Religion of Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization is, also commonly known as the Harappan civilization, ensued from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE (during the Bronze Age). It was spread within the Indus and the Punjab region, stretching into the Ganga-Yamuna Doab and the Ghaggar-Hakra river valley, present-day Pakistan. The civilization is known for its famous drainage system, water supply, and its architecture. The Indus valley civilization had two main cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

The religion of the Indus valley civilization is a very discussed topic at present because of the absence of religious temples and articles; however, some seals were found, which gives us an idea of the existence of religion. The main seals found included Pashupati Seal, Procession Seal, and Swastika Seal. Tree and snake worship, along with Yoni, was found in many places. It is also believed that Linga worship was practised in places like Kalibangan.

Neolithic Religion

The urban civilization of Indus Valley is centred on the goddess religious system. Urbanisation in places like Elam, Turkmenistan, common religious patterns was practised. The antecedents of this religion lie in the village cultures of Afghanistan and Balochistan that were part of larger regional culture systems in the western part of Asia. Neolithic religion consists of cults, rituals, and religious concepts. Neolithic religion was divergent, unlike the prehistoric period like the palaeolithic and mesolithic. It was characterised by human activity and climatic changes similar to present times. These prejudices gave rise to unique ideologies, settlements and permanent settlements, domestication of plants and animals, especially with important technological inventions such as ceramics. These achievements were identified as major achievements of the “Neolithic Revolution”.         

Pashupati Seal

The Pashupati Seal is also known as the Proto-Siva Seal Mahayogi Seal. The seal symbolises the seated figure of Pashupati, which is the reincarnation of the lord of animals, the Hindu god Shiva. The seated human figure has three heads and is thought to have an erect penis. This interpretation of the deity on the seal has been explained as the deity having a horned headdress and is surrounded by animals, representing the horns. On the seal, the human figure of Pashupati is surrounded by four wild animals which are a tiger, an Indian rhinoceros, a water buffalo, and an elephant. Beneath the dais, curved two deer are looking backwards such that their curved horns join at the centre. This is known for having the most complicated designs among the thousands of seals found in the Indus Valley Civilization.

The seal was found in the Southern Portion of Mohenjo-Daro excavation site in 1928. The Pashupati Seal carved in steatite measures 3.56cm by 3.53, with a width of 0.76cm.

Before the partition (1947), the National Museum of New Delhi preserved this seal and other artefacts and findings of Mohenjo-Daro. It was later allocated to India. 

Worshipping of trees and snakes in Indus Valley Civilization

Discovery has shown that worshipping trees and snakes was considered sacred. The worshipping of the Peepal tree(Sacred fig) was widespread during this period. One of the seals shows God amidst the branches of a Peepal tree, and a devotee was worshipping him as there were no temples during the Indus valley civilization. People believed that god resided in trees. 

Naga Cult

The Indus Valley Civilisation was one of the oldest known civilizations. In the minds of the early men, there was fear of nature and powerful animals. In this period, the tradition of worshipping snakes or totemism was prevalent. Several seals and seal impressions with serpents’ figures were discovered. On one of the seals, there is a representation of a major god with a buffalo head, two additional man deities on both sides, and a snake in the standing posture behind each of them. A snake wrestling a bull was discovered on another seal.

Linga Worship

The Indus Valley people’s religious beliefs are still a mystery today. Director-General of Archaeology John Marshal misled the world when he made broad comments about artefacts he uncovered at Mohenjo-Daro. Some artefacts were described as phallic worship symbols by him. He explained that the circular stone artefacts represented female genital organs (Yoni), whereas the lingam-shaped stones represented male parts. Those might reach a height of up to two feet. Lingas, Baetylus Stones, and Ring Stones were the three types of items identified by Marshal. There isn’t any information on where they were discovered. 

Conclusion

Indus Valley Civilization, which mainly happened during the bronze age, from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, went through drastic and unique changes as time passed on. Religion had one significant impact on it, especially the domestication of animals and plants, which left a great impact on civilization, which leaves us with the vast and different religions happening during that era. Especially since it covered a vast area in Asia, there ought to be different ideologies and some minor changes in religion to come throughout this era. From the Neolithic religion that consisted of cults, rituals, and religious concepts, the ideology of the domestication of plants and animals, and its belief in nature, we saw the connection to the other religions—the worship of Pashupati, which is believed to be the reincarnation of God Shiva, lord of animals. ThenThen we see the worship of trees and snakes. Yet, the worship of Linga and Yoni is still a puzzle in today’s date, even though there was evidence found of it in some places, according to certain Archaeologists.