Shankh or conch is considered a gift of the ocean and was one of the 14 ratnas produced during the Samudra Manthan – the legendary churning of the ocean. From here we got everything. Even if one does not blow the shankh, and puts it to his/her ear, a definite vibration or sound can be heard. This is the sound of Om, the underlying sound of manifested creation. The shankh is believed to be one of the first sound producing agencies, through which the sound of Om emanates. Blowing of the shankh also produces the sound of Om. It is called Shankhnad.

A symbol of Lord Vishnu, the shankh, when blown, its sound is known to dispel negative energy. It also declares the victory of good over evil and hence was used as a war trumpet in earlier times. Interestingly, the sound of every shankh is different and in olden days warriors were recognized by the sound of their shankh. Lord Krishna is believed to have blown the Panchjanya Shankh before the commencement of the Mahabharata War, declaring in the beginning itself that the opponents would lose. Arjun’s shankh was called Devdutt.  Negativity is repelled by the dhwani (sound) of the conch. It is held firmly between the palms and depending on the level of sadhna of the blower, energy or prana is emitted.

During the course of the experiment, a group of German scientists found that diseases like cholera, plague and thyroid cannot survive in an environment where the shankh is blown regularly. Moreover, the sound actually helps in alleviating these diseases.

The specific geometry of a shankh is considered to generate remarkable energy-effects. The spiral circles create vibrations, which are known to effect changes in body and environment. More extraordinary is the fact that these are formed naturally. Different kinds of shankhs are therefore used as yantras for different purposes in the mantra and tantra based sadhnas.

The Dakshinavarti shankh, which has spirals turning in the counter-clockwise direction, is considered to be the most valuable and is believed to be the abode of Goddess Laxmi – the consort of Lord Vishnu. This variety is only found in the Indian Ocean and that too very rarely. The Brahma Vaivarta Purana declares that bathing in the waters led through a Dakshinavarti shankh is equivalent to bathing with all holy waters at once.

Shankhs also hold great importance in Ayurveda. Drinking water stored in certain types of conches is believed to cure various types of diseases as the water absorbs the medicinal and healing properties of the conch. Conch shell ash or shankh bhasm is also used as a medicinal remedy.

The science in the Vedas needs to be explored more, most of the modern man’s maladies would find cures here.