The god Vishnu holds his staff crowned with a very rare left-handed Chank shell (Note: Hold a shell up, with the siphon (the open end) down. Most shells will open to the right. Sometimes, a specimen will coil the other way; so it opens to the left - so we can say shells are right-handed and left-handed - or, dextral and sinistral. Most Chank shells are right handed, so the left-handed ones are rare, and treasured far more!) The Hindu, when praying, often clasps a sacred Chank or other venerated object in his hands, believing that it will help his or her petitions be heard. Priests also use it for holding sacred oils.The Chank shell also plays a large role in Buddhist ritual music and ceremonies, and figures into Buddhist iconography.