Magic, Status and Money

Abstract

Cowries resemble a woman’s genitalia, generating belief in their ability to increase fertility. In Greek mythology Aphrodite was born inside a shell; in Japan midwives gave cowries to women in labour to ensure safe birth; and in Africa women wore aprons, with cowries over the pubis. Cowries against the evil eye were attached to harnesses of camels and elephants; sailors lowered cowry strings from boats for cowry ‘eyes’ to navigate; and in tribes considering war, priests cast cowries: apertures-up – make peace, apertures-down – make war. Men in Himalaya wore cowry belts as badges of status, reflecting that they had cut off an enemy’s hand or foot or killed him. In some African tribes only the king and his family were entitled to wear cowries. Cowries were used as money, in Africa to buy slaves and in China to pay taxes, the Chinese symbol for cowry being incorporated into writing symbols for ‘purchase’.

Vishnu, with a ‘chank’ (Turbinella pyrum) in his left hand, is sacred to the Hindu in India. Chank served as battle trumpets and as baby feeding spouts. At weddings, chank served to pour water over the hands of the couple; chank was hung on the bride’s neck; and chank bracelets placed on her wrist. Chank symbols were branded into the shoulder or stamped over the body in religious rites, and temple girls were branded with chank symbols marking dedication to their temple. As a royal emblem, chank appeared on Travancore’s coat of arms, flag, coins and stamps.