Conch has been revered and held high in Hinduism since the time of yore.  We learn from Puranas that when Asuras and Devas churned the milky ocean for nectar, Shanku came out between other holy objects and was kept by Sri Mahaavishnu on HIS left hand. It is used in all religious occasions - it is blown through its sawn-off point during a religious occasion, at the birth of a baby, during marriage or even before a battle as an invocation to a deity.  The intensity of the sound produced by the conch shell depends on the spirals and volume of the conical shell.  The sound imparts a soothing effect, vibrates the atmosphere and drives away the evil forces.

2. VARIETIES OF CONCHES

There are thousands of varieties available.  The famous and most holiest among them is Valamburi Shanku (Right Conch).  Other ranges include Conch - Left, Line Conch, White Conch, Pointed Conch etc.  The big portion with round conical is identified as Male and the one with pointed edge as Female Conch. Valamburai Shanku (Right Conch - Female) is considered as the most holiest among all other conches.

Conch shells are available aplenty near Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu and coastal areas of Sri Lanka.  After subjected to process of grinding and hammering that gives the shell a distinct curvature, it is immersed in boiling water.  This brings back the white matty sheen, on the hard but smooth outer shell of the mollusc.

3. PLACES WHERE GODS DWELL IN CONCH

Sasthraas state that King of Azhakapuri, Kuberan lives in Conch, Mahalakshmi permanently resides here, Wealth God, Kuberan, surrounded by nine holy rivers - namely - Sanganidhi, Padmanidhi, Mahaapadmanidhi, Makaranidhi, Kashapanidhi, Mukunthanidhi, Kuntanidhi, Neelanidhi, varanidhi stays and performs celestial Abhishekams.  Hence, if we keep this Valamburi (Right Conch) Shanku in our homes and regularly conduct abhishekams and worship, we will be granted colossal boons.

4. Other Aspects of this holy conch  

• Conches are blown during religious procession of processional deities in South Indian temples.

• Lord Krishna's conch is called 'Paanchajanyam', Arjun - 'Devadhattam', Yudishtar - 'Anantha Vijayam', Beema - 'Boundiram', Nagulan - 'Shugosham', Sahaadevan - 'Manipushpakam'.

• Kuberen dwells in the centre circle of the Conch, while Surya/Chandras in the circle edges, Varuna Bhagvan in the hollow side, Prajapati in the narrow strip, Ganga-Yamuna-Saraswati in the stretched space dwells and blesses.

You may have seen Shanku being used during Shivarathri pooja in temples.  Performing Abhishekams with Shanku brings you peace, unit, wealth, prosperity not only to the performer, but also to the entire family.

5. HOW THE SHANKU POOJA WILL BE PERFORMED

1. All conches will be decorated artistically with red-rose flower and filled with pure perfumed water.

2. With the help of Deva pooja recitations, GODs' power will be absorbed into Kumbhams.  Udhakashanthi mantra japam also recited in the normal temple procedures. 

3. Then GOD's power will be initiated into the holy water filled in 108 Conches.

4. Continuous Pooja and neivedhyam will be performed to Conches

5. After the recitations of Mantras and cycle of poojas, Abhishekam will be done from each Conch.

6. First Chandanam, Milk, Honey abhishekams will be performed followed by holy water from each Conch.

7. Then All Vigrahams will be decorated with Alankaram.

8. Deeparaadanai followed by Mantra Pushpam recitations will be performed.

9. While the pooja for 108 Shankus in progress, we will ask devotees to join the Abhishekam from each one of the Conches. 

As we have seen above, each Shanku will be absorbed with Linga Swaroopam of God.  These Linga names have been vividly mentioned in the holy books, namely, Linga Ashtothra shada naamavali.

For example, Shiva Lingamoorthi aavaahanam is done on the second Shanku, like wise,
    3rd Shanku = Adhbhuta Lingam is absorbed
    4th Shanku = Anugata Lingam is absorbed

Let us see the structured usage :-

   1]  Om Dharmaaya Namaha          ]
   2]  Om Gyaanaaya namaha           ]  these 5 Namavalis be recited first with flowers,
   3]  Om Vairaagyaaya namaha        ]  then say towards the already absorbed form
   4]  Om Ishwaryaaya Namaha         ]  of God inside Shanku with "Om Padmasyoopari  
   5] Om Padmaasanaaya Namaha     ]  Linga Moorthaye  Namaha".  This is the sequence

    5 times flower archanai to be performed for each Shanku with above mantram and
   worship the Murthy inside the shanku. 

    DHYAANAM SLOKAM

OM NAMAHSHIVAAYA! OM NAMAHSHIVAAYA! OM NAMAHSHIVAAYA! OM NAMAHSHIVAAYA! OM NAMAHSHIVAAYA! OM NAMAHSHIVAAYA