LIGHTNING WHELK WRONGLY SOLD AS SACRED LAKSHMI CONCH

[Guest guest]

Dear Chandrashekharji,

 

Namaste!!!

 

---I'm curious, do you HAVE a Lakshmi Shank in your possession?

 

If you can afford a Lakshmi Shank for @1,000 per gram OR @3,000 per

gram, or if you can find one for free on the beach, I encourage you to

obtain one. But remember that Lakshmidevi is not happy to be worshipped

alone. You will need Shalagram Shila to complete the circle. And these

both should be worshipped every day. I have a real museum, but I cannot

put Lakshmi Shank or Shalagram on exhibit because They are not to be

treated like that.

 

I bet you do NOT have a Valampuri. And apart from a few shell dealers I

don't know anyone who has a real Valampuri in possession.

 

ATTN: Will all REAL Valampuri Lakshmi Shank owners please stand up and

be counted... Lets start a CLUB.

 

Best regards,

Richard

 

--- chandrashekhar phadake <c_phadake wrote:

 

> Respected Shri. Richard ji,

>

> Thank you very much for your detailed mail. I always have high

> regards for your experience in rare items and your spiritual

> knowledge you are sharing on this and on other forums. I am a

> regular visitor to your website on rare items and to 'On-line Museum

> of Rare Items'. Recently, I have also become a member of your very

> recenlty started club on rare items.

> Thank you very much for your contribution in the field.

>

> With my personal experience, it is very tricky to deal with suppliers

> regarding costing of rare items. Experts in the field are aware of

> the fact that business of rare items in India is run like that of

> gems. The business is run in a chain of suppliers. At every level

> there is a profit of the person in a chain. Naturally, cost goes on

> increasing. Cost is also increased depending on the need and

> financial capacity of a customer or buyer. As far as gems are

> concerned there are large no. of people in the business and therefore

> there is not much scope (?) for sellers to inflate the cost of the

> gems and precious stones artificially as per his wish.

>

> There is definite yardstick for costing of gems and precious stones

> based on gem characters like clarity, specific gravity, hardnes,

> quality of cuts, type of inclusions and possible defects such as

> cracks, bubbles etc. You can guide us more on this aspect being in

> the business of gemology for a long time. However, this is not the

> case for Valampuri Conch being the rarest item. There is no control

> on costing. It is quite likely that your contacts in India quotated

> exorbitant rate to you. I think, you are from Bankok and naturally

> higher cost is quoted to you being a foreigner.

>

> In India, the cost of Valampuri Conch (I mean, sinistral Turbinella

> pyrum) is definitely in the range of Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 1500/- per

> gram. Cost may be little higher in case of large conch and blowing

> type of Valampuri conch, but definitely not Rs.3000/- per gram.

> Like fake rudraksha, there are also fake or artisan 'Real (?)

> Lakshmi Conch' floating in the market. I will be writing a seperate

> mail on that aspect. As you have rightly mentioned, the most common

> way is by selling Whelk at higher rate. The retail cost of 7" Whelk

> is approx. Rs. 1000/-. In fact, if purchased in a bulk i.e. in a lot

> of minimum 50, this Whelk costs only Rs. 250/- each.

>

> Customer's wrong thinking is also sometimes responsible for higher

> cost. I have seen people mentioning cost of Valampuri at a

> exorbitent rate. However, a person who can afford to sell a conch

> for a lower rate is treated with a doubt as 'Bogus' with a comment

> 'The item must be fake'. Sometimes, certain wrong statements are

> also made publicly as 'There are only so and so no. of the items in

> the world'. (But we have many !, is it not funny ?). I still

> remember the article '21 Faced Fortune' published in the 'Economic

> Times' dated 18th or 19th July 2004 regarding 21 mukhi Rudraksha as

> 'There are only three 21 mukhi in the world'. The World is very

> large to estimate the total no. of perticular items in it. Such

> baseless statements also adds to the increased price. The major

> problem is that naturally a common man does not have much idea of

> scientific characters of such natural products. It is therefore

> necessary to educate people on this aspect and to keep the facts in

> front

> of them.

>

> Thanking you and with personal regards,

>

> Chandrashekhar Phadke

>

>

>

> Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66 wrote:

> Dear Sriman Chandrashekharji,and friends,

>

> Thanks for the information. Now we are getting to the matter. Real

> v/s

> bogus. 95% of so-called Hindu websites are selling near worthless

> Whelk

> as the fabled Valampuri. It this way they are either cheating people

> through ignorance or knowingly. I have been researching Dakshin-shank

> since 1968. In the Valampuri area the fishermen say they find one

> Valampuri shank per 1000 shanks they collect. Most of these are sold

> in

> Calcutta, where it seems the Bengalis are more aware.

>

> Even the Hari Krishna movement used to import thousands of worthless,

> non-divine Lightning Whelk and give them as incentive to get life

> members in India. Were they cheating? Or were they ignorant?

>

> Bottom line is that such non-sense makes the Krishna's and Sanatan

> Dharma look 1) ignorant, and 2) crooked. What a pity when a mletcha

> "conchologist" in America knows what is a real Lakshmi Shank even

> better than many Hindus, who seem to be either "cheaters" OR

> "cheated"

> in this matter of Lightning Whelk.

>

> I know poor people and they show a Whelk and say "Lakshmi." If I

> wasn't

> "para-dukha-dukhi" I would have to laugh. And this makes the rich

> disbelieve in the real thing, they themselves being uninformed.

>

> As I wrote before, if you are a conchologist OR a Bhakta, either way

> a

> small 30-40 grams Valampuri will cost about one half to one lakh.

