A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
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."
"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. "
2 Comments
Thank you so much Kathleen, this ammonite fossil is from my personal collection :)
Very beautiful and informative. Was this spotting in a museum? or?