Dictionary Of Hindoo Religion |
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Dictionary-Shankh |
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Q R S T-U V-W-X Y-Z Shankh Conch shell. Shaastra say "bone" is impure, BUT, Conch Shell (Indian Turbinella Pyrum) is super-pure, even to bathe the Deities. Even Lakshmee Devee and Her Lord Naaraayan carry one in Their hands. Shaastra doesn't say ANY SHELL or EVERY SHELL is pure, it's only Indian Shankh (Turbinella Pyrum) that is pure. And these come in two types, normal left side opening AND special right side opening (Valampuri Dakshin-varti Turbinella Pyrum). Both are ruled by Goddess Lakshmee. It is not required to have a right-side opening. Left side (normal) opening Shank is perfect for Poojaa. And Lakshmee Shankh is even better than perfect. It is said by Conchologists that only one Lakshmee Shank is found among 1,000 normal Indian Shankh. And ALL Indian Shankh are pure and auspicious. THE SACRED
LAKSHMEE CONCH Fact is this
that the left side opening OR the right side opening Turbinella Pyrum
Indian Conch - with 3 to 7 ridges in the conch cavity, and special
internal structure is the ONLY Shankh that is Vaidik. The normal
left-side opening Conch is very low price, even less than the bogus ones
(Lightning Whelk), and only the Indian Shankh is correct for Poojaa. It is far
better to use a normal left-handed white smooth Shankh, rather than
another type of shell, like a Whelk, that is not even related to a
Shankh, and which is NOT recommended as pure. Only a Shankh is
auspicious for Poojaa, what to speak of a Shankh that opens on the right
side, viz a Lakshmee Shankh. Ancient scriptures have various references where they classified Shankh broadly into two - right handed and left handed (called sinistral also) and mentioned that right handed are sacred and holy. Here the sizes, shapes, ridges and other micro level details are not narrated, hence one can conclude safely that all right handed Shankh are holy and sacred. The sinistral shell is coiled in an anti-clockwise direction, so that when viewed from the front (ventral view) with the spire uppermost, the opening or "aperture" appears on the left. Just as the majority of humans are right-handed, gastropod mollusks follow a similar trend and a left-handed shell is something of an oddity. Although there are many species which produce left-handed shells, particularly amongst land snails, they can still look rather strange to the conchologist. They are available in various sizes - from 15 mm to 440 mm. Heeraa Shankh |
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Created and Maintained by Sushma
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Created on 03/15/2006 and Updated on
01/07/2009
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