> Full

> sized valampuri can cost up to 2-6 lakhs. And to get a REAL

> Valampuri,

> even of 40 grams, for one lakh, is peanuts compared to my business,

> which is Gemology. Even a clean 2 carat (less than half a gram) ruby

> will cost much more than a 40 gram Lakshmi Shank. And ruby is ruled

> by

> Suryadeva, and Valampuri is ruled by Lakshmidevi Herself! So how can

> Valampuri be so cheap, even at one lakh!? Compared to precious gems a

> real Valampuri is VERY CHEAP. But it is not for the poor; and it is

> NOT

> a Lightning Whelk.

>

> If anyone wants to see the comparison of Valampuri with Whelk please

> click http://www.p-g-a.org/conch-artl.html

>

> Best regards,

> Richard

> http://www.richardshawbrown.com

>

> --- chandrashekhar phadake <c_phadake wrote:

>

> > Dear Sir,

> >

> > I know what I mean to say. I know the characters of the Whelk and

> > also of the Turbinella pyrum i.e. Indian Conch. Whelk is without

> any

> > vertical pilae inside the conch apperture. Whelk is commonly

> > available on the coasts of Florida, USA. Whelk is sold on size

> > basis, while Valampuri is sold on the weight basis. Cost of the

> Whelk

> > having length 7inches is not more than Rs.800/- in the Indian

> market.

> > Small Whelks having length approx. 3 inches are available for the

> > cost of Rs. 300/-. The large sized Whelks having length approx. 10

> > to 12 inches is not more than Rs. 5000/- in the Indian market.

> There

> > is a diagnostic morphological difference between Whelk and Indian

> > Conch i.e. Turbinella pyrum. There is also a chemical difference

> in

> > Whelk and Turbinella pyrum. I am a biotechnologist and study the

> > items more critically and scientifically. I have also developed a

> > protocol to study the interior structure of conch by modern

> > scientific methods. I agree that many of the people sale

> > and confuse people (even few of the leading websites) by offering

> > Whelk as Valampuri. Very soon, I will send photos of the high

> > quality Valampuri (Sinistral Turbinella pyrum) on this club photos.

>

> > The cost of rare items are sometimes unnecessarily exagerated.

> >

> > Thanking you and with regards,

> >

> > Chandrashekhar Phadke

> >

> > Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66 wrote:

> > Dear Sir,

> >

> > That is very cheap price and I do not believe he is speaking about

> > real

> > Lakshmi Shank which is Sinistral Terbinella Pyrum. The shell he is

> > speaking about is Lightning Whelk, which is cheap, but is NOT a

> > Shank.

> > If you want to spend little money then better get a normal real

> > Shank,

> > that is much better than a WHELK for Rs. 1000.

> >

> > But if you can get Valampuri Sinistral Terbinella Pyrum for Rs.

> 1000

> > each, then I will pay you triple and buy many pieces immediately.

> >

> > The problem is that now, in India, they think Lightning Whelk shell

> > is

> > a Sinistral Turninella Pyrum Conch. In fact, the Lightning Whelk

> > shells

> > wrongly sold as Lakshmi Shank are imported into India from North

> > America, NOT from India.

> >

> > I have written this post to help people. Please don't be fooled.

> >

> > Best rgds,

> > Richard

> > http://www.richardshawbrown.com

> >

> > --- chandrashekhar phadake <c_phadake wrote:

> >

> > > Dear LG,

> > >

> > > Cost of the authentic 'Valampuri Conch' in the Indian market is

> in

> > > the range of Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 1500/- per gram depending upon its

> > > beauty and size. Large sized conch are generally costly due to

> its

> > > rarity. Similarly, Valampuri Conch which can be blown is also

> very

> > > expensive as it is extremely rare than the normal Valampuri.

> > >

> > > Thanking you and with best wishes,

> > >

> > > Chandrashekhar Phadke

> > >

> > > LG <lagan29 wrote:

> > > dear brother

> > >

> > > how does one differentiate between a fake and a real valampuri

> > > shankh? what is price of the authentic rare valumpuri shankh .

> can

> > it

> > > be found in rameshwaram?

> > >

> > > regards

> > >

> > >

> > > Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66 wrote:

> > > Dear Hindu Sanatan Dharmis,r

> > >

> > > Just a friendly note to inform you that 99% of the shells being

> > sold

> > > as genuine

> > > Valampuri Òdakshinavarti Ò Sri Lakshmi Shank are completely

> bogus.

> > >

> > > What they are wrongly selling is actually another type of common

> > > shell

> > > imported into India from North America called ÒLightning WhelkÓ

> > > (busycon

> > > contrarium). It is not a ÒConchÓ shell, what to speak of being a

> > > Dakshinavarti

> > > Conch. It is simply a case of either ignorance or cheating.

> > >

> > > If you visit http://www.agt-gems.com/Book/laxmi-conch.html - you

> > will

> > > learn

> > > about and see REAL Lakshmi Conch (sinistral turbinella pyrum).

> > >

> > > Among shell collectors (Conchologists) and learned Brahmans there

> > is

> > > ONLY

> > > one Lakshmi Conch (sinistral turbinella pyrum)... And a LIGHTNING

> > > WHELK

> > > is positively NOT it.

> > >

> > > The prices the Lightning Whelks are selling for is absurdly cheap

> > for

> > > a

> > > precious Sri Lakshmi Conch (although it may be fair price for a

> $5

> > > Lightning

> > > Whelk).

> > >

> > > And many foolish people and even temples use the bogus Lightning

> > > Whelk

> > > shell and thus they remain poor. And this FACT makes the rich

> > people

> > > disbelieve in real Lakshmi Shank.

> > >

> > > In fact, it is Archan-aparada to use any shell except Shank

> (Conch)

> > > either left

> > > side or right side opening. Shastra has stated, for example, that

> > > bones are

> > > ashuda or impure, except the Shank, which is divine. So Lightning

> > > Whelk is a

> > > bone and is NOT a Shank, therefore using Whelk shells is ashuda.

> > >

> > > Attn: Hindu Whelk suppliers: Soon the public will find out that

> > most

> > > ALL the

> > > "puja" dealers are selling Lightning Whelk as a real "Lakshmi

> > Conch."

