Dakshinavarti Shankh

Dakshinavarti shankha (), also referred to as Valampuri shankhu () and Sri Lakshmi shankha () is a sacred Hindu conch. It refers to the shell of a large sea snail from the Indian Ocean (a shell of the species Turbinella pyrum), but one that has a rare reverse-turning spiral. The shankha is held with the spout (siphonal canal) pointed up; its spiral twists rightwards rather than the more common form, which twists leftwards. Terminology In scientific usage a dextral (, right) shell has the opening on the right, when viewed with the spire . The opposite is sinistral (, left). This is consistent with the terms for right-handed screws in engineering and physics. Most species of sea snail are dextral. Within a typically-dextral species, rare individuals may develop sinistral coiling.