The Indus Valley Civilization

• Hinduism has two meanings– A) The all-inclusive religions of India from the

3rd millennium or earlier to the present;– B) That religion or group of religions that

develops around the 6th century B.C.E. and is viewed as separate from the heterodox religions, which include Buddhism and Jainism.

Greater Hinduism?

Possible Contributions to Greater Hinduism

• Goddess Worship and the implication of the akti or Supreme Goddess

• Yogic practice• Tree and animal worship• Emphasis on water as a purifier• Possible introduction of the god iva • Phallic worship (possibly connected with iva

• The Civilization probably developed between 2800 to 2600 BCE

• Its decline occurred around 1900 BCE• No monumental structures to distinguish it

from other civilizations

Origins of the Indus Valley Civilization

• About 1052 sites spread over a region covering NW India and Pakistan

• The size of the territory was around 500,000 square miles.

• About 70 major sites existed, including Mohenjo-Dro, Harapp, Ganweriwala, Kalibangan, Chanhu Dro, Dholavira, Lothal, Rakhigarhi.

The Extent of the Indus Civilization

• Left: The area in green gives a approximate area where the Indus Valley Civilization flourished.

• Right: Mehrgarh, Harapp and Mohenjo-dro are highlighted

Indus Valley Map

Indus Valley Map

The Major Excavated Sites

Indus Seals: Yoga?

• Reverse side of the tablet below, showing a female figure grasping two animals (tigers? wolves?) by the neck. A wheel appears above and an elephant below.

• Molded terracotta tablet from Harapp showing a man killing a bull with a spear while a horned figure looks on.

• A horned figure rises from a tree (upper left) while a similarly horned figure kneels in supplication. At object which some observers have suggested may be a human head rests on a nearby stool. A giant ram appears in the upper right and a procession of 7 figures with skirts, plumed headdresses and bangles stand by at the bottom.

Indus Seals

• Discovered at Mohenjo-Dro by Sir John Marshall.

Dancing Girl

• Terra-cotta figure of a woman with head-dress from Harapp.

Indus Woman

• Terracotta slip painted pots of different shapes

• Terracotta slip painted bowl depicting deer

Indus Pottery

• Common terracotta pot still in use in Pakistan

• Terracotta cooking pot of flat shape

• Terracotta slip painted Dish depicting whirling fish

• Terracotta slip painted Bowl depicting radiating Sun motif

Indus Pottery

?Priest?

Indus Seal

Terracotta Figurines

• Left: Gold and carnelian rings and necklaces • Right: Gold and carnelian rings and necklaces

Indus Jewelry

Indus Jewelry

• Left: Gold Necklace• Right: Gold Pendant

Indus Jewelry

• Left: Jewelry Piece in Gold• Right: Gold Necklace

Indus Jewelry

• Left: Amulet? made in Gold• Right: Carnelian pendant set in Gold

Map of the Indus Area

• A detailed map of the Indus area.