> > > And

> > > when they stop doing that nonsense, then Srimati Lakshmi Shank

> will

> > > regain

> > > Her divine position as near priceless. If a person cannot afford

> > the

> > > steep price

> > > of a Valampuri, then they can use a left-side opening Shank,

> which

> > is

> > > very low

> > > price. But they should never use a Whelk shell.

> > >

> > > Sukriya!!! OM TAT SAT

> > >

> > > Best regards,

> > >

> > > Richard Shaw-Brown, PG

> > > http://www.richardshawbrown.com

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

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[Guest guest]

Thank you very much for your mail and suggestion to worshipl Shri. Mahalakshmi

with Shaligram Shila. I will certainly do that.

 

I am very happy to inform you that I have a cent per cent genuine Valampuri

Conch. I will definitely send you the scanned image of the same. As mentioned

in my earlier mail, I have also standardized a radiographic method to study

interior structural anatomy. If any time you come to India, I would be very

happy to show my collection to you. There is no doubt about the genuity of

collection. I also have a beautiful Valampuri Conch which can be blown. The

internal columella structure is nicely seen. If you are really interested I

will definitely supply to high quality Valampuri Conch of two types blowing

type and a non blowing one with excellent radiogtraphic images proving its

genuity during your any probable visit to India. You yourself can study it. I

am also in touch with conchologist from the USA and India. I will write to you

seperately on your mail ID more about types of

Valampuri.

 

The high quality Valampuri (blowing type and a non blowing type) are available with me.

 

Thanking you and with personal regards,

 

Chandrashekhar Phadke Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66 > wrote:

Dear Chandrashekharji,Namaste!!! ---I'm curious, do you HAVE a Lakshmi Shank in

your possession? If you can afford a Lakshmi Shank for @1,000 per gram OR

@3,000 pergram, or if you can find one for free on the beach, I encourage you

toobtain one. But remember that Lakshmidevi is not happy to be worshippedalone.

You will need Shalagram Shila to complete the circle. And theseboth should be

worshipped every day. I have a real museum, but I cannotput Lakshmi Shank or

Shalagram on exhibit because They are not to betreated like that.I bet you do

NOT have a Valampuri. And apart from a few shell dealers Idon't know anyone who

has a real Valampuri in possession. ATTN: Will all REAL Valampuri Lakshmi Shank

owners please stand up andbe counted... Lets start a CLUB.Best

regards,Richard---

chandrashekhar phadake <c_phadake > wrote:> Respected Shri. Richard

ji,> > Thank you very much for your detailed mail. I always have high>

regards for your experience in rare items and your spiritual> knowledge you are

sharing on this and on other forums. I am a> regular visitor to your website on

rare items and to 'On-line Museum> of Rare Items'. Recently, I have also

become a member of your very> recenlty started club on rare items. > Thank

you very much for your contribution in the field.> > With my personal

experience, it is very tricky to deal with suppliers> regarding costing of rare

items. Experts in the field are aware of> the fact that business of rare items

in India is run like that of> gems. The business is run in a chain of

suppliers. At every level> there is a profit of

the person in a chain. Naturally, cost goes on> increasing. Cost is also

increased depending on the need and> financial capacity of a customer or buyer.

As far as gems are> concerned there are large no. of people in the business

and therefore> there is not much scope (?) for sellers to inflate the cost of

the> gems and precious stones artificially as per his wish. > > There is

definite yardstick for costing of gems and precious stones> based on gem

characters like clarity, specific gravity, hardnes,> quality of cuts, type of

inclusions and possible defects such as> cracks, bubbles etc. You can guide us

more on this aspect being in> the business of gemology for a long time.

However, this is not the> case for Valampuri Conch being the rarest item.

There is no control> on costing. It is quite likely that your contacts in

India

quotated> exorbitant rate to you. I think, you are from Bankok and naturally>

higher cost is quoted to you being a foreigner. > > In India, the cost of

Valampuri Conch (I mean, sinistral Turbinella> pyrum) is definitely in the

range of Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 1500/- per> gram. Cost may be little higher in

case of large conch and blowing> type of Valampuri conch, but definitely not

Rs.3000/- per gram. > Like fake rudraksha, there are also fake or artisan

'Real (?)> Lakshmi Conch' floating in the market. I will be writing a

seperate> mail on that aspect. As you have rightly mentioned, the most

common> way is by selling Whelk at higher rate. The retail cost of 7" Whelk>

is approx. Rs. 1000/-. In fact, if purchased in a bulk i.e. in a lot> of

minimum 50, this Whelk costs only Rs. 250/- each.> >

Customer's wrong thinking is also sometimes responsible for higher> cost. I

have seen people mentioning cost of Valampuri at a> exorbitent rate. However,

a person who can afford to sell a conch> for a lower rate is treated with a

doubt as 'Bogus' with a comment> 'The item must be fake'. Sometimes, certain

wrong statements are> also made publicly as 'There are only so and so no. of

the items in> the world'. (But we have many !, is it not funny ?). I still>

remember the article '21 Faced Fortune' published in the 'Economic> Times'

dated 18th or 19th July 2004 regarding 21 mukhi Rudraksha as> 'There are only

three 21 mukhi in the world'. The World is very> large to estimate the total

no. of perticular items in it. Such> baseless statements also adds to the

increased price. The major> problem is that naturally a common man does

not have much idea of> scientific characters of such natural products. It is

therefore> necessary to educate people on this aspect and to keep the facts in>

front> of them. > > Thanking you and with personal regards,> >

Chandrashekhar Phadke> > > > Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66 > wrote:>

Dear Sriman Chandrashekharji,and friends,> > Thanks for the information. Now we

are getting to the matter. Real> v/s> bogus. 95% of so-called Hindu websites are

selling near worthless> Whelk> as the fabled Valampuri. It this way they are

either cheating people> through ignorance or knowingly. I have been researching

Dakshin-shank> since 1968. In the Valampuri area the fishermen say they find

one> Valampuri shank per 1000 shanks they collect. Most of these are sold> in>

Calcutta, where it

seems the Bengalis are more aware.> > Even the Hari Krishna movement used to

import thousands of worthless,> non-divine Lightning Whelk and give them as

incentive to get life> members in India. Were they cheating? Or were they

ignorant?> > Bottom line is that such non-sense makes the Krishna's and

Sanatan> Dharma look 1) ignorant, and 2) crooked. What a pity when a mletcha>

"conchologist" in America knows what is a real Lakshmi Shank even> better than

many Hindus, who seem to be either "cheaters" OR> "cheated"> in this matter of

Lightning Whelk.> > I know poor people and they show a Whelk and say "Lakshmi."

