Dakshinavarti Shankh

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Genuine Valampuri Lakshmi Conch Shell from the Indian Ocean Sri Lakshmi Consh.jpg
Genuine Valampuri Lakshmi Conch Shell from the Indian Ocean

Dakshinavarti Shankh (Valampuri Sanggu; Sri Lakshmi Shankh) is a sacred Hindu object otherwise known in English as a conch shell. It is the shell of a large sea snail from the Indian Ocean (a shell of the species Turbinella pyrum ), but one that has a very rare reverse-turning spiral.

Contents

The Shankh is held with the spout (siphonal canal) pointed up, its spiral twists rightwards rather than very much more common form, which twists leftwards. [1] [2]

Terminology

In scientific usage a dextral (Latin : dexter, right) shell has the opening on the right, when viewed with the spire upwards. The opposite is sinistral (Latin : sinister, left). This is consistent with the terms for right-handed screws in engineering and physics. Most species of sea snail are dextral, though some are naturally sinistral. Within a normally-dextral species, rare individuals may develop sinistral coiling.

In religious usage, the shankha (sacred conch shell) is displayed spire downwards. In this orientation, a common dextral shell has its opening on the left (Sanskrit : vamavarti), and rare sinistral shell has the opening on the right (Sanskrit : dakshinavarti).

For Sanskrit shankha, the Hindi pronunciation is usually written in Latin script as shankh. The Tamil equivalent is sanggu.

True vs. fake

Sea Shell from the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and bay of Bengal. Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.MOL.202465 - Busycon perversum (Linnaeus, 1758) - Buccinidae - Mollusc shell.jpeg
Sea Shell from the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and bay of Bengal.
A fake right-handed triton conch, made of plastic. An artificial rightwards triton conch.jpg
A fake right-handed triton conch, made of plastic.

The true Lakshmi Shank is a rare sinistral Turbinella conch shell from the Indian Ocean, usually from Turbinella pyrum .

Other right-turning sea snail shells are often mistakenly sold and worshiped in place of the genuine Shank. One common substitution is the lightning whelk (Sinistrofulgur perversum, previously named Busycon perversum) from the Atlantic coast of North America. The real Shank has 3 to 7 ridges or plaits on its columella, whereas whelk shells do not have such plaits.

The so-called "flower-bud opening test", and the "rice pulling test" (Valampuri said to rise up through a rice heap) are non scientific. The best authenticity test is to take an X-ray image of the Valampuri. Valampuries do show some morphological variation depending on origin, and shells with mixed characters of two adjacent localities are also seen.

In South India, people trust only the Rameshwaram type of Valampuries, and do not trust other varieties from West Coast and Bay of Bengal, though these are also the true Valampuries.

In South India, people specifically worship 'Gauri Valampuri'. This Valampuri shows presence of small dark spots on its body whorl, near the conch cavity. These dots are of conch skin i.e. of periostrachum in the form of small dark coloured pustules firmly attached in very small ditch or cavities, and difficult to remove. In case if such periostrachum pustules are removed,it still shows dark coloured spots on the conch body. The Gauri Type ( with periostrachum spots ) of Valampuri is very rare in its occurrence and is much expensive when compared to other types.

Origin

Genuine Dakshinavarti Lakshmi Conches are only found in the Indian Ocean, between Myanmar (Burma)and Sri Lanka. There are three main localities - near Ram Setu, Sri Lanka, and Ramishwaram to Tuticorin (rare); the Arabian Sea; and the Bay of Bengal. Shells from each locality show distinct morphological variations, although varieties showing mixed characters have also been observed.

The main imitation (lightning whelks) mostly come from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. This imitation is also known as African Valampuri. Other than busyconid species, few other species showing presence of folds in the cavity are wrongly mentioned as Dakshinavarti. These shells, though sinistral and possessing folds, are from different species.

Rarity

There are different varieties of Valampuri shells based on their locality. The three main localities are Rameshwar, Ram Setu, Sri Lanka. The second one is West Coast of India or Arabian Sea and third one is Bay of Bengal. All the three types show variation.

Real Lakshmi Conch (right side spinning) are estimated to occur only one per 100,000 conch shells. The shell of the lightning whelk on the other hand almost always opens on the right (when viewed with the siphonal canal pointing upwards). Valampuries with five plaits or folds in its cavity are known as 'Panchajanya' and are very rare.

Most of the Indian Valampuries show presence of orange coloured inner lip. We may also get Valampuries with Orange Brown innerlip. Valampuries with Orange coloured stripes on its main body whorl are also seen. Completely milky-white Valampuries are also very rare and expensive. Gauri Valampuries showing presence of dark brown or black periostrachum (conch skin)spots near its cavity on main body whorl look beautiful and are rare and expensive. Giant Valampuries more than 10 kg are extremely rare in occurrence. Valampuries more than 3 feet and many freak types in Dakshinsvarti have been reported by Scientists.

Powers ascribed

The Lakshmi Conch is said to bring all manner of blessing, particularly material wealth upon the owner. Ritual use may include bathing deities, drinking from the conch, or the use of mantras oriented to goddess Lakshmi. It is a wonderful object for Vastu purpose giving high positive energy. It also believed to bring power, prosperity mental and physical both inside and outside world. Long with its positive vibes this also heals the relationship, make them more healthier.

Current value

A true Valampuri/Dakshinavarthy shell may be sold on weight basis, but may also be sold per piece. The present market cost in India falls in the range of Rs.3500/- to Rs. 10000/- per gram. There have been reports of Asht Laxmi shells with 8 circle and pink lines sold for up to Rs. 10000/-per gram, and depending on size, type, the price can be much higher. Pure milky white shells are rare. Tiny dwarf Valampuries/Dakshinavarthy small enough to wear as a pendant are very rare, and people are often cheated by being sold sinistral land snail shells in their place.

