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Friday, May 06, 2011

Why do we blow the conch?

JAY SHREE POOJYASHREE SHREE AMMA

JAY MAHAN BRAHMASHREE GOPALAVALLIDASAR

JAY SHREE RADHEKRISHNA SATHSANG

Radhekrishna Dear Readers,

We concluded the topic on “Why do we worship the tulasi?” in our previous post. We have seen so many medicinal uses of the tulasi plant in the last 3 posts. In this post we shall learn about another hindu ritual through the 18th question of our question & answer series.

Why do we blow the conch?

Let us first know about a conch. What is a conch? For the benefit of those readers who do not know about a conch, let us start the topic by knowing about the same.

In Sanskrit, a conch is known as ‘Shankha’.

Shankha, is a ritual object, a religious object consisting of a conch shell, a kind of large sea shell. It is the shell of a large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk. The specie has the scientific name Turbinella pyrum and is classified within the family Turbinellidae.

In Hinduism the Shankha is a sacred emblem of the Lord Vishnu. The shankha is still used as an instrument in Hindu ritual, and was used as a war trumpet in the past. The Shankha is praised in Hindu scriptures as a giver of fame, longevity and prosperity, the cleanser of sin and the abode of Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and consort of Vishnu.

The Shankha is displayed in Hindu art in association with Lord Vishnu.

We shall know more about the conch i.e. Shankha in our next post.

Section II: Information about Indian herbs

In this post let us know about the plant called as Alsi, also known as Linseed in English and Linum Usi Tatissimum in Latin.

1. Seeds and oil of the plant are used as medicine.

2. It’s a useful remedy for cough and asthma, also useful in inflammations

3. Its used as a poultice for abcesses

4. Ointment made from it relieves pain of burns

That concludes the post for the fortnight. Till the next post on 22nd May, Radhekrishna!


Sarvam Guruvaarpanam


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