Did you know that because of its aquatic origin and resemblance to the vulva, the shankha is linked with female fertility and is an integral part of Tantric rites?

Shankha (conch shell) has religious ritual importance in Hinduism. It is also one of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism, the Ashtamangala, and represents the pervasive sound of Buddhism. It is the shell of any suitable sea snail which had a hole made for the performer's embouchure. It was the earliest known sound-producing agency as a manifestation of sound, and the other elements came later, hence it is regarded as the origin of the elements. It is identified with the elements themselves.

It is of aquatic origin and resemblance to the vulva. In view of this, its symbolism is also said to represent female fertility. Since water itself is a fertility symbol, shankha, which is an aquatic product, is recognised as symbolic of female fertility. It has become an integral part of the Tantric rites.

Shanka shell is from a sea snail species Turbinella pyrum in the family Turbinellidae. This species is found living in the Indian Ocean and surrounding seas. The shell is porcelaneous (i.e. the surface of the shell is strong, hard, shiny, and somewhat translucent, like porcelain).

The overall shape of the main body of the shell is oblong or conical. In the oblong form, it has a protuberance in the middle, but tapers at each end. The upper portion (the siphonal canal) is corkscrew-shaped, while the lower end (the spire) is twisted and tapering. Its colour is dull, and the surface is hard, brittle and translucent. Like all snail shells, the interior is hollow. The inner surfaces of the shell are very shiny, but the outer surface exhibits high tuberculation. In Hinduism, the shiny, white, soft shankha with pointed ends and heavy is the most sought after.

Based on its direction of coiling, the shankha has two varieties - Vamavarta Shankha and Dakshinavarti Shankha

The Vamavarta ("left-turned" as viewed with the aperture uppermost), which is the very commonly occurring dextral form of the species, where the shell coils or whorls expand in a clockwise spiral when viewed from the apex of the shell. In Hinduism, a dakshinavarta shankha symbolizes infinite space and is associated with Vishnu. The Vamavarta shankha represents the reversal of the laws of nature and is linked with Shiva.

A Dakshinavarti Shankh is the very rare sinistral form of the species, where the shell coils or whorls expand in a counterclockwise spiral if viewed from the apex of the shell.

In Hindu history, the shankha is a sacred emblem of the Hindu preserver god Vishnu. It is still used as a trumpet in Hindu ritual, and in the past was used as a war trumpet. 

The shankha is praised in Hindu scriptures as a giver of fame, longevity and prosperity, the cleanser of sin and the abode of goddess Lakshmi, who is the goddess of prosperity and consort of Vishnu.The sound of the shankha symbolises the sacred Om sound.

Shankha is displayed in Hindu art in association with Vishnu. As a symbol of water, it is associated with female fertility and serpents (Nāgas). 

In the Western world, in the English language, the shell of this species is known as the "divine conch" or the "sacred chank" or simply a "chank" or conch. The more common form of this shell is known as "right-turning" in a religious context with scientists calling it "dextral". A very rarely encountered form has reverse coiling which is called "left-turning" in a religious context, which in scientific terminology is known as "sinistral" or left-coiling.

Note: To be continued in - "Shanka- Part 2, Uses"

Source: Extracts from artcile in Wikipedia with my inputs in December 2009

Narasipur Char