Dakshinavarti Shankh, Valampuri Sangu [in Tamil] or Sri Lakshmi Shankh, is a sacred Hindu

Hindu

Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

 object otherwise known in English as a conch shell. This is the shell

Gastropod shell

The gastropod shell is a shell which is part of the body of a gastropod or snail, one kind of mollusc. The gastropod shell is an external skeleton or exoskeleton, which serves not only for muscle attachment, but also for protection from predators and from mechanical damage...

 of a large sea snail

Snail

Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...

 from the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...

 (a shell of the species Turbinella pyrum

Turbinella pyrum

Turbinella pyrum, common names the chank shell, sacred chank or chank, also known as the divine conch, sometimes referred to simply as a conch, is a species of very large sea snail with a gill and an operculum, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinellidae...

), but one that has the very rare reverse-turning spiral.

In other words, when it is held with the spout (siphonal canal) pointed up, this conch's spiral twists rightwards (dakshinavarti) rather than very much more common form, which twists leftwards (vamavarti).

True vs. fake

The genuine Lakshmi Shank is a sinistral conch shell from the Indian Ocean, and certainly not a sinistral whelk species from Florida, USA. A true Valampuri shell is a species under the gastropod genus Turbinella L. The most common species is Turbinella pyrum L. It is important to note that only sinistral variety of Turbinell species is a true Lakshmi Shankh. This shell is rare in its occurrence. Other right-turning sea snail shells of a similar shape such as the lightning whelk

Lightning whelk

The lightning whelk, scientific name Busycon contrarium, is an edible species of very large predatory sea snail or whelk, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Buccinidae, the busycon whelks. This species has a left-handed or sinistral shell...

 Busycon perversum, are often mistakenly sold and worshipped in place of the genuine Shank. The real Lakshmi Shank has 3 to 7 ridges or plaits on its columella, whereas whelk shells does not show the presence of such plaits on its columella. The so called flower bud opening test, rice pulling test, Valampuries coming up through the rice heap are non scientific and are gimicks.

Valampuries show much morphological variations depending on its natural locality. Shells with mixed characters of two adjacent localities are also seen.

Origin

While genuine Dakshinavarti Lakshmi Conches are only found in the Indian Ocean, between Myanmar (Burma) all the way to Sri Lanka. There are three main localities of this shankh in India. Shells from all the localities show definite morphological variations. The three localities are Indian Ocean near Adam's Bridge (Ram Setu), Sri Lanka, Ramishwaram to Tuticorin. Shells from this region are rare in occurrence. The second locality is Arabian Sea or Western India. The third locality is Bay of Bengal. Varieties showing mixed characters have also been observed. The imitation (Lightning Whelks) mostly come from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. This imitation is also known as African Valampuri.

Rarity

Real Lakshmi Conch (right side spinning) are estimated to occur only one per 100,000 conch shells. The shell of the lightning whelk on the other hand almost always opens on the right. Valampuries with five plaits or folds in its cavity are known as 'Panchajanya' and are very rare. Completely snowwhite Valampuries are also very rare and expensive.

Powers ascribed

The Lakshmi

Lakshmi

Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...

 Conch is said to bring all manner of blessing, but particularly material wealth, upon the owner. Ritual use may include bathing deities, drinking from the conch, or the use of mantra

Mantra

A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...

s oriented to goddess Lakshmi.

Current value

A true Dakshinavarthy shell is sold on weight basis. The present market cost in India falls in the range of Rs. 1500/- to Rs. 3500/- per gram. However, there have been some reports that shell is also sold up to Rs. 10000/- per gram. Based upon a market search of a number of genuine sellers, the price was average of Indian Rs. 6,000 per gram, depending on size, type, and quality, price can be much higher. For example a medium size Valampuri weighs about 160 grams x Rs 6,000 = Rs. 960,000 (US$ 20,528) minimum. More over, Valampuris of the smooth "milk" variety sell for over Rs. 20,000 per gram, and weight about 150-350 grams. Tiny dwarf Valampuris small enough to wear as a pendant are very rare and price is negotiable when available. Regarding value, note the comparison, a Valampuri costing $20,000 would only purchase a 1.5 carats (300 mg) diamond. So the legendary cost of Valampuri, as compared to a diamond, is actually quite low, in spite of demand always far exceeding supply.