If I> wasn't> "para-dukha-dukhi" I would have to laugh. And this makes the rich>

disbelieve in the real thing, they themselves being uninformed.> > As I wrote

before, if you are a conchologist OR a Bhakta, either way> a> small 30-40 grams

Valampuri will cost about one half to one lakh.> Full> sized valampuri can cost

up to 2-6 lakhs. And to get a REAL> Valampuri,> even of 40 grams, for one lakh,

is peanuts compared to my business,> which is Gemology. Even a clean 2 carat

(less than half a gram) ruby> will cost much more than a 40 gram Lakshmi Shank.

And ruby is ruled> by> Suryadeva, and Valampuri is ruled by Lakshmidevi Herself!

So how can> Valampuri be so cheap, even at one lakh!? Compared to precious gems

a> real Valampuri is VERY CHEAP. But it is not for the poor; and it is> NOT> a

Lightning Whelk.> > If anyone wants to see the comparison of Valampuri with

Whelk please> click http://www.p-g-a.org/conch-artl.html> > Best regards,>

Richard> http://www.richardshawbrown.com> >

--- chandrashekhar phadake <c_phadake > wrote:> > > Dear Sir,> > > > I

know what I mean to say. I know the characters of the Whelk and> > also of the

Turbinella pyrum i.e. Indian Conch. Whelk is without> any> > vertical pilae

inside the conch apperture. Whelk is commonly> > available on the coasts of

Florida, USA. Whelk is sold on size> > basis, while Valampuri is sold on the

weight basis. Cost of the> Whelk> > having length 7inches is not more than

Rs.800/- in the Indian> market.> > Small Whelks having length approx. 3 inches

are available for the> > cost of Rs. 300/-. The large sized Whelks having

length approx. 10> > to 12 inches is not more than Rs. 5000/- in the Indian

market. > There> > is a diagnostic morphological difference between Whelk and

Indian> > Conch i.e. Turbinella pyrum. There is also a chemical difference> in>

> Whelk and Turbinella pyrum. I am a biotechnologist and study the> > items

more critically and scientifically. I have also developed a> > protocol to

study the interior structure of conch by modern> > scientific methods. I agree

that many of the people sale> > and confuse people (even few of the leading

websites) by offering> > Whelk as Valampuri. Very soon, I will send photos of

the high> > quality Valampuri (Sinistral Turbinella pyrum) on this club

photos.> > > The cost of rare items are sometimes unnecessarily exagerated. >

> > > Thanking you and with regards,> > > > Chandrashekhar Phadke> > > >

Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66 > wrote:> > Dear Sir,> > >

> That is very cheap price and I do not believe he is speaking about> > real> >

Lakshmi Shank which is Sinistral Terbinella Pyrum. The shell he is> > speaking

about is Lightning Whelk, which is cheap, but is NOT a> > Shank.> > If you want

to spend little money then better get a normal real> > Shank,> > that is much

better than a WHELK for Rs. 1000.> > > > But if you can get Valampuri Sinistral

Terbinella Pyrum for Rs.> 1000> > each, then I will pay you triple and buy many

pieces immediately.> > > > The problem is that now, in India, they think

Lightning Whelk shell> > is> > a Sinistral Turninella Pyrum Conch. In fact, the

Lightning Whelk> > shells> > wrongly sold as Lakshmi Shank are imported into

India from North> > America, NOT from India.> > > > I have written this post to

help

people. Please don't be fooled.> > > > Best rgds,> > Richard> >

http://www.richardshawbrown.com> > > > --- chandrashekhar phadake

<c_phadake > wrote:> > > > > Dear LG,> > > > > > Cost of the

authentic 'Valampuri Conch' in the Indian market is> in> > > the range of Rs.

1000/- to Rs. 1500/- per gram depending upon its> > > beauty and size. Large

sized conch are generally costly due to> its> > > rarity. Similarly, Valampuri

Conch which can be blown is also> very> > > expensive as it is extremely rare

than the normal Valampuri.> > > > > > Thanking you and with best wishes,> > >

> > > Chandrashekhar Phadke> > > > > > LG

<lagan29 (AT) (DOT) co.in> wrote:> > > dear brother> > > > > > how does one

differentiate between a fake and a real valampuri> > > shankh? what is price of

the authentic rare valumpuri shankh .> can> > it> > > be found in rameshwaram?>

> > > > > regards> > > > > > > > > Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66 >

