Chank

Chank is the shell of a very large sea snail of the Indian Ocean, Turbinella pyrum, a marine gastropod. The name comes from the Indian word shankha, the divine conch. The shell is massive, usually pure white under a heavy brown skin, though it can be pale apricot, sometimes dotted dark brown. It is sacred in Hinduism and Buddhism and is one of the eight auspicious symbols. For ceremonial use the tip of the spire is often cut off so it can be blown as a trumpet, and some are decorated with metal and semiprecious stones. About one shell in 200,000 coils to the left. In Hindu practice these rare shells are called Dakshinavarti Shankh in Sanskrit or Valampuri shankhu in Tamil. Lightning whelk shells are sometimes sold in imitation.