinvarti Shankh
1. Prosperity to the house or office
2. No shortage of food, money or clothes.
3. Brings peace to the premises.
4. If kept in the bedroom, it brings harmony among the couple.
5. If kept during a religious gathering, it brings knowledge by evoking Goddess Saraswati.
6. Enlightens the students with knowledge and sharpens their memory.
7. Fill it with Ganges water and sprinkle it on a person or in a premises. Malefic planetery effects and black magic evils disappear.
8. Removes ill-effects of Brahmhatya, Gau-hatya and Bal-hatya (Dosha due to killing of a priest, cow or a child in the previous births).

Shankh is a conch shell. This instrument has a strong association with the Hindu religion. It is said that when it is blown it announces the victory of good over evil. This instrument has limited musical applications.


In Shaivite temple in South India there are Shankha Abhishekham performed to Lord Shiva with 1008 conch shells and rudram is recited.
The significance of blowing the conch shell during pujas and other ceremonies is to denote the evil thoughts and actions to be blown away before the auspecious events take place.

A conch should be blown, when beginning any ritualistic worship and prior to the Arti. By blowing the conch 3 times before beginning any ritualistic worship, movement of negative energies in the environment is reduced. This helps in reducing the obstacle of distressing vibrations and allows the flow of Sattva predominant frequencies of the Deities. This further creates a protective sheath or an armour of Chaitanya around the various items used in the ritualistic worship.

Any ritualistic worship is concluded by performing the Arti. During Arti, the frequencies of the principles of Deities functional in the universe are attracted to the venue of the worship in large numbers. The raja-tama frequencies can create obstacles to the flow of these frequencies. By blowing the conch, the raja-tama frequencies disintegrate; that is why it is blown prior to an Arti.

This purifies the environment and helps in preserving the Divine consciousness generated through the ritualistic worship for a longer period. Thus we derive maximum benefit from the satva predominant frequencies of Deities attracted to the venue of the Arti.

The person blowing the conch should raise his neck upwards (towards God) and fully concentrate on the task at hand. When blowing the conch, the eyes should be closed and a spiritual emotion should be nurtured that one is beckoning the subtler frequencies of the unmanifest, destroyer form of God'.

This posture activates the Sushumnanadi (Central Channel) in the body of the conch-blower. It also helps in maintaining a perfect balance between the raja-tama particles in the frequencies related to the absolute air and absolute fire elements that emanate from the mouth. Thus, as per the requirement - the saviour and destroyer principles of the Deity get activated.