The Indus Valley Civilisation

The origins of Hinduism?

Harrappan Culture

The Indus Valley Civilisation is also known as the Harrappan culture, after one of the principle cities which have been excavated. The main sites are

the cities of

Mohenjo-Dharo. Harrappa.

Dolovera. Lothal.

Where was it?

In north western India,

(now Pakistan),

near the river Indus.

Social structure.

• Well organised cities, with evidence of division between high status and low status.

• “Priest kings”; fore-runner of modern caste system?

Water management.

• Water & hygiene were obviously important; washing facilities in all houses.

• Also the “Great Bath” of Mohenjo-Daro; evidence of ritual cleansing?

Purification by water is important in Modern Hinduism.

Temple tanks.

The Kumbh Mela

Ghats at Varanāsi

Female figurines (Goddesses?)

Dancing Girl or “Temple prostitute”.

No real evidence for the latter, except that the

archaeologists were imposing ideas from other archaic

cultures that they had encountered; i.e. Greece.

Modern reconstructions of Goddess Figures

Did the IVC influence Modern Goddess worship?

Two significant points for modern Hinduism:

•Mūrtis (Images), nearly all Hindu worship is conducted before a mūrti, in order to achieve darşan.

•Goddesses are widely worshipped in Hinduism.

Bulls.

Bulls & other animals were significant; also true in later Hinduism. Hence the quote from The Ŗg veda;

Ŗg Veda. II.1.3,4,6 You, O Agni, are Indra, the bull (strongest) of all that exists; you are the wide-striding Viśnu, worthy of reverence; you, O lord of the Holy Word, are the chief priest who finds riches

Worship of early Śiva?This semi

human figure, seated in the padmāsana,

possibly with an erect

phallus, may be an early form

of the god Śiva.

Evidence?

• Śiva pasupāti is known as Lord of the Animals. (Horns).

• As māhayogi, Śiva is portrayed in constant meditation.

• Śiva is aniconically represented by the Linga; a phallic symbol.

Fire Sacrifice?Many of the

houses appear to have two

fireplaces; maybe one was used for fire sacrifices, as practised in the

Vedic period, and in modern Hinduism.

Can we be certain?

• There is evidence to suggest a link between the IVC & contemporary Hinduism, BUT, we cannot decipher the IVC script, & thus don’t know.

• Archaeologists often describe unknown articles as “Cultic objects”.

• Very, very ancient, everything is theory!