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Ammonite / Shaligram

Photo by Namitha
Published on Project Noah
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27.6982, 85.3192

Field Notes

Description:

This ammonite fossil is from Kathmandu, Nepal.

"Ammonites were animals that lived in the sea. They are now extinct. Their name is derived from The Egyptian God Ammon. Ammon's sacred animal was a ram, and an ammonite looks like a ram's horn. Pliny the Elder called ammonites the Horns of Ammon."

Notes:

"In India, ammonites found in the valley of the Gandaki River in Nepal and northern India are called Saligrams. They are considered the direct symbol of Lord Vishnu, as one of Vishnu's avatars (incarnations) was stone (Sri Saligram). Saligrams have markings called 'chakras', resembling the discus held in one of the six hands of the god Vishnu. Vishnu's chakra is a Hindu symbol of absolute completeness, with the eight spokes indicating the eightfold path of deliverance. "

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

Thank you so much Kathleen, this ammonite fossil is from my personal collection :)
Very beautiful and informative. Was this spotting in a museum? or?
Photographed
PublishedNovember 12, 2013

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