Valampuri Shankh information

June 27, 2008

Respected Shri. Richard ji and friends,

There were many postings on 'Valampuri' in this forum earlier. For newly joined members I am giving detailed information on the subject. Valampuri, is a Tamil term. This means 'Right turning', on the other hand, 'Idampuri' means 'left turning'. The other names for Valampuri are 'Sri Lakshmi Conch', 'Vishnu Conch', 'Krishna Conch', 'Dakshinawarty Conch' or simply 'Right Handed Conch'. Scientifically, right handed shells (as per Indian system, and left handed as per American and Europian system) are known as 'Sinistral' types of shells, and are of very rare in occurrence. Out of 80,000 gastropod species approximately only 80 species show presence of both the types i..e. dextral and sinistral. The dextral and sinistral characters are genetically controlled.

As far as Valampuries are concerned, there are mainly two types of right handed turning shells which are sold in the Indian market. The most commonly available and sold in the market is 'Lightening Whelk' of the species Busycon contrarium and Busycon sinistralis. This type is mainly available on coasts of Florida, USA. I was told that it is also available in the Indian ocean. In fact, Lightening Whelk is not a true Valampuri as we all know. The species Busycon carica has dextral shells ( left handed shells) and not sinistral.

Difference between Whelk and Valampuri :

The true Valampuri is a sinistral variety of the species Turbinella pyrum or commonly known as 'Indian Sacred Conch'. There are at least 5 to 6 different morphological types or variants available under the sinistral variety of Turbinella pyrum. Cost of Valampuri mainly depend on rare characters of the conch and on at what stage in 'Dealers Chain' you (the customer) are purchasing the shell.

The major difference in Turbinella and Whelk is the presence or absence of vertical plaits or folds on the columella. As in case of Turbinella, we can see three such plaits or folds (and rarely 4 or 5 such folds) as small vertical ridges in the conch cavity. However, such columellar folds or plaits are absent in case of Whelk, as a result we do not see any of such three vertical ridges in the conch cavity.

Fake Valampuries made from Whelk by pasting or carving artificial folds or ridges in the cavity can easily be checked and exposed by shell X-ray. Basically, shape of Whelk and Turbinella is totally different.

I feel, it is necessary to know conch or shell characters and terms or scientific terminology. In brief it is as under.

Gastropod Shell Morphology :

Gastropod shell is a univalve shell. Any gastropod shell is exoskeleton of an aquatic snail like soft bodied animal. Gastropod shell is in fact a tubular structure tightly coiled around the central shell axis known as 'Shell Columella'. It can be compared with a coiled musical instrument. If shell is cut near its mouth, one can blow the shell due to this coiling nature of the shell. Good quality blowing shells are always large in its size. Sound quality is poor in small shells. Shell coiling and diameter of shell coiling goes on increasing per every such turn. Interestingly, shell coiling and widening of its tubular diameter shows mathematical relation and phenomenon scitentifically known as 'Fibonacci'. Few years back a research paper proving fibonacci phenomenon in shells was published in a reputed research journal Current Science published from Bangalore.

Dextral Shells : These are the shells showing 'Clockwise Coiling of Sutures'.

Sinistral Shells : These are the shells showing 'Anticlockwise Coiling of Sutures'.

Head and tail : Conch or shell has head and the tail region. Head is globular and the tail is tapering. If Valampuri shell is kept facing its head towards altar and idols in the altar facing East, conch cavity of the shell falls on the south side or 'Dakshin Disha'. The Valampuri therefore called as 'Dakshinawarty Shankh'.

Sutures : These are the circles on conch head. In fact it is a continuous line running either in clockwise or anticlockwise direction. Any two sutures are the boder lines of a tubular structure described previously. In case of Turbinella pyrum ( Dextral and Sinistral) the no. of such sutures is generally 5 to 6 and rarely 7 to 9.

Columellar folds or Plaits : As mentioned earlier, Turbinella has 3 to 5 folds or plaits on the central columella. These folds are seen as 'Vertical Ridges' in the conch cavitty. Due to such folds, columella has screw shaped structure in case of Turbinella. However, columella of Whelk is plain i.e. without such folds.

Conch apperture : Conch cavity is scientifically known as 'Conch apperture'.

