Note: The sizes of conches are measured with the tape measure following the arch, so the straight tip-to-tip measurement will be a bit less.

More About the Bathing Conch:

Madhava Reddy, a collector of sacred conch shells, explains the religious significance of conch shells. "According to Hindu mythology, Paanchajanya, the first Dakshinavrutha Sankham, emerged during the churning of the Ksheerasagara (ocean of milk) by the devas (gods) and asuras (demons). As it rose out of the ocean, its tremendous sound frightened the asuras who appealed to Vishnu to save them. Lord Vishnu obliged, taking charge of the conch shell." The primordial sound of creation, that is the Omkar or Pranavanadham, was thereby controlled. Hence forth, it became a part of Vishnu's five weapons. He adds: "In his various avatars, Vishnu has used all weapons to destroy evil forces. Only the conch shell and the sword remain. These, I believe, he will use in the present yuga on donning the Kalki avatar."

Conch shells have a significant place in Indian mythology. "Even in the great epic Mahabharata, these were given a lot of importance. Each conch shell had a specific name. Krishna's conch shell was known as Paanchajanya, Arjuna's Devdutta, Bhima's Paundra, Yudhisthira's Anantavijaya, Nakula's Sughosa and Sahadeva's was known as Manipushpaka."

Belief in mythology apart, the conch shell's significance is corroborated by science. Says Reddy: "Try holding a conch shell to your ear, the sound of the ocean humming gently can be heard. It is actually the natural vibration or cosmic energy of the earth that gets magnified on entering the conch shell. These unique whorls are directed clockwise in perfect synchronization with universal harmony. That is why a conch shell is blown during sacred rites to get rid of negative energy. The vibrations from these conch shells can dispel evil forces from the earth and also clear environmental pollution including healing the hole in the ozone layer which causes global warming!"