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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.
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
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.
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.
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