The Panchajanya Conch (Shankha)

Most people think of Krishna as a naughty but lovable child.

However there are many facets to Krishna’s colorful character.

He annihilated many demons and was a great ruler.

He expounded the fascinating philosophy of the Bhaagvad Geeta before the Great Battle of Mahabharata was fought.

When the great battle Mahabharata was about to be waged in Kurukshetra, a conch was blown to strike terror into the hearts of the enemy.

That conch was called the Panchajanya Conch.

Today I am going to tell you how the conch came to be known by that name.

There was once a wicked demon. His name was Panchajanya.

Panchajanya tempted the young people into performing wrong acts.

By engaging in wrong activities, the young people’s lives were ruined.

Lord Krishna’s Guru’s name was Sandipany.

The son of Sandipany had become prey to the evil acts of Panchajanya.

Krishna rescued the son of Sandipany and returned him to his parents.

From the bones of Panchajanya, Krishna carved out a conch.

When this conch was blown, it warned the evil people what fate awaited them, if they continued in their wicked activities.

When the great battle Mahabharata was about to be waged in Kurukshetra, it was the Panchajanya conch that was blown to strike terror into the hearts of the enemy.

The conch is also blown during auspicious occasions.

The sound of the conch is like the ‘Om’ sound.

There is another story connected with the Conch.

There was a demon called Shankhaasura.

He defeated the Devas, stole the Vedas (Spiritual Scriptures) and went to the bottom of the ocean. The Devas prayed to Lord Vishnu for help.

Lord Vishnu incarnated as the Matsya (fish) Avtaar and killed Shankhaasura.

Lord Vishnu blew the conch shaped bone of his ear. The ‘Om’ sound came out of it and the Vedas were released from captivity.

That is the reason why the conch is called ‘Shankha’ and the knowledge of the Vedas is contained in the sound of ‘Om’ that emanates from the Shankha.