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Describe the religious life of Indus-Saraswati civilization.

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The following features of religious life are remarkable in the Indus-Saraswati civilization : 

(i) Worship of Mother Goddess: Harappa, Mohanjodaro and Chhunadho have found female clay statues in abundance, which are believed to be idols of Mother goddess built for worship. In India, the origin of the ancient worship of Goddess worship or Shakti worship can be seen in the Indus-Saraswati civilization.

Some pictures of seals obtained from the Indus-Saraswati civilization also indicate the worship of Mother Goddess. In Rakhigarhi, we have got many altars (probably sacrificial altars). Religious rituals would have been prevalent in these areas.

(ii) Worship of the male deity (Shiva): John Marshal, considered Pashupati Shiva on a seal of the Mohanjodaro as a major deity of that period, which is shown. In this seal, the deity has been shown sitting in the Trimukh and Padmasan (lotus posture). The vision seems to be centered on the nostrils of the deity, around it an elephant, a cheetah, a buffalo and a rhinoceros and a pen are placed under the stem. In this notation, three forms of Shiva can be seen, which is as follows Trimukh Roop of Shiva. Pashupati Roop and Yogeshwar Roop.

(iii) Fireplaces: We got many fireplaces from the excavations at Kalibanga, Lothal, Banawali and Rakhigarhi. At some places, they have also found evidence that seems likely to be used for their religious purposes. Circular fireplaces have been found in Khandeshwar and Rakhigarhi, which have been assembled in the temples or periphery of the main structures. 

(iv) Animal worship, tree worship and snake worship: On many seals, a mark of a one-horned bull has been found, in front of which the ‘incense holder’ is kept. Painting of trees on many small seals is a proof of tree worship. On many small seals, a small wall or vedika is built around a tree, which signifies its purity and worship. On some seals, a number of religious symbols, such as Swastika, Chakra and Cross, are also inscribed.

The remains of the Indus-Saraswati civilization also indicate the sanctity of water and tradition of religious bath.

(v) Tradition of Yoga and Sadhna: Indus civilization also indicates the tradition of Yoga and Sadhana (meditation). 

There are two evidences of this :

  • Making Shiva sitting in Padmasana posture in Pashupati’s seal, 
  • The idol of the yogi found from Mohanjodaro whose vision is centred on the nose.

(vi) Faith in death rites and rebirth: According to Marshall, people of this civilization used to perform the funeral of the dead bodies in three ways :

1. Burial: under which the whole body was buried under the ground. 

2. Partial Burial : After feeding animals and birds, the remaining parts of the dead bodies were buried (3) 

3. Cremation : The body was sometimes burnt. Along with the corpse, sometimes a variety of jewellery, other articles can be found. It seems that they also believed in rebirth.

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