Conch

Conch is a type of gastropod or sea snail. They have beautiful shells. In West Indies and East Asia snail's "meat" is important part of local cuisine. It is eaten raw in different salads or cooked in soups, stews and other dishes.

Conch is an important part of some religions. A shankha or chank shell belongs to the Turbinella pyrum species. According to Buddhism it is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols. This shell is used as a ceremonial trumpet in several Hindu rituals like for example in Lakshmi puja. The god Vishnu often holds a special conch known as Panchajanya. This conch represents life.

In some works of the Prakrit poetry conch has erotic symbolism. Conch was used in rituals of the indigenous people who according to legend found the village of Ostional in the southwest of Nicaragua. Conche shells were part of religion of the ancient Peruvian Moche people.