wrote:> > > Dear Hindu Sanatan Dharmis,r> > > > > > Just a friendly note to

inform you that 99% of the shells being> > sold> > > as genuine > > > Valampuri

Òdakshinavarti Ò Sri Lakshmi Shank are completely> bogus.> > > > > > What they

are wrongly selling is actually another type of common> > > shell > > >

imported into India from North America called ÒLightning WhelkÓ>

> > (busycon > > > contrarium). It is not a ÒConchÓ shell, what to speak of

being a> > > Dakshinavarti > > > Conch. It is simply a case of either ignorance

or cheating.> > > > > > If you visit

http://www.agt-gems.com/Book/laxmi-conch.html - you> > will> > > learn > > >

about and see REAL Lakshmi Conch (sinistral turbinella pyrum). > > > > > >

Among shell collectors (Conchologists) and learned Brahmans there> > is> > >

ONLY > > > one Lakshmi Conch (sinistral turbinella pyrum)... And a LIGHTNING> >

> WHELK > > > is positively NOT it. > > > > > > The prices the Lightning Whelks

are selling for is absurdly cheap> > for> > > a > > > precious Sri Lakshmi

Conch (although it may

be fair price for a> $5> > > Lightning > > > Whelk). > > > > > > And many

foolish people and even temples use the bogus Lightning> > > Whelk > > > shell

and thus they remain poor. And this FACT makes the rich> > people > > >

disbelieve in real Lakshmi Shank.> > > > > > In fact, it is Archan-aparada to

use any shell except Shank> (Conch)> > > either left > > > side or right side

opening. Shastra has stated, for example, that> > > bones are > > > ashuda or

impure, except the Shank, which is divine. So Lightning> > > Whelk is a > > >

bone and is NOT a Shank, therefore using Whelk shells is ashuda.> > > > > >

Attn: Hindu Whelk suppliers: Soon the public will find out that> > most> > >

ALL the > > > "puja"

dealers are selling Lightning Whelk as a real "Lakshmi> > Conch."> > > And > > >

when they stop doing that nonsense, then Srimati Lakshmi Shank> will> > > regain

> > > Her divine position as near priceless. If a person cannot afford> > the> >

> steep price > > > of a Valampuri, then they can use a left-side opening

Shank,> which> > is> > > very low > > > price. But they should never use a

Whelk shell.> > > > > > Sukriya!!! OM TAT SAT> > > > > > Best regards,> > > > >

> Richard Shaw-Brown, PG> > > http://www.richardshawbrown.com > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > India Matrimony: Find your partner

now. > > > > > > > > > Lord shiva Beliefs of hinduism > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > >

Visit your group "" on the web.> > > > > > To

from this group, send an email to:> > >

> > > > > > Your use of

is subject to the Terms of> > > Service. > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > for Good> > >

Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. > > > > > > Send

instant messages to your online friends> > http://uk.messenger. > > >

> > > > > Lord shiva > > > > >

> > > > > > > Visit your group ""

on the web.> > > > > >

> > > > Your use of

is

subject to the Terms of> > Service. > > > > > >

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> > > > Tired

of spam? Mail has the best spam protection around > >

> > > Send instant messages to your online friends>

http://uk.messenger. > > > > > > Lord shiva > >

> > > > Visit your

group "" on the web.> > To from this

group, send an email to:>

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Groups is subject to the Terms of> Service. > > >

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> > Tired of

spam? Mail has the best spam protection around >

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

Tired of spam?

Mail has the best spam protection around

[Guest guest]

I will write to you seperately on your mail ID more about types of Valampuri.

 

Dear Chandrashekharji,

 

Namaste!!! I have no doubt that you have real Valampuri. And I'm fully

interested to know more. Please bless me with any information forthcoming.

 

Do you have Valampuri for sale?

 

Best rgds,

Richard

>

> The high quality Valampuri (blowing type and a non blowing type) are

available with me.

>

> Thanking you and with personal regards,

>

> Chandrashekhar Phadke

>

> Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66> wrote:

> Dear Chandrashekharji,

>

> Namaste!!!

>

> ---I'm curious, do you HAVE a Lakshmi Shank in your possession?

>

> If you can afford a Lakshmi Shank for @1,000 per gram OR @3,000 per

> gram, or if you can find one for free on the beach, I encourage you to

> obtain one. But remember that Lakshmidevi is not happy to be worshipped

> alone. You will need Shalagram Shila to complete the circle. And these

> both should be worshipped every day. I have a real museum, but I cannot

> put Lakshmi Shank or Shalagram on exhibit because They are not to be

> treated like that.

>

> I bet you do NOT have a Valampuri. And apart from a few shell dealers I

> don't know anyone who has a real Valampuri in possession.

>

> ATTN: Will all REAL Valampuri Lakshmi Shank owners please stand up and

> be counted... Lets start a CLUB.

>

> Best regards,

> Richard

>

> --- chandrashekhar phadake <c_phadake> wrote:

>

> > Respected Shri. Richard ji,

> >

> > Thank you very much for your detailed mail. I always have high

> > regards for your experience in rare items and your spiritual

> > knowledge you are sharing on this and on other forums. I am a

> > regular visitor to your website on rare items and to 'On-line Museum

> > of Rare Items'. Recently, I have also become a member of your very

> > recenlty started club on rare items.

> > Thank you very much for your contribution in the field.

> >

> > With my personal experience, it is very tricky to deal with suppliers

> > regarding costing of rare items. Experts in the field are aware of

> > the fact that business of rare items in India is run like that of

> > gems. The business is run in a chain of suppliers. At every level

> > there is a profit of the person in a chain. Naturally, cost goes on

> > increasing. Cost is also increased depending on the need and

> > financial capacity of a customer or buyer. As far as gems are

> > concerned there are large no. of people in the business and therefore

> > there is not much scope (?) for sellers to inflate the cost of the

> > gems and precious stones artificially as per his wish.

> >

> > There is definite yardstick for costing of gems and precious stones

> > based on gem characters like clarity, specific gravity, hardnes,

> > quality of cuts, type of inclusions and possible defects such as

> > cracks, bubbles etc. You can guide us more on this aspect being in

> > the business of gemology for a long time. However, this is not the

> > case for Valampuri Conch being the rarest item. There is no control

> > on costing. It is quite likely that your contacts in India quotated

> > exorbitant rate to you. I think, you are from Bankok and naturally

> > higher cost is quoted to you being a foreigner.

