Harappan Civilization Religion (Indus Valley Religion)

The various articles discovered at different sites in the Harappa and Indus Valley suggest that these people indulged in some sort of image-worship. The most commonly found figurine is that of a female deity who has generally been identified with “the Mother Goddess”. The people of India, in fact, have always held a belief in a female energy as the source of all creation. Side by side with the worship of the Mother Goddess, the worship of a male-God “Shiva Pashupati” was also very popular in Harappan Religion.

In one particular seal he is shown with three visible faces seated in a Yogic posture and with animals on each side; tiger and elephant on the right and buffalo and rhinoceros on its left, with horned deer appearing under the seat. The presence of animals justifies Shiva’s title of `Pashupati’ and the Yogic posture justifies his title of “Maha-Yogi.” The three faces of the figure seem to have given rise to the concept of “Trimukha” which is usually associated with Shiva.

In addition to the worship of “Shakti”, and “Shiva”, the worship of certain trees, birds and animals also seems to have been prevalent in the Harappan Civilization. The elaborate bathing arrangement marking the city of Mohenjo-Daro would suggest that purification by bath formed a feature of the religion of the Indus Valley people. It will be seen from these characteristics that modern Hinduism is greatly indebted to the Harappan culture. There is an organic relationship between the Hinduism of today and the ancient culture of the Harappa.