Conches - Blow for Health and Serenity
Having grown up listening to my father begin his day by blowing a conch or a shank, as it is commonly called, this auspicious object has found its way into my home as a showpiece. Almost every household in India has a couch either in their pooja room or living room.
The shank in its holy form is a symbol of a beautiful natural work of art that is associated with Lord Krishna. As a matter of fact, in many parts of India, any form of pooja is deemed incomplete without the blowing this instrument. They are available in two form types - left-handed and right-handed.
Left-handed Shankhs
These types of shanks are usually used in religious rituals to make a sound. With its top part facing oneself, the open portion of the shell faces the left hand of the bearer of the shankh. This makes it easy to hold and blow into.
Right-handed Shanks
This type of shell is bent on the right-hand side. Believed to have surfaced during the great ocean-churning process, this type of shankh bears an intimate relationship with Goddess Lakshmi. As a matter of fact, it is believed that the right-handed shankh brings with itself wealth and prosperity.
Apart from being a symbol of Vedic religion and of spiritual significance, blowing of this symbolic item also has many health benefits. Some of them being:
A Great Form of Exercise
It is without an iota of doubt, blowing a conch instrument requires a lot of effort and practice. It provides good exercise for the urinary tract, bladder, lower abdomen, diaphragm, chest and even neck muscles. You also improve the aerial capacity of your lungs as they are also involved in the blowing of the shankh instrument.
A Good Healer
Referred to as a great healer in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, conch shell helps overcome many ailments. Thanks to its chemical composition, water kept overnight in conches, when consumed, help resolve skin ailments and issues related to bones, teeth and stomach.
Keeps You Stress-free
The sound emitted from a shankh also emits positive energy. This positive energy, known as shakti, balances the seven chakras in the body. The vibrations from the shankh purify the air and are believed to destroy disease-causing germs in the atmosphere.
Improves Blood Circulation
Blowing a shankh requires you to inhale a lot of air. This leads to contracting of most of the muscles from the face till the feet. Once you exhale to blow into the instrument, blood gushes in, which improves circulation. As the blood circulation improves, so does the supply of oxygen to all parts of the body.
If you are keen on buying a shankh or a conch online, you can log on to Flipkart and choose from a wide range of options available. Choose the right type of shankh from popular brands such as SG Musical, Bovzen, Rameswaraa and The Holy Mart at great prices.