Conch outer margin : Convex margin of the conch cavity is called as 'outer margin'. Gastropod shells may be translucent or opaque. This character can be well studied examining conch outer margin. Diffused light is seen through the shell margin if shell is hold against strong light (preferably Sunlight). Light is not seen through opaque shell margin.

Conch inner margin or conch lip : Opposite portion of the outer margin in the conch cavity is known as 'Inner margin or conch lip'. In many cases of Turbinella this conch lip is light orange coloured.

Siphonal Canal : A small canal like extension of the conch cavity is known as 'Siphonal Calnal'

Umbiculus : A small hole near the siphonal canal is known as umbiculus. Umbiculus may or may not be present.

Periostrachum : It is the dirty green or grey coloured papery outer covering of the conch. It is also known as the conch skin. Function of periostrachum is to help conch animal to repair conch fractures by its own. It functions similar to a 'Plaster of Paris' or POP sleeve in bone fracture treatment.

Rare Characters in Valampuri : Sutures less than 5 and more than 6, Columellar folds or plaits more than 3, large size, red or orange coloured band or bands running lengthwise on the conchj body, blowing type of Valampuri, completely white (albino) Valampuries without any colour traces and Valampuri with periostrachum intact* are considered as the rare characters in Valampuri. Valampuries less than 50 gms. are also rarely seen.

*( It is sometimes risky to purchase Valampuri with periostrachum. There are many fake Valampuries floating in the market with fake periostrachum to hide fake characters mainly cutting and pasting joints). In such cases one should check the shell thoroughly and insist on its complete X-Ray.

Costing : Cost of original Valampuri is mainly decided by its rare characters.

In Rudrakshas, Valampuries and Gems, the business is run in a chain from collector of the item from the nature to the end user i.e. customer. At each stage there is a profit margin of a trader in the chain and cost goes on increasing as this chain proceeds or is extended.

Authenticity Test of Valampuri :

To test the authenticity of the shell it is necessary to take Shell X-ray from the top and from other angles or sides if required. One can nicely see suture chambers and plaits or folds in each suture chamber in case of genuine Valampuri. Columella of the authentic or genuine Valampuri appears screw shaped or like rotating thread like structure on the columella due to columellar folds or plaits. Columella of Whelk is plain without such structure.

Conch X-ray is tricky. Best quality complete X-ray depend on minerology and mineral depositions, thickness, hardness and compactness of the shell, dose rate, distance between the X-ray source and the object, timing, electric current, type of X-ray film used etc. It is always better to take shell X-rays from differet sides to study the shell thoroughly. I always supply shell X-Rays to my customers.

Harder portions of shell appear white in X-rays since X-rays do not pass through it easily. On the other hand thinner portions and portions which are less hard turn black since X-rays pass more easily through such portions. Continuity in anatomical structures, suture cavities which are governed by the fibonacci relations etc. are necssarily to be studied to interprete the good X-ray. X-Ray is taken by the technician however its interpretation is more important and one should be well conversent with the internal shell anatomy and external morphology of the shell.

In many shell types (not only in Valampuri) shell protein commonly known as 'Conchin' is tightly packed alternately with shell mineral crystal structures like a chese or veg. sandwich. Chese layer can be compared with shell protein and bread slices with shell mineral. This special strcuture is to protect shell from major damages by predators and other physical forces. Due to special microstructural arragements, any physical impact or shock immediately gets distributed in minor fractures protecing shell from major damage forming chips. Shell animal has capacity to heal minor fractures by its own with the help of periostrachum. The research on this aspect was done in case of a Queen Conch Strombus gigas.

Malacology or 'Shell Science' is a vast and the most interesting branch of Zoology.

Thanking you and with best wishes,

Chandrashekhar Phadke

--- On Tue, 17/6/08, moumitaray <moumitaray wrote:

moumitaray <moumitaray Interested to buy Velampuri Sankhsacred-objects Date: Tuesday, 17 June, 2008, 11:42 PM

Hello Respected group members,I am interested to buy a genuine velampuri sankha. What is the diffrence between the dakshnavorty and velampuri ? Dakshnavarty, I know is right-oriented bi-valved conch and very auspecious .Velampuri is also right oriented conch? We also heard about lakshi sankha.To my understanding all are lakshi sankha but type varies.Please let me know the price and weight of the sankha.Thanks,Moumita Roy

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