Lapis Lazuli, or lapis for short, was first mined in Afghanistan, as early as the 7th millennium BCE. Coveted for its deep royal blue, it has been sought after since antiquity, and remains highly prized today.

The Sankha, also spelled shanka or shankh, is a ritual horn made from a conch shell. This revered item is closely associated with Vishnu, the Preserver, a member of the Trimurti, along with Brahma (the Creator) and Shiva (the Destroyer).