Why do we blow the conch?

Why do we blow the conch?

Science behind Blowing of the conch:-

When the conch is blown, the primordial sound of Om emanates. Om is an auspicious sound that was chanted by the Lord before creating the world. It represents the world and the Truth behind it.

As the story goes, the demon Shankhaasura defeated devas, the Vedas and went to the bottom of the ocean. The devas appealed to Lord Vishnu for help. He incarnated as Matsya Avataara - the "fish incarnation" and killed Shankhaasura. The Lord blew the conch-shaped bone of his ear and head. The Om sound emanated, from which emerged the Vedas.All knowledge enshrined in the Vedas is an elaboration of Om. The conch therefore is known as shankha after Shankaasua. The conch blown by the Lord is called Paanchajanya. He carries it at all times in one of His four hands.

It represents dharma or righteousness that is one of the four goals (purushaarthas) of life. The sound of the conch is thus also the victory call of good over evil. Another well-known purpose of blowing the conch and the instruments, known traditionally to produce auspicious sounds is to drown or mask negative comments or noises that may disturb or upset the atmosphere or the minds of worshippers. Ancient India lived in her villages. Each village was presided over by a primary temple and several small ones. During the aarati performed after all-important poojas and on sacred occasions, the conch used to be blown. Since villages were generally small, the sound of the conch would be heard all over the village. People who could not make it to the temple were reminded to stop whatever they were doing, at least for a few seconds, and mentally bow to the Lord. The conch sound served to briefly elevate people's minds
to a prayerful attitude even in the middle of their busy daily routine.

The conch is placed at the altar in temples and homes next to the Lord as a symbol of Naada Brahma (Truth), the Vedas, Om, dharma, victory and auspiciousness.

It is often used to offer devotees thirtha (sanctified water) to raise their minds to the highest Truth. It is worshipped with the following verse.

Twam puraa saagarot pannaha
Vishnunaa vidhrutahakare
Devaischa poojitha sarvahi
Panchjanya namostu te

Salutations to Panchajanya
the conch born of the ocean
Held in the hand of Lord Vishnu
and worshipped by all devaas

By blowing the conch the movement of the negative energies is reduced. It becomes easier to attract the sattvik frequencies from the deities and thus remove the obstacles.

Conch should be blown at both times – prior to ritualistic worship and prior to doing aarti. Blowing the conch before doing ritualistic worship helps to destroy the negative energies that would create obstacles in inviting the deities. It also creates a protective sheath of divine consciousness around the materials used for the ritualistic worship.

The ritualistic worship ends by doing the aarti. At this time a large number divine frequencies (from the deities of the universe) get attracted to the place of ritualistic worship. The raja –tama frequencies obstruct the flow of these divine frequencies. Hence in order to destroy these frequencies, the conch is blown prior to the aarti itself. Due to this the surrounding environment is purified which in turn helps to retain the divine consciousness generated during the ritualistic worship for a longer time.

So try to gain the maximum benefit of the sattvik divine frequencies that get attracted during the ritualistic worship by blowing the conch prior to inviting the deities and prior to doing the aarti.

Pic courtesy: SanatanaSanstha