Tiger Symbol in the Indus Script
The famous "Paśupati" seal from Mohenjodaro has an "equivalent double" representation in the Indus-Vāṇi civilization. While the Mr̥gapati/Paśupati seal is unique and is the only one of its kind found so far, its equivalent double is represented on many seals. This suggests the identity of the yogi in the Paśupati seal as a crocodile deity and indicates that the Harappans valued the crocodile deity more highly. Since the crocodile, or Makara Viṭaṅkar, seal is found many times, often in an abraded condition, it is possible that these Makara Viṭaṅkar seals were used in some kind of pūjā ritual involving abhiṣeka with garlands, milk, curd, honey, and other offerings. Mālā in Sanskrit corresponds to Dravidian mālai ("garland"); compare malar ("flower").
Like the Paśupati seal, there is also a rare and unique seal from Mohenjodaro depicting three interlinked tigers (M-295), now in the National Museum, New Delhi. This drawing was first shown on the Internet around 2010 by the Brazilian illustrator Walter Plitt Quintin. At that time, the connection between the tiger sign in the Indus script and its interpretation as a representative of the Goddess was mentioned by me. It is a "Puli mudrā" sign, puli meaning "tiger," a meat-eating carnivore, in Dravidian.
Gharial God and Tiger Goddess in the Indus Valley: Some Aspects of Bronze Age Indian Religion, 2007.
https://archive.org/details/IVCReligionByNagaGanesan2007/mode/2up
Visualization of M-295 seal by @thehistoropill
0 comments:
Post a Comment