> >

> > In India, the cost of Valampuri Conch (I mean, sinistral Turbinella

> > pyrum) is definitely in the range of Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 1500/- per

> > gram. Cost may be little higher in case of large conch and blowing

> > type of Valampuri conch, but definitely not Rs.3000/- per gram.

> > Like fake rudraksha, there are also fake or artisan 'Real (?)

> > Lakshmi Conch' floating in the market. I will be writing a seperate

> > mail on that aspect. As you have rightly mentioned, the most common

> > way is by selling Whelk at higher rate. The retail cost of 7" Whelk

> > is approx. Rs. 1000/-. In fact, if purchased in a bulk i.e. in a lot

> > of minimum 50, this Whelk costs only Rs. 250/- each.

> >

> > Customer's wrong thinking is also sometimes responsible for higher

> > cost. I have seen people mentioning cost of Valampuri at a

> > exorbitent rate. However, a person who can afford to sell a conch

> > for a lower rate is treated with a doubt as 'Bogus' with a comment

> > 'The item must be fake'. Sometimes, certain wrong statements are

> > also made publicly as 'There are only so and so no. of the items in

> > the world'. (But we have many !, is it not funny ?). I still

> > remember the article '21 Faced Fortune' published in the 'Economic

> > Times' dated 18th or 19th July 2004 regarding 21 mukhi Rudraksha as

> > 'There are only three 21 mukhi in the world'. The World is very

> > large to estimate the total no. of perticular items in it. Such

> > baseless statements also adds to the increased price. The major

> > problem is that naturally a common man does not have much idea of

> > scientific characters of such natural products. It is therefore

> > necessary to educate people on this aspect and to keep the facts in

> > front

> > of them.

> >

> > Thanking you and with personal regards,

> >

> > Chandrashekhar Phadke

> >

> >

> >

> > Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66> wrote:

> > Dear Sriman Chandrashekharji,and friends,

> >

> > Thanks for the information. Now we are getting to the matter. Real

> > v/s

> > bogus. 95% of so-called Hindu websites are selling near worthless

> > Whelk

> > as the fabled Valampuri. It this way they are either cheating people

> > through ignorance or knowingly. I have been researching Dakshin-shank

> > since 1968. In the Valampuri area the fishermen say they find one

> > Valampuri shank per 1000 shanks they collect. Most of these are sold

> > in

> > Calcutta, where it seems the Bengalis are more aware.

> >

> > Even the Hari Krishna movement used to import thousands of worthless,

> > non-divine Lightning Whelk and give them as incentive to get life

> > members in India. Were they cheating? Or were they ignorant?

> >

> > Bottom line is that such non-sense makes the Krishna's and Sanatan

> > Dharma look 1) ignorant, and 2) crooked. What a pity when a mletcha

> > "conchologist" in America knows what is a real Lakshmi Shank even

> > better than many Hindus, who seem to be either "cheaters" OR

> > "cheated"

> > in this matter of Lightning Whelk.

> >

> > I know poor people and they show a Whelk and say "Lakshmi." If I

> > wasn't

> > "para-dukha-dukhi" I would have to laugh. And this makes the rich

> > disbelieve in the real thing, they themselves being uninformed.

> >

> > As I wrote before, if you are a conchologist OR a Bhakta, either way

> > a

> > small 30-40 grams Valampuri will cost about one half to one lakh.

> > Full

> > sized valampuri can cost up to 2-6 lakhs. And to get a REAL

> > Valampuri,

> > even of 40 grams, for one lakh, is peanuts compared to my business,

> > which is Gemology. Even a clean 2 carat (less than half a gram) ruby

> > will cost much more than a 40 gram Lakshmi Shank. And ruby is ruled

> > by

> > Suryadeva, and Valampuri is ruled by Lakshmidevi Herself! So how can

> > Valampuri be so cheap, even at one lakh!? Compared to precious gems a

> > real Valampuri is VERY CHEAP. But it is not for the poor; and it is

> > NOT

> > a Lightning Whelk.

> >

> > If anyone wants to see the comparison of Valampuri with Whelk please

> > click http://www.p-g-a.org/conch-artl.html

> >

> > Best regards,

> > Richard

> > http://www.richardshawbrown.com

> >

> > --- chandrashekhar phadake <c_phadake> wrote:

> >

> > > Dear Sir,

> > >

> > > I know what I mean to say. I know the characters of the Whelk and

> > > also of the Turbinella pyrum i.e. Indian Conch. Whelk is without

> > any

> > > vertical pilae inside the conch apperture. Whelk is commonly

> > > available on the coasts of Florida, USA. Whelk is sold on size

> > > basis, while Valampuri is sold on the weight basis. Cost of the

> > Whelk

> > > having length 7inches is not more than Rs.800/- in the Indian

> > market.

> > > Small Whelks having length approx. 3 inches are available for the

> > > cost of Rs. 300/-. The large sized Whelks having length approx. 10

> > > to 12 inches is not more than Rs. 5000/- in the Indian market.

> > There

> > > is a diagnostic morphological difference between Whelk and Indian

> > > Conch i.e. Turbinella pyrum. There is also a chemical difference

> > in

> > > Whelk and Turbinella pyrum. I am a biotechnologist and study the

> > > items more critically and scientifically. I have also developed a

> > > protocol to study the interior structure of conch by modern

> > > scientific methods. I agree that many of the people sale

> > > and confuse people (even few of the leading websites) by offering

> > > Whelk as Valampuri. Very soon, I will send photos of the high

> > > quality Valampuri (Sinistral Turbinella pyrum) on this club photos.

> >

> > > The cost of rare items are sometimes unnecessarily exagerated.

> > >

> > > Thanking you and with regards,

> > >

> > > Chandrashekhar Phadke

> > >

> > > Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66> wrote:

> > > Dear Sir,

> > >

> > > That is very cheap price and I do not believe he is speaking about

> > > real

> > > Lakshmi Shank which is Sinistral Terbinella Pyrum. The shell he is

> > > speaking about is Lightning Whelk, which is cheap, but is NOT a

> > > Shank.