See also

Related Research Articles

Conch Shell or sea snails

Conch is a common name of a number of different medium-to-large-sized sea snails. Conch shells typically have a high spire and a noticeable siphonal canal.

Sinistral and dextral, in some scientific fields, are the two types of chirality ("handedness") or relative direction. The terms are derived from the Latin words for "left" (sinister) and "right" (dexter). Other disciplines use different terms or simply use left and right.

<i>Triplofusus giganteus</i> Species of tulip snail - the horse conch

Triplofusus giganteus, previously known as Pleuroploca gigantea, common name the Florida horse conch, is a species of extremely large predatory subtropical and tropical sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, tulip snails and their allies.

Knobbed whelk Species of gastropod

The knobbed whelk is a species of very large predatory sea snail, or in the US, a whelk, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Busyconidae, the busycon whelks.

<i>Busycotypus canaliculatus</i> Species of gastropod

Busycotypus canaliculatus, commonly known as the channeled whelk, is a very large predatory sea snail, a marine prosobranch gastropod, a busycon whelk, belonging to the family Busyconidae.

<i>Busycon</i> Genus of busyconinin gastropods

Busycon is a genus of very large edible sea snails in the subfamily Busyconinae. These snails are commonly known in the United States as whelks or Busycon whelks. Less commonly they are loosely, and somewhat misleadingly, called "conchs".

Spire (mollusc) Part of a mollusc shell

A spire is a part of the coiled shell of molluscs. The spire consists of all of the whorls except for the body whorl. Each spire whorl represents a rotation of 360°. A spire is part of the shell of a snail, a gastropod mollusc, a gastropod shell, and also the whorls of the shell in ammonites, which are fossil shelled cephalopods.

Operculum (gastropod) Hard structure which closes the aperture of a gastropod when the animal retreats into the shell

The operculum is a corneous or calcareous anatomical structure like a trapdoor that exists in many groups of sea snails and freshwater snails, and also in a few groups of land snails; the structure is found in some marine and freshwater gastropods, and in a minority of terrestrial gastropods, including the families Helicinidae, Cyclophoridae, Aciculidae, Maizaniidae, Pomatiidae, etc.

Shankha End-blown conch trumpet of Indian origin

A Shankha has religious ritual importance in Hinduism. It is the shell of any suitable sea snail which had a hole made for the performer's embouchure.

Gastropod shell Part of the body of a gastropod or snail

The gastropod shell is part of the body of a gastropod or snail, a kind of mollusc. The shell is an exoskeleton, which protects from predators, mechanical damage, and dehydration, but also serves for muscle attachment and calcium storage. Some gastropods appear shell-less (slugs) but may have a remnant within the mantle, or the shell is reduced such that the body cannot be retracted within (semi-slug). Some snails also possess an operculum that seals the opening of the shell, known as the aperture, which provides further protection. The study of mollusc shells is known as conchology. The biological study of gastropods, and other molluscs in general, is malacology. Shell morphology terms vary by species group.

<i>Sinistrofulgur perversum</i> Species of gastropod

Sinistrofulgur perversum, the lightning whelk, is an edible species of very large predatory sea snail or whelk, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Busyconidae, the busycon whelks. This species has a left-handed or sinistral shell. It eats mostly bivalves.

<i>Amphidromus</i> Genus of land snails

Amphidromus is a genus of tropical air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Camaenidae. The shells of Amphidromus are relatively large, from 25 mm (0.98 in) to 75 mm (3.0 in) in maximum dimension, and particularly colorful. During the 18th century, they were among the first Indonesian land snail shells brought to Europe by travelers and explorers. Since then, the genus has been extensively studied: several comprehensive monographs and catalogs were authored by naturalists and zoologists during the time period from the early 19th to the mid 20th centuries. Modern studies have focused on better understanding the evolutionary relationships within the group, as well as solving taxonomic problems.

<i>Amphigyra</i> Genus of gastropods

Amphigyra is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails.

<i>Neoplanorbis</i> Genus of gastropods

Neoplanorbis is a genus of small, freshwater, air-breathing snails. They are aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails.

<i>Neoplanorbis tantillus</i> Species of gastropod

Neoplanorbis tantillus is a species of very small air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. This species is endemic to the United States. In 2012, it has been declared extinct by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

<i>Turbinella</i> Genus of gastropods

Turbinella is a genus of very large sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turbinellidae.

<i>Turbinella pyrum</i> Species of gastropod

Turbinella pyrum, common names the chank shell, sacred chank or chank, also known as the divine conch, sometimes referred to simply as a conch, is a species of very large sea snail with a gill and an operculum, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinellidae. This species occurs in the Indian Ocean.

<i>Melo melo</i> Species of gastropod

Melo melo, common name the Indian volute or bailer shell, is a very large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.

Conch (instrument) Musical instrument made from a seashell (conch)

Conch, or conque, also known as a "seashell horn" or "shell trumpet", is a wind instrument that is made from a conch, the shell of several different kinds of sea snails. Their natural conical bore is used to produce a musical tone. Conch shell trumpets have been played in many Pacific Island countries, as well as South America and Southern Asia.

<i>Tritia mutabilis</i> Species of gastropod

Tritia mutabilis, common name : the mutable nassa, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae, the nassa mud snails or dog whelks.

References

  1. "Article on Valampuri – Weblink" . Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  2. "Article on Valampuri – Weblink" . Retrieved 2009-11-08.