HORNELL— THE INDIAN CONCH 23 



to the surface of the large sacred bathing tank called Sanku Theertham. Three days 

 before this marvellous occurrence, the water in the tank is greatly agitated, foaming and 

 boiling to the accompaniment of considerable noise. On the appearance of the chank 

 the foam subsides and the sound ceases. Then the chank comes to the side where it is 

 picked up, purified and holy water sprinkled upon it. Thus consecrated it is carried 

 in solemn procession through the village to the Vethagiriswarar temple, where it is placed 

 in the treasury with the rest of the temple treasures. 



Locally this chank is considered superior to all other chanks in the world and the 

 origin of the periodic miracle is narrated as follows : — 



When the sage Markkandeya was visiting the sacred places with his disciple, tha 

 latter forgot to bring the Siva puja-box containing the chank required for the libation 

 necessary in the ritual of worship. The sage took his bath in the tank and as puja time 

 was fast approaching he prayed to be helped in this misfortune. As a result of his prayer 

 and by the special grace of the deity, a chank appeared in the tank. Then he placed a 

 lingam before him and, with the help of the chank miraculously provided, performed his 

 worship in an acceptable and proper manner. He also prayed that a chank might appear 

 each day he should worship at this tank. The Puranas say that this request was granted 

 and has been since continued until the present day. In this connection my informant 

 remarks that it is to be noted that twelve ordinary years constitute one divine day. 



Thousands of pilgrims resort to the Tirukalikundram shrines each year and the 

 marvel of this story is one of the great assets of the place just as is the periodic lique- 

 faction of blood to the shrine of San Gennario in Naples. 



In temple worship, the chank fulfils important service. The ordinary and sinistral 

 forms are both employed whenever the temple possesses them. The former is used in 

 the menial duty of summoning the god's attention, announcing the commencement of 

 the principal rites as well as in calHng the devout to worship ; such are among the general 

 explanations given for its employment, but some ethnologists hold that the innate and 

 primitive significance of the use of the blowing chank in temple worship is to scare away 

 hostile and evil-working spirits. This is a reasonable belief as there is little or no doubt 

 that the chank was used originally as a horn or trumpet by tribes holding animistic 

 beliefs prior to the development of the Brahman religion which appears to have adopted 

 the use of the chank in religious ceremonies together with many other rites from the 

 devil-fearing tribes who gradually came into the fold of the new and higher rehgious 

 belief. 



In this connection should be mentioned the custom which prevails largely in Bengal of 

 keeping blowing chanks in the houses of the better class people for use in family worship. 

 Mr. A. E. Banerji, I.C.S., the late Dewan of Cochin State, informs me that it is a 

 general custom in Bengal to turn out with these shells during eclipses and earthquakes 

 and to keep up a continuous blowing till the eclipse or earthquake be over. 



A rather striking effect is produced when the chank is used in temple ritual as a 



