Harry,
 
Would this pouring liquid from this shell with the right hand explain why
they call it a "right handed" shell?
 
Carol
-----Original Message-----
From: Harry G. Lee, MD <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, April 22, 1999 11:09 PM
Subject: Re: Sacred Indian shells?
 
 
>Dear Carol and Bill,
>
>There is a long and well-studied relationship between Hindu scripture (and
>folklore) related to Turbinella pyrum (Linnaeus, 1758) and its rare
>sinistral mutant (about 1:600,000 dextrals fide Hornell, J. 1916.  The
>Indian varieties and races of the genus Turbinella.  Mem. Ind. Mus.
>6:109-125, 3pls.).
>
>The ethnoconchology is nicely summarized by Rose, K. 1974. The religious
use
>of Turbinella pyrum (Linnaeus), the Indian Chank. Nautilus 88(1):1-5. Jan.
>
>One often-trivialized characteristic of practical conchology is the
facility
>of (a human) decanting the liquid contents of a sinistral shell (seldom
>available in T. pyrum/ characteristic in Busycon sinistrum Hollister, 1958)
>using his right hand (vs. the opposite set-up).  This simple act is
>ceremonial in many religions.
>
>Harry
>
>
>
>>        ----- Original Message -----
>>        From: Carol Simpson
>>        To: [log in to unmask]
>>        Sent: Thursday, April 22, 1999 8:46 PM
>>        Subject: Sacred Indian shells?
>>
>>
>>        We had a gentleman from India put some packages in my trunk this
>afternoon.  He picked up a lightning whelk that was in my trunk, came
around
>to the window and asked me how much I wanted for it.  Being sort of
>dumfounded, I said "Well, it really isn't for sale, but I have some more at
>home I'll give you."  He was in absolute awe of this shell and said in
India
>they are sacred.  But he would need two of them.  He remarked that they
were
>"right handed."  When I said they were left handed, he put it up to my ear.
>He said "Do you hear that?"  I promised to get him two whelks, but I
thought
>he had said something about volutes--he had a thick accent and was a little
>difficult to understand.
>>
>>        I later thought about the chank, but wondered if anyone ever heard
>of this type of shell being  sacred in India.  It was VERY strange.
>>
>>        Carol
>Harry G. Lee
>mailto: [log in to unmask]
>Suite 500, 1801 Barrs Street
>Jacksonville, FL  32204
>U. S. A.    904-384-6419
>Visit the Jacksonville Shell Club Home Page at:
>http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/wfrank/jacksonv.htm
>
>oo  .--.  oo  .--.  oo  .--.
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