Hello everyone, I've been reading with great interest all the thread about bleaching busycons in an attempt to imitate the white conch. Now, while I can't add to the Hindu information, but I can say a little about the Buddhist side of it. The white conch, sankha or dungkar, which is even more revered if its spiral winds toward the right, is one of eight auspicious symbols that are considered to be emblematic of Lord Buddha. The sankha signifies the word that proclaims the glory of the Enlightened Ones, and is sometimes called the victory trumpet. This and the seven other symbols are found on banners, carved into stones,adorn homes and nomad tents in order to bring good luck. Some say that when Prince Siddhartha experienced Enlightenment, the celestial beings were so happy that they brought innummerable gifts to him, and that the eight auspicious symbols were gifts retained by mankind and deemed to be essential. Patti just another Buddhist in New Mexico ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com