Panchajanya (IAST: Pāñcajanya) is the shankha or conch of the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, known to be one of his four divine attributes. It is stated to have been one among the various substances that emerged during the Samudra Manthana. According to the Mahabharata, Purushottama (Vishnu) killed a daitya (a member of a clan of asuras) named Panchajana on a mountain named Chakravan[1] constructed by Vishvakarma, and seized the conch shell in which Panchajana had lived for himself. The conch is named after the daitya.
Then, Lord Krishna blew His conchshell, called Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of extremely difficult tasks, blew his terrific conchshell called Paundram
— Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 1, Verse 15
As per the Harivamsa, Krishna, the avatar of Vishnu, is described as possessing a conch shell called Panchajanya, one of his four attributes together with the mace Kaumodaki, the disc-like weapon Sudarshana Chakra, and a lotus. The conch was used during the Kurukshetra War, and is held in popular tradition to have signalled its beginning.
Origin
There are two origins stated in the scriptures for the conch.
The Panchajanya is mentioned to be among the various substances and beings that emerged during the Samudra Manthana:[3]
Then came out the Śārṅga bow, the presiding deity of all weapons. Then emerged Pāñcajanya, the conch, the supreme deity of all musical instruments.
Panchajana was a wicked daitya who lived in a colossal conch shell in the deepest depths of the Prabhasa ocean. He kidnapped the son of Sandipani, the guru of Krishna, Balarama, Sudama, and Uddhava, and devoured him. Upon the completion of their studies, Krishna, Balarama, and Uddhava persuaded the teacher to ask for the preceptor's dakshina (fees) of his liking. Sandipani, after consulting with his wife, asked for, as his dakshina, the death of this asura. Krishna grew enraged when he heard this tale and plunged into the sea to bring justice to Sandipani. Krishna successfully slew Panchajana and took the conch shell for himself.[4] He then went to his guru Sandipani, who named the conch Panchjanya.
In the Skanda Purana, Sandipani states that his son was swallowed by a whale at Prabhasa while he was on a pilgrimage, and seeks his return as the fee. The Ocean itself is stated to have informed Krishna of the existence of a great daitya of the name Panchajana dwelling in its depths, who indeed had swallowed the boy. Krishna slew the daitya who was in the form of a whale, and seized the Panchajanya from within him, which had previously belonged to Varuna. Not finding his guru's son, he descended to Naraka with Balarama and demanded his return. Yama and Chitragupta battled the deities until Brahma intervened, and urged Yama to restore the boy back to life. His desire fulfilled, Brahma eulogised Krishna, prompting him to blow his conch:[5]
The sound of the conch was conducive to the liberation of the men who had committed sinful activities and therefore had been consigned to hells. Due to the sound of the conch and the recollection of Acyuta, all of them got into divine aerial chariots and went to heaven. That region (of hell) became a void, due to the contact with Nārāyaṇa.
Krishna and Balarama then returned the son back to his father, who rejoiced in surprise and hailed their names.
Worship
Vishnu holding Panchajanya in his upper left hand
The manner in which the shankha must be revered is described in the Skanda Purana:[6]
Then he should worship Pāñcajanya, my favourite conch. O dear one, by worshipping it he causes great delight unto me. During the worship of the Śaṅkha, O dear one, he should recite the following mantras:
“O Pāñcajanya, formerly you were born of the ocean. You have been held by Viṣṇu in his hand. You have been made by all the Devas. Obeisance to you.
On account of your sound, clouds and Suras and Asuras become afraid. Obeisance to you, O Pāñcajanya of the bright lustre of ten thousand moons.
The foetuses of the womenfolk of demons perish in thousands in the nether worlds, O Pāñcajanya. Obeisance to you.”
^or "in another universe" When Lord Buddha achieved enlightenment, he saw millions and millions of “chakravan” or cosmoses, all repeatedly coming into existence, lasting for a while, and then disintegrating. Thepyanmongkol, Phra (2007). Sunday Dhamma Talks, volume 1. Ratchaburi Province, Thailand: Wat Luang Phor Sodh Buddhist Meditation Institute. p. 29.
