Several years ago, I was told by one
of my friends that he has inherited a solid (stone like) Conch Shell and that he
is keen to let me have a look. Later on When I visited his place, he showed me
his antique possessions over a cup of tea. Among other things, the solid Conch
Shell was also present. I examined it and realized that it was a million year
old real fossilized Conch Shell. My friend was too happy to learn about it. He
had, however, no clue as to how it was sourced.
Once, when I was travelling in
Shahpura area of Mandla District in Madhya Pradesh (India), I was informed that
plant and tree fossils are scattered over a very wide area. Now it falls in
Dindori District and has been protected as part of the National Fossil Park. The
area forms a part of the great Vindhya/Satpura Mountain Ranges which divide
India into North and South.
In an another occasion I was
traversing the same terrain accompanied by a youth from that area. I questioned
him if fossils of other living beings are also obtainable thereabout. He got
enthused and offered to take me on a hillock which according to him, had lot of
things in store. We parked the vehicle at a convenient place and proceeded to
scale the hillock known as “Karpa”. Karpa is also the name of the small town
nearby. On the way and particularly on the summit, I was wonderstruck to find
many boulders wherein fossilized Conch Shells were embedded. The rocks were
fragile enough to be broken to take out the shells they encompassed. It was my
GK (though poor) which suggested that the boulder rocks could have been formed
by the lava emitted during some volcanic eruption, millions of years ago. There
could have been the Sea or a lake over there and the volcanic eruption created
the hillock and brought up the Sea Shells which got deposited on the top of the
hill. I collected few of them for my self and some more to serve as give a ways.
I also brought along with me a piece of rock wherein the shell was in an
embedded form.
According to the Hindu Mythology,
when the Vindhya ranges started moving up (gaining height) it was feared that
this could cause hindrance for the Sun (God) to move to the South. The assembly
of Gods decided to entrust the problem to a Seer (Rishi) named Agastya. Agastya
in turn accompanied by his family and disciples went up to the Vindhya Mountain
and requested it to scale down its height to provide a passage to the South for
his entourage. The mountain, in veneration, bowed down and assured to remain
subdued till the return of the Seer from his journey to the South. However, the
Seer was not to return and the mountain is keeping its promise.
While I was in service, these fossils
served a wonderful purpose. I used to wrap them in a silver foil and present
them to high dignitaries duly gift packed with a request to keep it in their
prayer rooms. It was being emphasised to them that these fossilized shells will
give them peace whenever they are troubled. They used to accept the gift with
great reverence, as Conch Shells, in Hindu faith are objects of that kind.
The story will begin again when
somebody inherits them.