The conch (sankha) is a constant companion of the Lord
& hence its worshipable. It embodies the qualities of
power, purity, and beauty, and it also represents moksa. All
tirthas in the world reside in the water within the conch. Just
seeing or touching the conch destroys one’s sins. The Lord is
generally bathed with water from a conch. The conch is normally
placed on a special three-legged stand.
The sound of a bell is very dear to Lord. It embodies all
music. If a devotee lacks instruments during kirtana, he can simply
ring a bell for. For many functions of deity worship, one requires
to ring the bell with a handle. The scriptures state that one who
worships the Lord, attains liberation from birth and death. The
bell has a handle with symbols of Garuda or cakra. The bell is
generally held in the left hand while ringing. When not being used,
the bell should always sit on a plate, the bell’s seat or asana.
During the worship of deities, if both hands are not required to
offer the items, such as clothing and ornaments, one always rings
the bell. Even during bathing the deity and offering food, one
should ring the bell.
Vessels
(patrani)
Containers for items such as sandalwood paste, flowers and
tulasi leaves may be made of various substances and have various
colors and shapes (a lotus, for example). One may use vessels made
of copper, gold, silver, bell-metal, stainless steel, clay, stone,
wood (such as coconut shells), or brass. The Varaha Purana states
that the best of all vessels are those made of copper: “[They] are
the purest of the pure, the embodiment of all auspiciousness.”
While vessels of gold and silver are certainly pure, a container
made of copper is not only pure but also purifies the water it
contains. As the Lord states in the Varaha Purana (quoted in the
Hari-bhakti-vilasa), "I am more pleased by containers made of
copper than by those made of gold, silver, or bell-metal." However,
sour substances such as yogurt and lemon should not be kept in
copper containers. The bathing tray should be copper, brass, or
bell-metal. The best type of bathing tray (snana-patra or
snana-vedi) has an opening on one side with a long lip, allowing
the caranamrta to drain off into a separate receptacle. If the
bathing tray has no such drain, you can empty the bathing tray into
the caranamrta receptacle after bathing and drying the deity.
Holders for incense and lamps (dhupa and dipa) can be of brass,
bell-metal, silver, copper, and sometimes clay. The plate upon
which food is offered, may be made of gold, silver, copper,
bell-metal, earthenware, or a lotus leaf. Although sastra does not
mention it, stainless steel may also be used. Do not use
aluminum.