^"Bhagavad Gita As It Is Original by Prabhupada". asitis.com. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
^www.wisdomlib.org (1 March 2020). "Churning of the Ocean: Birth of Fourteen Precious Jewels [Chapter 12]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
^www.wisdomlib.org (21 February 2017). "Pancajana, Pañcajana, Pancan-jana, Pamcajana: 12 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
^www.wisdomlib.org (12 October 2020). "The Glory of Aṅkapāda (Restoration of Sāndīpani's Son) [Chapter 27]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
^www.wisdomlib.org (28 February 2020). "Worshipping the Conch [Chapter 4]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
January 13, 2023
panchajanya, iast, pāñcajanya, shankha, conch, hindu, preserver, deity, vishnu, known, four, divine, attributes, stated, have, been, among, various, substances, that, emerged, during, samudra, manthana, according, mahabharata, purushottama, vishnu, killed, dai. Panchajanya IAST Pancajanya is the shankha or conch of the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu known to be one of his four divine attributes It is stated to have been one among the various substances that emerged during the Samudra Manthana According to the Mahabharata Purushottama Vishnu killed a daitya a member of a clan of asuras named Panchajana on a mountain named Chakravan 1 constructed by Vishvakarma and seized the conch shell in which Panchajana had lived for himself The conch is named after the daitya PanchajanyaIconography of Shankha on a temple wallDevanagariप ञ चजन यAffiliationVaishnavismTextsSkanda PuranaThis article is about the mythological conch For the RSS publication see Panchjanya magazine For ancient people see Pancha janah Contents 1 In Literature 2 Origin 3 Worship 4 ReferencesIn Literature EditIn the Bhagavad Gita the Panchajanya is mentioned 2 Then Lord Krishna blew His conchshell called Pancajanya Arjuna blew his the Devadatta and Bhima the voracious eater and performer of extremely difficult tasks blew his terrific conchshell called Paundram Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 Verse 15As per the Harivamsa Krishna the avatar of Vishnu is described as possessing a conch shell called Panchajanya one of his four attributes together with the mace Kaumodaki the disc like weapon Sudarshana Chakra and a lotus The conch was used during the Kurukshetra War and is held in popular tradition to have signalled its beginning Origin EditThere are two origins stated in the scriptures for the conch The Panchajanya is mentioned to be among the various substances and beings that emerged during the Samudra Manthana 3 Then came out the Sarṅga bow the presiding deity of all weapons Then emerged Pancajanya the conch the supreme deity of all musical instruments Skanda Purana Vasudeva Mahatmya Chapter 12 Verse 14 Panchajana was a wicked daitya who lived in a colossal conch shell in the deepest depths of the Prabhasa ocean He kidnapped the son of Sandipani the guru of Krishna Balarama Sudama and Uddhava and devoured him Upon the completion of their studies Krishna Balarama and Uddhava persuaded the teacher to ask for the preceptor s dakshina fees of his liking Sandipani after consulting with his wife asked for as his dakshina the death of this asura Krishna grew enraged when he heard this tale and plunged into the sea to bring justice to Sandipani Krishna successfully slew Panchajana and took the conch shell for himself 4 He then went to his guru Sandipani who named the conch Panchjanya In the Skanda Purana Sandipani states that his son was swallowed by a whale at Prabhasa while he was on a pilgrimage and seeks his return as the fee The Ocean itself is stated to have informed Krishna of the existence of a great daitya of the name Panchajana dwelling in its depths who indeed had swallowed the boy Krishna slew the daitya who was in the form of a whale and seized the Panchajanya from within him which had previously belonged to Varuna Not finding his guru s son he descended to Naraka with Balarama and demanded his return Yama and Chitragupta battled the deities until Brahma intervened and urged Yama to restore the boy back to life His desire fulfilled Brahma eulogised Krishna prompting him to blow his conch 5 The sound of the conch was conducive to the liberation of the men who had committed sinful activities and therefore had been consigned to hells Due to the sound of the conch and the recollection of Acyuta all of them got into divine aerial chariots and went to heaven That region of hell became a void due to the contact with Narayaṇa Skanda Purana Avantiksetra Mahatmya Chapter 1 Verses 101 102 Krishna and Balarama then returned the son back to his father who rejoiced in surprise and hailed their names Worship Edit Vishnu holding Panchajanya in his upper left hand The manner in which the shankha must be revered is described in the Skanda Purana 6 Then he should worship Pancajanya my favourite conch O dear one by worshipping it he causes great delight unto me During the worship of the Saṅkha O dear one he should recite the following mantras O Pancajanya formerly you were born of the ocean You have been held by Viṣṇu in his hand You have been made by all the Devas Obeisance to you On account of your sound clouds and Suras and Asuras become afraid Obeisance to you O Pancajanya of the bright lustre of ten thousand moons The foetuses of the womenfolk of demons perish in thousands in the nether worlds O Pancajanya Obeisance to you Skanda Purana Margasirsa Mahatmya Section 5 Verses 41 44References Edit or in another universe When Lord Buddha achieved enlightenment he saw millions and millions of chakravan or cosmoses all repeatedly coming into existence lasting for a while and then disintegrating Thepyanmongkol Phra 2007 Sunday Dhamma Talks volume 1 Ratchaburi Province Thailand Wat Luang Phor Sodh Buddhist Meditation Institute p 29 Bhagavad Gita As It Is Original by Prabhupada asitis com Retrieved 2 October 2022 www wisdomlib org 1 March 2020 Churning of the Ocean Birth of Fourteen Precious Jewels Chapter 12 www wisdomlib org Retrieved 14 July 2022 www wisdomlib org 21 February 2017 Pancajana Pancajana Pancan jana Pamcajana 12 definitions www wisdomlib org Retrieved 14 July 2022 www wisdomlib org 12 October 2020 The Glory of Aṅkapada Restoration of Sandipani s Son Chapter 27 www wisdomlib org Retrieved 14 July 2022 www wisdomlib org 28 February 2020 Worshipping the Conch Chapter 4 www wisdomlib org Retrieved 14 July 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Panchajanya amp oldid 1116688839, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
