Question

'Early Harappan archaeologists thought that certain objects which seem unusual and unfamiliar may have had a religious significance'. Substantiate.

Answer 1

The Harappan archaeologists were not able to find any concrete material evidences which may point towards the religious beliefs and practises of the people. Thus, the archaeologists thought that certain objects which seem unusual and unfamiliar may have had a religious significance.

1. Archaeologists found terracotta figurines of women which were heavily jewelled and some of these had head-dresses. These figurines were regarded as mother goddesses.
2. The statue of a man seated with one hand on his knee has also been regarded as a religious figure.
3. Structures such as the Great Bath and the fire altars found at Kalibangan and Lothal have also been assigned as having ritual significance.
4. Attempts have also been made to reconstruct religious beliefs and practices by examining seals which depicted ritual scenes. Seals with motifs are supposed to represent nature worship.
5. A seal showing the figure of a man sitting in a ‘yogic’ position surrounded by animals has been regarded as a depiction of ‘proto-Shiva’—an early form of one of the major deities of Buddhism.