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Sacred Vedic Shells

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RARE LAKSHMI CONCH SHELL (sinistral turbinella pyrum)

Conch Shells which spiral to the right are very rare and considered especially sacred, the right spiral mirroring the motion of the sun, moon, planets and stars across the sky. Also, the hair whorls on Buddha's head spiral to the right, as do his fine bodily hairs, the long white curl between his eyebrows and the conch like swirl of his navel. A shell is made into Tibetan ritual musical instruments by cutting off the end of its tip and furnishing it with a mouthpeace and an ornamental metal casing extending from the shell's mouth.

Normal Shank (left) and sacred 'Valampuri' Dakshin Conch

Over the last 30 Years we have been looking for the truth about the fabled Lakshmi Conch Shell (sinistral turbinella pyrum). They are so rare that only a few temples in India have them. We only found several, one in Pashupati Nath Temple Museum, and one in the London Museum of Natural History. In fact they are the same kind of Shank or Conch shell that we bath the Sri Murti with but they open on the right side (opposite of normal).

When shell collectors refer to the reversed Shank as “left-handed” or "sinistral turbinella pyrum," the Indians call the “valampuri” right-handed, because they orient it with the apical spire downwards and the aperture or siphon (mouth) uppermost and, consequently, on the right side of the shell.

Note: there are many species in Conch family, but in India "Shank" always refers to the normal smooth white conch shells. They alone are called "Shank" --- and it is ONLY such a shell, if it opens on the right side, that is a real Lakshmi Shank. No other right-sided shell is ever Lakshmi Shank (sinistral turbinella pyrum).

Many Hindu temples today keep another kind of shell that opens on the right which is a Lightning Whelk (busycon contrarium), and they mistakenly believe it to be a Lakshmi Shank!?? They are wrong. There is ONLY one true Lakshmi Shank, and the photos above are a darshan of the REAL thing...

It is better to use a normal left-handed white smooth shank, like normal, rather than another type of shell, like a Lightning Whelk, that is not even a Shank, and which is NOT recommended in Puja. Only a Shank is auspicious for puja, what to speak of a shank that opens on the right side, viz., A Lakshmi Shank.

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Also known as "Cow's Eye" this rare shell features a perfect chakra spiral that denotes good health, gives an attractive persona, and attracts wealth. Origin: Thailand.

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