The Enigmatic Pashupati Seal: The First depiction of Yoga?
Unraveling the Mystery Behind the Pashupati Seal: A Glimpse into Ancient Yoga and Indus Valley Religion
The Pashupati Seal, excavated from the ancient ruins of Mohenjo-daro, remains one of the most enigmatic and intriguing artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilization. Discovered during the Archaeological Survey of India's 1928–29 exploration, this steatite seal, dating back to the Intermediate I Period (circa 2350–2000 BCE), offers a rare glimpse into the religious and cultural milieu of one of the world's earliest urban societies.
At the heart of the Pashupati Seal is a depiction that has sparked considerable debate among historians and archaeologists: a seated, possibly tricephalic figure, surrounded by animals. This figure, adorned with a horned headdress, has led to various interpretations, one of the most significant being its potential representation as an early form of the Hindu deity Shiva, known as "Pashupati," or Lord of Animals.
The depiction of the figure, potentially ithyphallic—a characteristic attributed to fertility or cosmic potency—was supported by the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) specialist Jonathan Mark Kenoyer in 2003. However, this interpretation has not been universally accepted, with some scholars questioning the hyperbolic nature of the figure.
What makes the Pashupati Seal particularly fascinating is its complexity and the prominence of a human figure, which is atypical in the context of the thousands of seals unearthed from the Indus Valley, where animals usually dominate the imagery. This uniqueness has fueled the theory that the seal may represent one of the earliest known depictions of Yoga, pointing to a possible ancient origin of this spiritual and ascetic discipline.
DescriptionThe Pashupati Seal is a steatite seal that was discovered at the Mohenjo-daro archaeological site of the Indus Valley Civilization. The seal depicts a seated figure that is possibly tricephalic. It was once thought to be ithyphallic, an interpretation that is now mostly discarded. Indiashastra
However, contemporary scholars lean towards viewing the Pashupati Seal through a broader lens. Rather than seeing it as a direct precursor to later Hindu deities or yogic practices, it is increasingly considered part of a larger tradition of "Lord of the Beasts" or "Master of Animals" motifs, prevalent in Eurasian Neolithic mythology and ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean art. This interpretation aligns the figure with a wider array of horned deities prevalent in various ancient cultures.
Important from a religious point of view are also the representations of fish, both on seals and on the ceramics of the specific era. The Sumerian god of waters, Enki, had the fish as his sacred symbol, while in Indian mythology, Varunas is the god of all water creatures. The connection between alligator fish and the deity Shiva, as known in this particular seal, also exists in later Hinduism.
This perspective broadens our understanding of the Indus Valley Civilization's religious beliefs, suggesting that they might have shared cultural and mythological elements with contemporary civilizations. It underscores the interconnectedness of ancient societies and the diffusion of religious and symbolic motifs across regions.
In conclusion, while the Pashupati Seal continues to be a subject of academic debate and intrigue, its value in providing insights into the religious life and artistic expression of the Indus Valley Civilization is indisputable. Whether it represents an early form of Shiva, a precursor to yogic practices, or a more universal archetype of a horned deity, it stands as a testament to the complexity and sophistication of one of humanity's earliest urban cultures. The seal not only invites us to delve deeper into the enigmatic world of the Indus Valley but also to appreciate the rich tapestry of ancient mythologies and religious practices that have shaped human civilization across millennia.