| Product Tags | Tibetan Conch Shell, Mahakala Hand Carved, Ritual Object, Religious Object, Natural Sea conch shell, Hinduism shankha, Shankha, Buddhisim shankha |
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Tibetan Conch Shell with Black Mahakala Hand Carved
Weight: 1.14 kg
Size: 20 cm
Material: Conch shell
About the Product
Brief Introduction
Iconography
The two-armed Mahakala called Bernakchen is a protector of the Karma Kagyu school. It is often thought to be the primary protector but it is actually the main protector of the Karmapas specifically.
This protective deity is described as figures possessing stout bodies short but thick and strong limbs. His flaming hair decorated with a crown of skulls rises from his forehead while a circle of flames dance around him. His face possesses a typical wrathful expression. The mouth is contorted to an angry smile from its corners protrude long fangs. The protruding bloodshot eyes have an angry and staring expression and usually a third eye is visible in the middle of the forehead.
In his right hand he holds a chopper which symbolizes the cutting through of negative patterns such as aggression hatred and ignorance. In his left hand he holds a skull cup a ritual element typically filled with blood or human brain matter. He is seen standing on the corpse of two human bodies thus symbolizing the death of negativities and the complete uprooting of negative patterns to such a point that like a dead body they will not come to life.
Mantra of Mahakala
Sankha: Brief Introduction
An offering vessel; a symbol of Vishnu. In Hindu tradition the conch shell seems to have been extensively used in wars by ancient Indian. The white conch shell whose humming sound proclaims the glory of the saints. It is especially given as a symbol to the gods as the sound vibrated through a shell penetrates far and wide.CONCH SHELL: IconographicThe conch shell this has been used as the original from the past ancient times in ancient history of Nepal and India these horns are used to commence is any rituals or worn. Popularly known as Shanka is a musical instrument blow by the lord Krishna to declare the start of the war of Mahabharata. in all the epic stories of Hinduism shankha has been described being carried by all the heroes of the past.
In Vajrayana Buddhism.This has been recognised as the symbol of fearlessness and proclaimed the truth of dharma. This is the one of the eight symbols of good fortune this stands for the popularity and fame of Buddhist teaching which spread in all direction like the sound of the Conch Trumpet.
In addition to Buddha's throat the conch also appears as an auspicious mark on the soles palms limbs breast or forehead of a divinely endowed being.
The fourfold caste division is also applied as follows:
The smooth white conch represents the Brahmin caste (priests)
The red conch the kshatriyas (warriors)
The yellow conch the vaishyas (merchants)
The grey conch the shudras (labourers)
Additionally there is a fundamental classification of conch shells occurring in nature: those that turn to the left and those which turn to the right. Shells which spiral to the right in a clockwise direction are a rarity and are considered especially sacred. The right-spiralling movement of such a conch is believed to echo the celestial motion of the sun moon planets and stars across the heavens. The hair whorls on Buddha's head spiral to the right as do his fine body hairs the long curl between his eyebrows (urna) and also the conch-like swirl of his navel.
The Left Turning Conch The Right Turning ConchIt is one of the main emblems of Vishnu and his conch bears the name of Panchajanya meaning 'having control over the five classes of beings.'
Arjuna's (hero of the Mahabharata) mighty conch was known as Devadatta whose triumphant blast brought terror to the enemy. As a proclaiming battle horn the conch is akin to the bugle. It is an emblem of power authority and sovereignty whose blast is believed to banish evil spirits avert natural disasters and scare away poisonous creatures.
Today in its greatly tamed avatar the conch is used in Tibetan Buddhism to call together religious assemblies. During the actual practise of rituals it is used both as a musical instrument and as a container for holy water.
Ancient Indian belief classifies the conch into male and female varieties. The thicker-shelled bulbous one is thought to be the male (purusha) and the thin-shelled slender conch to be the female (shankhini).
Buddhist monk blowing conch shell at Mindrolling Monastery
