Dear Carol et al.,
I think you've captured a functional definition of left- and
right-handedness here. You should have asked your correspondent why he
didn't use his left hand for this gesture.
Harry
At 11:10 PM 4/22/99 -0400, you wrote:
>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 .--.
>> \\(____)_ \\(____)_ \\(____)_
>> `~~~~~~~` `~~~~~~~` `~~~~~~~`
>
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 .--.
\\(____)_ \\(____)_ \\(____)_
`~~~~~~~` `~~~~~~~` `~~~~~~~`
|
