Indus Script
Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd (Verlag)
978-1-83975-750-1 (ISBN)
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Civilization implies, among other connotations, sophisticated religious beliefs. The archaeological construct of Indus civilization lacks sophistry.
There are no known Harappan myths. However, oral transmission of myths defines a prehistoric religion. In this hypothesis, latter day beliefs are used to decode the commonly used Indus script symbols, once these myths have been contextualised. This approach permits an explanation of all the distinctive features of the Indus script.
Most of the script symbols appear on steatite square stamp seals. These are too friable for use in commerce. All carry religious imagery and are most likely to be have been used as amulets, especially during the catastrophic floods. Flood defences were a vital requirement in this civilization. It is assumed that the populace worshipped a flood-rescuing deity, most probably Matsya. Symbolic expression of myths associated with Matsya, suggest that the Indus high-God was a pre-Vishnu figure. Clusters of symbols in the script represented chants or myths associated with a particular deity. This linguistic feature does not imply that the script itself represented a
language. There are numerous inscriptions which lack any grouping of symbols. It is asserted that Indus script is not a script, but a complex religion-based symbol system.
This hypothesis cannot be proven because none of the interpretations of the symbols can be externally validated. It does however have the merit of being both cogent and plausible.
Preface iii
Chapter 1.
Influence of floods on the Harappan religion 1
Indus floods and the Fish-God 1
Indus-Hakra flood-plains 1
An Indus flood-rescuing deity 4
Indus stamp seals - the context for the script 7
A precursor for the Fish-God Matsya 9
Chapter 2.
Linguistic element in the script 13
Characterisation of the script 14
Pattern formation iin the script 15
Direction of inscribing 17
Context for the script 18
A religion-based symbol system 18
Chapter 3.
Mythological basis for the common symbols 25
Conversion of symbols to contextualised myths 25
The dawn goddess 27
The water pot 27
The Indus High-God 28
Mythological continuity 34
Chapter 4.
The underworld and the Goddess Kali 41
Chapter 5.
Foundation for the hypothesis 51
Chapter 6.
An overview - Harappan ideology 57
Three symbols for two myths and the supreme deity 61
Central tenets of the faith 62
Bibliography 67
| Erscheinungsdatum | 05.11.2021 |
|---|---|
| Zusatzinfo | 9 greyscale images |
| Verlagsort | Claygate |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 140 x 216 mm |
| Gewicht | 119 g |
| Themenwelt | Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie ► Hinduismus |
| Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Sprachwissenschaft | |
| Sozialwissenschaften | |
| ISBN-10 | 1-83975-750-7 / 1839757507 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-83975-750-1 / 9781839757501 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
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