> > > If you want to spend little money then better get a normal real

> > > Shank,

> > > that is much better than a WHELK for Rs. 1000.

> > >

> > > But if you can get Valampuri Sinistral Terbinella Pyrum for Rs.

> > 1000

> > > each, then I will pay you triple and buy many pieces immediately.

> > >

> > > The problem is that now, in India, they think Lightning Whelk shell

> > > is

> > > a Sinistral Turninella Pyrum Conch. In fact, the Lightning Whelk

> > > shells

> > > wrongly sold as Lakshmi Shank are imported into India from North

> > > America, NOT from India.

> > >

> > > I have written this post to help people. Please don't be fooled.

> > >

> > > Best rgds,

> > > Richard

> > > http://www.richardshawbrown.com

> > >

> > > --- chandrashekhar phadake <c_phadake> wrote:

> > >

> > > > Dear LG,

> > > >

> > > > Cost of the authentic 'Valampuri Conch' in the Indian market is

> > in

> > > > the range of Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 1500/- per gram depending upon its

> > > > beauty and size. Large sized conch are generally costly due to

> > its

> > > > rarity. Similarly, Valampuri Conch which can be blown is also

> > very

> > > > expensive as it is extremely rare than the normal Valampuri.

> > > >

> > > > Thanking you and with best wishes,

> > > >

> > > > Chandrashekhar Phadke

> > > >

> > > > LG <lagan29> wrote:

> > > > dear brother

> > > >

> > > > how does one differentiate between a fake and a real valampuri

> > > > shankh? what is price of the authentic rare valumpuri shankh .

> > can

> > > it

> > > > be found in rameshwaram?

> > > >

> > > > regards

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66> wrote:

> > > > Dear Hindu Sanatan Dharmis,r

> > > >

> > > > Just a friendly note to inform you that 99% of the shells being

> > > sold

> > > > as genuine

> > > > Valampuri Òdakshinavarti Ò Sri Lakshmi Shank are completely

> > bogus.

> > > >

> > > > What they are wrongly selling is actually another type of common

> > > > shell

> > > > imported into India from North America called ÒLightning WhelkÓ

> > > > (busycon

> > > > contrarium). It is not a ÒConchÓ shell, what to speak of being a

> > > > Dakshinavarti

> > > > Conch. It is simply a case of either ignorance or cheating.

> > > >

> > > > If you visit http://www.agt-gems.com/Book/laxmi-conch.html - you

> > > will

> > > > learn

> > > > about and see REAL Lakshmi Conch (sinistral turbinella pyrum).

> > > >

> > > > Among shell collectors (Conchologists) and learned Brahmans there

> > > is

> > > > ONLY

> > > > one Lakshmi Conch (sinistral turbinella pyrum)... And a LIGHTNING

> > > > WHELK

> > > > is positively NOT it.

> > > >

> > > > The prices the Lightning Whelks are selling for is absurdly cheap

> > > for

> > > > a

> > > > precious Sri Lakshmi Conch (although it may be fair price for a

> > $5

> > > > Lightning

> > > > Whelk).

> > > >

> > > > And many foolish people and even temples use the bogus Lightning

> > > > Whelk

> > > > shell and thus they remain poor. And this FACT makes the rich

> > > people

> > > > disbelieve in real Lakshmi Shank.

> > > >

> > > > In fact, it is Archan-aparada to use any shell except Shank

> > (Conch)

> > > > either left

> > > > side or right side opening. Shastra has stated, for example, that

> > > > bones are

> > > > ashuda or impure, except the Shank, which is divine. So Lightning

> > > > Whelk is a

> > > > bone and is NOT a Shank, therefore using Whelk shells is ashuda.

> > > >

> > > > Attn: Hindu Whelk suppliers: Soon the public will find out that

> > > most

> > > > ALL the

> > > > "puja" dealers are selling Lightning Whelk as a real "Lakshmi

> > > Conch."

> > > > And

> > > > when they stop doing that nonsense, then Srimati Lakshmi Shank

> > will

> > > > regain

> > > > Her divine position as near priceless. If a person cannot afford

> > > the

> > > > steep price

> > > > of a Valampuri, then they can use a left-side opening Shank,

> > which

> > > is

> > > > very low

> > > > price. But they should never use a Whelk shell.

> > > >

> > > > Sukriya!!! OM TAT SAT

> > > >

> > > > Best regards,

> > > >

> > > > Richard Shaw-Brown, PG

> > > > http://www.richardshawbrown.com

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > India Matrimony: Find your partner now.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Lord shiva Beliefs of hinduism

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Visit your group "" on the web.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Terms of

> > > > Service.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > for Good

> > > > Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

> > >

> > >

> > > Send instant messages to your online friends

> > > http://uk.messenger.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Lord shiva

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Visit your group "" on the web.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Terms of

> > > Service.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> > Send instant messages to your online friends

> > http://uk.messenger.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Lord shiva

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Visit your group "" on the web.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Terms of

> > Service.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> Send instant messages to your online friends http://

uk.messenger.

>

>

>

> Lord shiva

>

>

>

>

>

> Visit your group "" on the web.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste sirji Chandrashekhar Phadke

I was wondering how much are you selling these conch

for, i would like a blowing and a non-blowing type.

Thanks you

god bless

jai shree ram

rishi

 

 

 

--- chandrashekhar phadake <c_phadake

wrote:

 

> Respected Shri. Richardji,

>

> Thank you very much for your mail and suggestion to

> worshipl Shri. Mahalakshmi with Shaligram Shila. I

> will certainly do that.

>

> I am very happy to inform you that I have a cent per

> cent genuine Valampuri Conch. I will definitely

> send you the scanned image of the same. As

> mentioned in my earlier mail, I have also

> standardized a radiographic method to study interior

> structural anatomy. If any time you come to India,

> I would be very happy to show my collection to you.

