Sankhini, Jind

According to the religious and cultural traditions of the Hindus, a woman is regarded as the manifestation of divine power. In other words, she symbolises Shakti, one of the important traits of the Divine Mother; the other traits being compassion, love and generosity.

The Hindu scriptures also describe the woman in four categories, Padmini, Sankhini, Hastini and Chitrini. Of these four types, a Sankhini or a conch woman is blessed with the virtues of a conch, a shankh.

Her physical build is balanced. She can be hard as well as soft. She is full of energy and is fiercely independent. A classic example of this type of woman is Gargi, the mother of Adi Shankaracharya, or Vaidehi or Sita, the consort of Lord Ram.

A shrine dedicated to the Sankhini is situated in the village Sanghan in Narwana Tehsil of Jind district. A worship especially by women at this tirath blesses them with the traits of a Sankhini.