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A 'Dakshinavarti Shankh' is considered to be very auspicious and powerful as per Hindu religion. It is believed that a Dakshinavarti Shankh has the power to energize the surrounding with power, wealth and a positive aura. And thus it is often suggested to establish a Dakshinavarti Shankh in your home temple and offer puja/worship regularly. This conch shell can be large or small in size and is found in the Indian ocean.
A Dakshinavarti Shankh is also known as Valampuri Shankh/Sanggu. Most species of sea snails are dextral and some are naturally sinistral. But, also to mention that within a normal dextral species some rare individuals may develop sinistral coiling.
Let's first understand what a Dakshinavarti Shankh is and learn about its physical appearance and its spiritual importance.
INTRODUCTION: Dakshinavarti Shankh is a very rare shell species with its specifications and is considered very auspicious according to Hindu spiritualism. A genuine Dakshinavarti Shankh can only be found in the Indian ocean in between Burma to Sri Lanka. Dakshinavarti Shankh is commonly known as a Lakhsmi Shankh because of its spiritual importance. This is a rare sinistral Turbinella shell found in the Indian ocean from Turbinella Pyrum.
There are three main localities to find this Shankh and each of the localities have their own morphological variations. These three localities are:
Indian ocean near Ram Setu
Sri Lanka
Rameshwaram to Tuticorin
The second locality is the Arabian Sea or western India and the third locality is the Bay of Bengal. One common substitute is the Lightning Whelk found in the Atlantic coast of North America and it mostly comes from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. It is also known as African Velampuri. These being sinistral shells having folds are completely different species.
SPECIFICATIONS: When a Dakshinavarti Shankh is held with its spout (Siphonal Canal) pointing upwards, its spiral twists rightwards. This is extraordinary because most of the other conch shells commonly found to twist leftwards. A Dakshinavarti Shankh might be from 2 inches to 11 inches in length. In religious usage, a Shankh (sacred conch shell) is often displayed with its spire downwards. Thus in this orientation, a dextral shell has its opening on the left and the sinistral shell has its opening on the right. In this regard, in Sanskrit, a dextral shell is known as Vamavarti Shankh and a sinistral shell is known as the Dakshinavarti Shankh.
SPIRITUAL CONTEXT: A Dakshinavarti or Dakshinavarti Lakhsmi Shank is considered to have immense power to bring blessings, abundance and material wealth onto its dweller. It is a symbol of Goddess Lakhsmi. In Hinduism, a Dakshinavarti Lakhsmi Shankh is also useful for Vastu purposes. It cleanses the aura of the self and also of the atmosphere. According to the powerful Laal Kitab, below are mentioned some rituals to bring abundance to the dweller.
DAKSHINAVARTI SHANKH MANTRA
"Om Hrim Shrim Namah
Sridhar Karasthaya Payonidhi Jatayan
Laxmi Sahodaraya Fal Pradaya Fal Pradaya
Sridakshinavarta Shankhaya Sri Hrim Namah"
1. A Dakshinavarti Shankh should be purified before establishing it for worshipping. It should be cleansed on Wednesday or Thursday in an auspicious time with milk, Ganga Jal (Ganges river water) and Panchamrit. And then it should be showed dhup, agarbatti (incense sticks) and diya. It should be placed upon a red cloth, placed upon a silver base/platform. The open end should be facing upwards and the other end should be facing you. Then fill it with rice and red coloured thread and a Swastik should be drawn on it followed by worshipping it with sandalwood, flowers, diya, agarbatti and dhup and this chant the Mantra given above.
2. Keep a Dakshinavarti Shankh in your altar or worshipping place and offer puja regularly showing agarbatti, dhup and diya. Doing this brings richness, prosperity and success in business.
3. On Thursdays, fill Dakshinavarti Shankh with milk and perform 'Abhishek' (pour upon the Lord with chanting) of Lord Vishnu.
4. Donating Dakshinavarti Shankh to temple can also bring prosperity to the individual or his family.
5. Dakshinavarti Shankh is also used in Tantric activities. It is believed that, if water is kept filled in this Shankh then one is relieved from all problems.
Mentioned below are some links of Dakshinavarti Shankh Amazon links for easy purchase:
WORD MEANING:
DEXTRAL: Dextral is a derivative of the Latin word dexter meaning 'right'. Dextral shells when viewed with spire upwards, has the opening on the right.
SINISTRAL: Sinistral is a derivative of the Latin word sinister meaning 'left'. Sinister shells when viewed with spire upwards, has the opening on the left.
TERBINELLA: It is a genus of very large sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turbinellidae
TURBINELLA PYRUM: It is commonly known as Shankh and sacred/divine conch shell. It is a species of very large sea snails with a gill, an operculum, marine gastropod mollusk in the family of Turbinellidae. It is found in the Indian ocean. The Dutch used to call them 'Chianco'.
LIGHTNING WHELK: This species is found on the Atlantic coast of North America and they do not have ridges or plaits on its columella. These are often sold as a substitute for the Dakshinavarti Shankh but it does not carry any spiritual nor physical implications of the real Dakshinavarti Shankh.
LAAL KITAB: It is an unique collection of remedies in field of vedic astrology because for the first time it explained how certain planetary positions in one's horoscope should also reflect in the lines of his palm. For the first time in the history of astrology, Laal Kitab introduced a new style of horoscope analysis with quick and affordable remedies, which were devoid of remedies like pooja and wearing of gemstones, generally recommended by other branches of Vedic astrology and Jyotisha.