> There is no doubt about the genuity of collection.

> I also have a beautiful Valampuri Conch which can be

> blown. The internal columella structure is nicely

> seen. If you are really interested I will

> definitely supply to high quality Valampuri Conch of

> two types blowing type and a non blowing one with

> excellent radiogtraphic images proving its genuity

> during your any probable visit to India. You

> yourself can study it. I am also in touch with

> conchologist from the USA and India. I will write

> to you seperately on your mail ID more about types

> of Valampuri.

>

> The high quality Valampuri (blowing type and a non

> blowing type) are available with me.

>

> Thanking you and with personal regards,

>

> Chandrashekhar Phadke

>

> Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66 wrote:

> Dear Chandrashekharji,

>

> Namaste!!!

>

> ---I'm curious, do you HAVE a Lakshmi Shank in your

> possession?

>

> If you can afford a Lakshmi Shank for @1,000 per

> gram OR @3,000 per

> gram, or if you can find one for free on the beach,

> I encourage you to

> obtain one. But remember that Lakshmidevi is not

> happy to be worshipped

> alone. You will need Shalagram Shila to complete the

> circle. And these

> both should be worshipped every day. I have a real

> museum, but I cannot

> put Lakshmi Shank or Shalagram on exhibit because

> They are not to be

> treated like that.

>

> I bet you do NOT have a Valampuri. And apart from a

> few shell dealers I

> don't know anyone who has a real Valampuri in

> possession.

>

> ATTN: Will all REAL Valampuri Lakshmi Shank owners

> please stand up and

> be counted... Lets start a CLUB.

>

> Best regards,

> Richard

>

> --- chandrashekhar phadake <c_phadake

> wrote:

>

> > Respected Shri. Richard ji,

> >

> > Thank you very much for your detailed mail. I

> always have high

> > regards for your experience in rare items and your

> spiritual

> > knowledge you are sharing on this and on other

> forums. I am a

> > regular visitor to your website on rare items and

> to 'On-line Museum

> > of Rare Items'. Recently, I have also become a

> member of your very

> > recenlty started club on rare items.

> > Thank you very much for your contribution in the

> field.

> >

> > With my personal experience, it is very tricky to

> deal with suppliers

> > regarding costing of rare items. Experts in the

> field are aware of

> > the fact that business of rare items in India is

> run like that of

> > gems. The business is run in a chain of

> suppliers. At every level

> > there is a profit of the person in a chain.

> Naturally, cost goes on

> > increasing. Cost is also increased depending on

> the need and

> > financial capacity of a customer or buyer. As far

> as gems are

> > concerned there are large no. of people in the

> business and therefore

> > there is not much scope (?) for sellers to inflate

> the cost of the

> > gems and precious stones artificially as per his

> wish.

> >

> > There is definite yardstick for costing of gems

> and precious stones

> > based on gem characters like clarity, specific

> gravity, hardnes,

> > quality of cuts, type of inclusions and possible

> defects such as

> > cracks, bubbles etc. You can guide us more on

> this aspect being in

> > the business of gemology for a long time.

> However, this is not the

> > case for Valampuri Conch being the rarest item.

> There is no control

> > on costing. It is quite likely that your contacts

> in India quotated

> > exorbitant rate to you. I think, you are from

> Bankok and naturally

> > higher cost is quoted to you being a foreigner.

> >

> > In India, the cost of Valampuri Conch (I mean,

> sinistral Turbinella

> > pyrum) is definitely in the range of Rs. 1000/-

> to Rs. 1500/- per

> > gram. Cost may be little higher in case of large

> conch and blowing

> > type of Valampuri conch, but definitely not

> Rs.3000/- per gram.

> > Like fake rudraksha, there are also fake or

> artisan 'Real (?)

> > Lakshmi Conch' floating in the market. I will be

> writing a seperate

> > mail on that aspect. As you have rightly

> mentioned, the most common

> > way is by selling Whelk at higher rate. The

> retail cost of 7" Whelk

> > is approx. Rs. 1000/-. In fact, if purchased in a

> bulk i.e. in a lot

> > of minimum 50, this Whelk costs only Rs. 250/-

> each.

> >

> > Customer's wrong thinking is also sometimes

> responsible for higher

> > cost. I have seen people mentioning cost of

> Valampuri at a

> > exorbitent rate. However, a person who can afford

> to sell a conch

> > for a lower rate is treated with a doubt as

> 'Bogus' with a comment

> > 'The item must be fake'. Sometimes, certain

> wrong statements are

> > also made publicly as 'There are only so and so

> no. of the items in

> > the world'. (But we have many !, is it not funny

> ?). I still

> > remember the article '21 Faced Fortune' published

> in the 'Economic

> > Times' dated 18th or 19th July 2004 regarding 21

> mukhi Rudraksha as

> > 'There are only three 21 mukhi in the world'. The

> World is very

> > large to estimate the total no. of perticular

> items in it. Such

> > baseless statements also adds to the increased

> price. The major

> > problem is that naturally a common man does not

> have much idea of

> > scientific characters of such natural products.

> It is therefore

> > necessary to educate people on this aspect and to

> keep the facts in

> > front

> > of them.

> >

> > Thanking you and with personal regards,

> >

> > Chandrashekhar Phadke

> >

> >

> >

> > Richard Shaw Brown <rsbj66 wrote:

> > Dear Sriman Chandrashekharji,and friends,

> >

> > Thanks for the information. Now we are getting to

> the matter. Real

> > v/s

> > bogus. 95% of so-called Hindu websites are selling

> near worthless

> > Whelk

> > as the fabled Valampuri. It this way they are

> either cheating people

> > through ignorance or knowingly. I have been

> researching Dakshin-shank

> > since 1968. In the Valampuri area the fishermen

> say they find one

> > Valampuri shank per 1000 shanks they collect. Most

> of

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